Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-06
A QUESTION OF POLITICAL
ETHICS.
what May Throw Light Upon the
Fresh Silver War.

ffesH SILVER WAR;
There are thoss who, in politics, as in
morals, recognize no criterion but abstract
right; while there are others who think
that expediency, commonly called policy,
is the only practical rule. Politicians of
the latter school are by far the more nu-
merous. In fact, if the test be rigidly
made, but few public men would be found
whose actions are based on mere abstract
ideas OF right and wrong. 1t is a fact,
also, that the few who regulate their DO.
litical conduct by a code of purely abstract
principles, however good these may be in
the philosophy Of ethics, rarely ever get
abreast of the times and accomplish any
important results for their constituency.
1t is not our disposition to call these
purists by any hard names or to disparage
them in any way. They may be sages,
after their fashion, but they are not
politicians. Plato himself, in pres
emit politics, might be called a
"crank," though his Republic is
the prettiest model Of a commonwealth
that was ever sketched. We admire Plato
and all those who in this day and gener-
alton have any Of his ideas Of government,
or reflect anything of his genius. But
while we are here on the footstool, and
the devil is powerful, and fighting men
with fire, what are we going to do with the
devilf This moralizing is suggested by
some private political history in this
country, particularly affecting the interests
of the Pacific Coast, during the past few
years. What there is right or wrong in it,
We leave to those who read, to decide for
themselves. What it reveals in regard to
expediency in politics will appear clearly
enough. 1t has been pretty we'll known,
that among the politicians of the East
there has been no very great p%reponder-
ance of sentiment, Republican or Demo-
cratic, in regard to legislation on the
question OF silver, though more Eastern
Democrats than Eastern Republicans have
been in sympathy with our people in this
respect. Yet the National Democratic
party, through it Senators and Represen-
tatives in Congress, has put itself firmly
and squarely on the rec ord as a friend to
silver, and, hence, as a friend to the Pa
ciic Coast. The action OF the National
Democratic party, 30 recorded, has saved
the Coast, and Nevada most of all, from
wreck and, such as now threaten us again
at Washington. Suppose we take for
granted, and We may safely do 80, that
enough Democrats were, for party reasons,
induced by Democratic Representatives
from this section TO stand in with them to
save the Pacific Coast from business disas-
ter; and that these were led to expect, in
return, that the Pacific States would
remember the obligation and express
at the polls, the only place for it, their
gratitude to the National Democratic
party. What then? This: The Pacific
Coast has moi only failed to recognize the
obligation, but it has given the Republic
can national ticket majorities increased in
startling proportions. Let us imagine
then that certain Democrats in Congress,
as mere men and politicians, feel that they
have been played" that they have given
everything to beggsrs and have not got
any sort Of recognition in return but a
slap in the face. Congressman as servants
Of the whole people ought not to enter
tain the feeling Of resentment. OF course
not. But they are men after all like the
rest of us. The SENTINEL contained a dis
patch yesterday saying that q number Of
Congressman who had stood by silver had
entered into q combination to strike ouI
industry a fatal blow by legislative meas
ures to stop coinage, etc., who would be
surprised TO hear that some Of these recall
citrants are betrayed Democratic politi-
clans. They may have said: 1.-THE De
mocracy have been your friends and you
have treated them as your enemies. We
will not risk being your friends any more.