The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-01
THE POLITICAL LIFE.

disease attacks the body and a po-
litical death most generally ensues.
Thousands of young men are con-
WINGED, in STARTING out in life, that
they are great statesmen in en-
bryo, and they let no opportunity
pass to stand before the people,
thinking all the time these dear
souls cannot help admiring them for
genius, that in the end it will be con-
coded the country can successfully
exist only on the popular preference
tor themselves. Very few of these
are known in after years, for they
had placed an estimate upon them
selves receiving the endorsement
alone of blinded friends. To select
political life is to take a fearful leap
in the dark, oftenest into the yaw n
ing abyss from which there is no es-
cape, except in destruction; yet
they leap, and will continue leap
ing as long as society is organ
lied for governmental purposes
The life of the man, actually
launched in politics, is complicated.
If he be of such Importance as to be
come Il leader, he has no easy life
but one on the contrary of intense
anxiety and of the greatest respon-
sibility. The successful politician is,
OF course, man of abilityy he shapes
issues and handles them, and floats
III on the wave that carries his side
to success. lie is exposed to fire at
all times, and if his skin be thin he
carries lead that weights him down,
and then it is easy for even the
leader to be led. To make a point
and not to maintain it is politi-
cal destruction, for the mo-
ment "A position is abandoned
another steps in and occupies the
place. The successful politician
however, takes view of the field.
and occupies the most impregnable
point, holding on when his adverse
ries have made mistakes, who fail
because of inferiority. But even the
widest leader sometimes mis-
lakes; he commits blunders, and
when the time for action comes he
IS lost, defeated probably through
over confidence in power, through
pitfalls laid by tie designing foe.
This mixture of sagacity and
blindness is frequently to be noticed
,ven in the political leaders who &C.
'upy the n ghest places, and exert
he largest power. They plan most |
ldroitly; they make the most far
and shrewd combinations
hey prove their long headed fore
sight by many signal successes and |
hen, in the flush of victory, or in
he hurly-burly of some desperate |
'kirmish, they lose their heads and
10 some ineffably stupid or rash |
hing that dismays their followers |
BY its folly or its peril, and shakes |
he popular estimates of the leaders |
'agacity or of his strength, often TO |
/ fatal degree. The political leader |
loses his head, and when |
no does there is somebody always at |
hand TO hide it out of sight. His
iagacity and good judgment leave
hin, and his moral qualities of cour-
Ige leave him too, when they are
most. The leader passes
tut and another steps in behind. If |
/ leader be of the higher order. he
5 often forced to throw himself |
Icross the most turbid torrents, and,
)eing brave and resolute and strong,
lie may successfully stem the raging
orient, calming the troubled
waves to placidity. If he be of the
over order, he resorts to methods
# doubtsul virtue or of doubtful
and his moral nature be-
coming warped, he and his followers
lecline under the influence of an
vii cause. 1t is truthfully said that
he life of the party leader is ordina-
lily hard one, because one of it's
most urgent needs is to please every
'ody. The leaders that are above
lin and those that are below him
need his help. The hun
Try followers, to whom politics and
'arty allegiance mean nothing but
he pickings and stealings of office,
ook to him for their daily bread and
urn upon him quickly and fiercely
f they are not kept satisfied with
PROMISES and occasional crumbs
# substantial profit. Added to
his Is the unceasing necessity
or paving the way for re-
lection or re-appointment, ne
essity which is the unsupported
icy to many a mysterious move on
he political board, whose results
re to be realized so far ahead in the
anne that, when it is won, the move
hat may have been the pivot of the
1hole combination has long been
ost sight of. Few professions are
o fraught with perplexities, so I'M
ertain in their profits, so grotesque
n their incongruities, so mixed in
heir association, so tempting and
as that of politics. But
ew are so fascinating to large
lasses ofpeople or pursued with so
mall a regard for the simple prin-
iples of truth and honesty, or so
title pretence of a concern for the
of others. 1t is lottery
n which very few draw prizes
worth having: a game in which
Yearly every player meets with some
Ieavy losses, that are never made
ID to him.
The legislative committee, after
Dng investigation, has reported ON
Governor Churchill's case. 1t shows
strange condition of the books of
no financial denartment of our