The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-04
He Would BE a Statesman.

We have 70 much need Of competent states
men In this republic that II we could assist in
producing one, we should feel both proud and
happy. A candidate for the honors and re-
sponsibilities Of craftsmanship Is now before
us. but whether no is built OF the right sort
Of timber for the work we. Of course. can
not judge from his inquiries, which are put
In this fashion:
"Iwoud most respectfully state that lam young
not yet voter ard have desire ct some future
day to 90 into politics. have public school education
and . little general knowledge what would like to
know To- What education knowledge 10 necessary to
become statesman. not ward politician and there
any particular books tending to educate 70 that sndi
Some of my friends tell me the study Of law almost
necessity what course would you advise me 70 pursue
70 become what desiref"
1t Ia very creditable to our young friend
that he takes so much interest In politics.
even before becoming voter and we trust
that when he goes to the ballot box to de-
posit his maiden vote. 1t will swell the tri-
umphant majority In behalf Of reform and
retrenchment, the two great political issues
at the present time. By November, 1884. let
US hope, he will be Of age, and at no past
time were the ballots Of aspirants for true
craftsmanship more needed than they will
be then. and every one will count, provided
District Attorney MCKEoN Is as successful
then in checking and stopping fraudulent
voting and counting as he was last November.
By casting his maiden vote on the right
side. our young friend. who Is Q resident Of
this city, will take tho first step In states
manship. For q man may be statesman In
| o republic like this, so far Is he goes, though
he does not undertake to mako business Of
politics, and only assists by statesmanlike
voting In shaping the political policy Of the
country. And, indeed, experience has often
shown that the majority Of the voters, or an
Intelligent minority, were far more worthy
to be called statesmen than tho public char
acters who assumed to fill that part.
But to be q statesman by profession. which
seems to be what our youthful correspondent
desires, is very different thing. That pro-
fession, II 1t may 80 be called. is not ono for
which there is any systematic schooling. such
Is fits man to be lawyer for instance, though
a thorough knowledge Of law in Its broadost
acceptation Is very desirable aud even nee
essary for statesman.
Nor Is there any regular course OF study
or reading we could advise him to pursue
with the certainty. or probability even, that
1t would lead him where he wants to go. II
there was, the profession Of craftsmanship
would undoubtedly soon DO Us overcrowded
as the other so-callcd liberal professions are.
For no Is not alone In his desire to become q
statesman. It Is o very common ambition
among young men, who often write US on
the subject, and even older men, who have
got over some OF their other illusions, or
imagine that they have. arc not without the
conviction that Heaven intended them to
lead their fellow citizens instead Of being
lost In the mass who simply vote.
Every sort Of knowledge Of men and affairs.
Of history, OF current events, OF business,
trade law, finance and Of Whatever concerns
humanity gathered together In society, Is
valuable to . statesman. The broader his
mind and the more compactly filed the bet
ter, for he must not have mere hobbies to dis
tract him from the consideration OF subjects
Of vast circumference and wide applica.
ton. And 1t Ia this capacity to cover broad
range intellectually which marks the true
statesman. He sees over field whose hori-
zon Is distant before and behind, and oil
around him. He does not erect mountains o.
prejudlces and hobbies just before his eyes.
to shut out his view.
In fact, he IL large manswho takes In boil
the present and the future. and who under
stands his own time, It's temper. Its bent
and Its necessities, and can foresee future
tendencies and the consequences which must
result from current opinions and policies
correctly measure the size OF contemporary
events and give them their true relative i'm
portanoe, shaping everything to the RICH
end with reference to tho past, the present
and the future.