West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-09-01

US against many perils actually eN-
listing, and point out other dangers
as fastening to overtake us, and |
overwheim in ruin the fair fabric Of
our liberties. Their predictions and
evil warningo are usually based on
the asserted growing iufdelity o. the
young Ien of the couutryi on the iD-
crease OF what they term Sabbath
decorations on the decrease in The
attendance upon the services of the
Christian Churcbi on the veuaity
and selfishuess oil our public men on
the luxury and dissipation prevailing
in our large citces; on the graphing
rspacity Of the great corporations,
and on the vast tide of foreign i'm
migration now rolling on these
shores. These are the rocks they
see ahead, and it is upon these that
they confidently expect to see the
Ship o! State strike and 30 to pieces.
1t would 90 an easy task to show that
some OF these perls are purely imag-
mary, and that some are blessings IN
disguise, and that others are correc-
tib!e and vincible, while the real,
present, serious peril ie either not
distinctly seen, or being apprehend-
ed, is not strongly emphasized. The
real peril of the times is the ind ifier-
enoe of the beat men Of the country
to their political duties There is
enough intelligence, enough virtue.
enough patriotism in this country 10
govern 1t wisely, Justly, honestly but
this intelligence, this virtue and pa
triotism 10 either unorgsnized or in
different. !, ls 10 be admitted that
it IA a fact, and dangerous fact, too,
that the men who actully control the
Ipoltics OF the country are Tot the
ablest or wise3t, or purest among us.
The initiation in practical political
action in this country - generally
taken by class Of men who are
neither sage7 nor saints, and usually
the sages and saints are restricted iu
their choice Of pabllc officers to can
dida.es selected by professional
and not over scrupulous politicians,
The alienation from public life OF the
most capable and conscientious citi-
zens ia a great AMI crying evil, an
evil that BODIES real danger if il be
not speedily corrected, aud to the
correction OF which every patriot
should bend his energies. How many
men who ought to be at csucuses are
never there? IL itnot true that the
quiet, solid, Gcd- fearing men Of the
community are conspicuous by their
absence from nominating conyen-
tions The men who control eau
cuees and primaries and nominating
conventions, and thus in the end
give tone to our public life, are they
the men who would be called to The
front in a great national emergency
There are thousands Of The best cit
ices Of The Republic who practically
ignore their political duties, refusing
even TO vote except at Presidential
elections. II is matter Of common
notoiety that many Of the dWellers
10 the bsowD-stouo houges in New
York CITY never vote at all, and
there is q class Of puristg iD every
se3tion OF our country wbo7e boast it
is that they have nothing 70 DO with
politics. We fear that This class is
much larger than is generally SUE
pected a successful business man,
a man Of integrity and capacity,
sincere patriot, a devoted Christian,
living in q large city DO this country
noted lorits Mig government, recently
said Do private conversation that
be never went to the polls save at
State and National elections, and
that he had never been at primary,
a caucus, or q nominating convention
IN his lie, and he made this state
ment in a way that indicated bis be-
lief that bis conduct in these mat
ters had been mer'otious. The
number Of such men is very large in
THE country, and 81 is increasing
rather than diminishing. Herein IS
a real, not an imaginary, peul-ihe
Indifference Of good nen 90 tne Gov
ergmenl Of ileir eouh'ry. This BE-
pra,Gr. indl.i.yol Che w3rel gi0J.
The deliberate surrender u The wise
and y.duogs 90 Che ignorant and
vicious. In how many Of th,
wealthy and arstoarslIc churches O
this land. a.th their high -YIi,sd
oews and ki-govej ushers ana
practical exclusion % the roor. here
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