Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-27
Price Four Cents.

cally depends very much upon the condition of society in the particular community in which the voting power is to make the choice. If the majority Cor in case of existing diTi- sions of parties, considerable portion) of the voting power be ignorant, prejudiced or vicious, the probability of the selection of the fittest is naturally small, and the chance of the election of any really good candidate of any party or of no party is at the mini mum. Ignorance of public affairs is not of itself so great an evil as the others, for many honest, ignorant persons are quite wise enough to know that good government IS best for them, and to know that the best per- sons to intrust with the duty of securing good government are the men whom they know to be of high standing for capacity and uprightness. But community in which the people, or Q considerable number of them, are corrupt is in bad case indeed The State or city in which the controlling votes are for sale, either for ready money or be paid for with places or legislative jobs, Is probably worse for being under republican form of govern ment than if it were deprived of self govern ment entirely. Fortunately. such eases are not frequent; but when they exist it is not easy to come to an office without using the methods named in yo1r question. But even then, if the honest citizens will persist, ID spite of party nominations, in voting against all candidates believed to be bad men, the evil Is nkely 10 De cured ln time. F6tLl1o and caucuses are indispensable means for united effort as well for good citizens ss bad ones for success cannot be attained without a concentration of the poEer of those who think alike as to measures or men But ln the greater number of the States and com munities of this country r-al and permanent success in political life does not, l think, re- quire or admit either manipulations or bar gains The people of 8 republic If we are tn al in ha Of must be supposed to prefer capacity. honor, candor and independence in their public SET wants rather than intrigue and self-seeking; and, if so, the long-run must prove here, as in everything else that honesty is the best policy.
 f What Is the function of the politician sstzst man r-public ike that Of America In shat senze is he q teacher, in what repressntztve. z1d in what s leader of public sentiment?
 I think his function is as a citizen to be in formed as to what are the best measures for the public good and the best men to efectu- ate them, and on proper occasions to give his fellow citizens the benefit of his knoSl- edge and experience. As a lawmaker or eI- ecutor he ought to know and do much the same things If he be truly politician and statesman, he must be teacher in all that he says and does about public affairs He is representative in so far as his views and actions are acknowledged to be the opponents oI a puoAc OPlnloA aIE eeuS AOf ft.Sur a--- A1 -7 Q leader in so far as his character, his capacity and his proposed action com mand the confidence of his cOuntrynen- and, indeed, sometimes when his proposed action does not for he may be in advance of pub lie sentiment or he may see clearly and have the courage to do what at the moment IS quite opposed to popular opinion; and If the event justifes hlm, he has vindieated his title to all your question implies. There is per haps no one thing SO valuable to the right progress of civilized society as the courage of sincere individual opinion; and as it re- Rards public affairs the man who tries hon. estly to form an accurate conclusion, and bravely to maintain and advance it, without counting the number of his adTersaries, Ell fulfill the best mission of 8 citizen, and will be- whether in public or private station, the true politician, often the real statesman, the best teacher and the noblest leader.