Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-09-12
SENATOR EDMUNDS' VIEWS OF PUB.
- VIZ Lie LIFE.

Vermont, is the ablest lawyer who
has been in the United States Senate
since Daniel Webster and Reverdy
Johnson left it. And he is as pure
and incorruptible in private and pub
lie life as he is able. In the Chris
tian Union, in very able and in
structiVe way, he writes a long
article on the question How to
succeed III public life" He says
The true and safe theory of q re
publican goUernme1t is that no one has
The the right to be elected or appointed
to office, but that tie aobole body of the
community haze a right to select and
choose those citizens aUhona they think
to be the best or the best ditaindble.
Every man, young or old, ought to
be always d politicians in best sense;
that is, to be taught IN the science
of government and familiar with that
branch of ethics which relates to
the practical 6 lion and e. elution
of laws to the s Gates advantage OF
the whole IS of the ! pie, with
a due regard always to the rights of
minorities and individuals. The
same studies which would make a
young man best fitted to discharge
his duties as a privite citizen would
in general, be most useful for
him If ne were called to help
in administering the government.
The theory of Republican govern
ment as defined by the man who is
the ablest statesman of the Republi>
can party, is not Boss Houk' s theory.
Edmunds says: No one has the
right to be elected or appointed to
office. Houk thinks a seat in Con-
gress from this district his inaliena-
BILE right, whether he stays drunk in
Washington and neglects his duties
or not. Edmonds says ''the a0hole
body of the community should select
their ofice-holders, Houk believes
that the selection should be made by
a packed convention, and through
the use of money sent from Washing
ton In connection with dictatorial or
ders from Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa
Senator Edmunds further says:
"In regard to the possibility of sue
cess in political life without manipu-
lating. caucuses and conventions anC
( making political bargains, the Sena-
tor says that in States or cities where
the controlling votes are to bt
bought either by money, places OF
legislative jobs, it is not easy to come
to an Office without ~fhesuse of these
methods, but in most of our States
and communities, he thinks, real sue
scess in political life does not require
either manipulation or bargaining
"A - When Senator Edmonds wrote h
may not have thought of Boss Houk
but he was thinking of the class o
politicians Houk belongs to. HI
thus refers to them, and tells thu
duty OF the people Of THIS and al
other districts in dealing with them
, Honest citizens can IN time cure the eUl
g Of bad elections By voti'eg solidt
0gGinst candidates believed to be bo
men ..--.
In confusion, he says ''Phere is
perhaps, no one thing so valuable t.
the right progress of civilized societ
as the courage of sincere individus
!" opinion; and as it regards pubic af
: fairs, the nangwho tries honestly t
2. form an accurate conclusion, an
. bravely to maintain and advance i
without counting the number of b
adversaries, will fulfill the best mis-
? sion ola citizen, and viii be, whetl
z er in public or private station, tt
true politician, often the real states
. man, the best teacherland the noble
u leader.
The Cincinnati Enquirer says
n +" Political bosses should have the
e, life preservers ready. Almost az
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