The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-06-17
Third Congressional District.
To the Greenville Times.

ifieations of prominent citizens
for the position of candidate to
represent it in the next congress.
AS we have not seen nor heard of
any gentleman's name suggested
in connection with this honor, we
beg leave to present that of Cap
tain w. w. Stone, of Washington
county, to the consideration of the
nominating convention. There
seems to be in the public mind an
opinion that this high responsible
position ought at all times to be |
conferred upon lawyers. AT least
this has been the almost universal
custom in this and other States.
We think, for many reasons, that
it is not only high time but proper
and beneficial to depart from this
t0o-long established precedent.
1t is q great mistake to suppose
that lawyers are the only proper
persons to make laws, legislate,
discuss and decide upon public
measures. They have been not
unfrequently unfortunate and mis-
chievous in this respect. Those
who wish to study and understand
the morbid anatomy of legislation
solely by lawyers, let them exam
inc the debates and laws of con-
gress for the ten years from 1865
to 1875, when lawyers exercised
all their ingenuity, and used all the
weapons in the armory of enact
ments, to make freedmen voters,
citizens, and to walk erect in all
pride and power of manhood. Can
any person point to sensible, sal.
utary, wholesome, useful law in
that largo mass of trash and folly,
that has ever or will be perman.
emily beneficial to a single human
beingi The one strong man who
strongly opposed and manfully
stroye against their mischievous
tendencies, and saw their unjust
character. was the then President
Andrew johnson, who was no law
yer. 1t is another great mistake
to suppose, as is often done, that
lawyers organize, shape and con
troll parties and political move
ments. II is q fact known to al
men that able editors of leading
papers do more to effect this thar
the orators and politicians. The
late Horace Grccly, when In the
pride Of his power, did more thar
! all the politicians to organize, vi
{ talize and direct the Republican
! party. The old, able, digniilet
. I" National lntclligencer" was
stronger bulwark and greater de
! fender of the old Wing party thar
Clay and his compeefs.
Why multiply facts that are wei
known to all who are conversan
with American political history
Many of the greatest, most sue
cessful and distinguished states
men of Europe are not lawyers
They triumphantly succeede
where lawyers had signally faile'
: To prove this assertion it is onl
necessary to mention the name
= of three Of the most distinguishe
+ statesmen of England of the pai
ten ycars-Earl Beaconsfield, Gla
stone and Lord Lytton. In Franc
the leading statesmen for yeal
are journalists. Prussia owes HI
present greatness and high pos
ton in Europe to the genius Of
energy of her great statesma
Bismarck, and Italy her unity al
strength to her noble Count c
your; and neither of these gre
= men are lawyers. We think tn
re. lawyers, from their constant pra
tice of arguing OH both sides
every question, and their opini
s, always based upon precedent
adjudged cases, have very rart
3 exhibited originality or boldne
as statesman or lawmakers. 4
"a these reasons and many others
think that the country can be g
= erned by a congress not compos
!, entirely of lawyers.
As planting is nearly the exc
sive interest of this district,
person identified with that inter'
r is the proper representative.
a&oblo ,,1oott,,f< ie ,