Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-09-30
DUTY IN POLITICS.

The political campaign for the yeai
1882 has begun, and from this tint
until November It'll. the minds Of ihe
people will properly be much occupied
with questions regarding governments
affairs.
There is a school Of psaudo-m"ralists
which habitualiy beliltles everything
pertaining to politics. There are
MANY CLASSES in this schoOi-one con,
sisting OF the aesthetics, who can find
nothing beautiful. and good, and true
except in the arts, in. socl, ~, in dress,
in o~rnamentation. They forget She
heroism of q Vim. Tell in the measure
of. a sonnet to a rose aud the levelincs>
If character exhibited by II Washingtou
or a Lee in ecstacies over the hand
painting on a plaque. There is the
busy money:srubber, whose soul is so
absorbed in earning dollars on change
that he is careless OF. the dimes that
maladministration robs him oil, forget,
ful OF 1.-THE. fact that ignorance and corrnp.
ton in public place beget dishonesty in
private trusts. There is the moral
coward. who admits that the elective
franchise confers upon. him a duty,
whether he. likes OF no, but who is
afraid an open position on public qnes-
tons may make him somewhere an
enemy in private l:ie. There is the
careless man, who regards no, obligation
as sacred which; is incompatible with
his personal comfort and ease, whether
1t be a duty to God, his country or his
netghber.. Finally, there is the man
who thinks that there is So much sell
seeking. so much immortality, so much
corruption in politics that he will have
nene of 1t. All these are wreug. We
f.canrot stop tospeint out why they arc
wrong in EACH case, but they are
radically wrong and negleatinl OF
duty. "a. :.
The first duty of man is the one
which be owes to his God, the next to
his Immediate family. anal. the next to
his ooantry.,' Love, .obrdience AID
reverence for his; Makersare beautiful.
They cause him, so'far as lrail mortality
Emay 10 SO, To- approach to the i'm ige
Of his. Creator, love and tender G are of
the dear ones Of his hearth are attributes
of the gentleman. The two character
%istiesc "a scarcely inteliigen.ly erlst
fexeert in q patriotic. man; i lover of
h%iseointry, u lover of his kind. The
perfect man 9iHst.tre a good citizen ,-the
good citizen cannot neglect The duties
oi citizenship.
Ne doubt there is lasting fame in the
glory which war brought to Napoleon,
Nelson. Cesar, Alexander. and other
military heroes, but their bonors were
won at the sacrifice of blood, by the
pains oil the wounded. and in lha tears
Of. the widow. How much mo!c.glori-
Gus should be the wreath of laurel
which Crowns ihe head of the states
man who seeks the welfare of the peo-
pie, in peace and plenty. in virtue and
~contentinent. Tine Thiors. the Pitts the
Gladstones, the Gra.tans, the Is lights,
he Jet%ltrsons. Webstcrs, Clays, Cali
houns, and. Summers have deserved Of
lhe human u c More thanks and graft
tu1ie iham have all the warriors CT all
the ages. Then II this be so if patriot
ic. broad-min:ied statcs;nanship can and
does ameliurate the condition oil man,
is it not contemplate to with hold from
public affairs the aid of the viitnoas
and good, apd TO relegate them to the
vicious apd bad, who will certainly
never place in power men of aspirations
which they cannot understand?
The infide:lty which, STALKS over the
llnd; The loose Morals which are evil
denced by the increased number Of
divorces; the sneer which too often
meets the ayowal OF a pure or elevated
sentiment; the coarse bIackguardism OF
too many of:our public discussions; the
consolidation OF power growing out of
inordlnate' ambition; the vena'ity Of the
times-.he vulgar worship oi money
which ruins SO many men and women ;
the. unfair advantages sought. and
obtained through Legislation by the
wealthy, and strong oyer The poor and
weak, all. call with loud and pleading
tones for active interest IN govern
mental matters.
II all: the intelligence and worth takes
part in our elections, there will still be
much OF Ignorance, illiteracy and vice
voting the result needs no forrteliin..
! We have II This article made no appeal
to party passion. Parties neeIs-must
exist in all Tree countries. 1t is not
wrong to differ; On the contrary it is
wholesome. Ii the G~o,i-iearing, sober.
honest people will attend to their poll,
tIcal. dnties. the beautiful fabric of our
glorious government, where freedom "I
person and Of conscience are grra,er
than nave aver been elsewhere vouch-
stfed TO man, will endure far agos. Il
monument to the valur and the patriot
ism of the men WHO handei! il down To
u.s.: If ever 1t fails and falls il will be
through the su%pineness OF it. natural
protectors. Therefore we say to you,
trend, II you have not heretofore been
attentive to your duties AZ the polls.
neglect tl,em no longer. Be al! s. man!
Do % stand idly by white less worthy
men influence the legislation and
administration Of your commonwealth,
hat bravely DO yrnr part.
should take no,ire that 1t is the mayors
ye;tr. Mayor Cleveland, OF Hnfialo. has
just been Nominated Tor governor OF tie
state "i New io,k, an,i, some &c ! is
enthusiastic, a.tninefs have already
mcnti ned lis n .me Tor III. pre- i!cn"y.
Mr.. il rrison has been county cu,u,nls-
sl"ner, mcMber OF congress, may or OF
TIE great city OF Chicago. the sness %! .
lord mayor, aud the recipient Ola royal
weicoms home. What more's bel, in,p'
Why. sent him toacongre-s in place oil
that stick, Davis, that you lia.r lii re