The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-02-24
roo Muom pi,ACrIcAIrry.

WASAuAoniR, Fob. 23.-lEiitDr HKR
ALI. Tue American government Origins'-
ed iu "a sentiment; u Is the material devel-
opment OF a sentiment; its Very liie is n
sentiment. Aud yst there ara those even
ga the very centre at is mechanism Who
shake their practical heads ana ouIl their
practical lips, when menli0n Ia made OF the
sentiment tnat gave birth 10 our inaitutiont
aud that has Ell, etgd tho very public and
wrought out the very system which RYis
the power aud position. rciort q q custom
~ snubbine praotlcei ny some American
10 lteemen. both IN slate and IN nation
legislation, Gs well rs In public writing ana
speHking generally.
at il said ths, when n speaker tries either
10 be funny or TO be pathetic be treacs on
dangerous ground. But humOr aud pathos
are solid rock compared with express lpnaoi
patriotism, liberty or the right OF ihe peo-
pla. For no sooner does an energetic gt-
itt'r endorse or oppose measure 10 iiYely
speech snd confessions OF duly end re-
sponsbliy than bis follow law.mskers and
the gAilsry mob pronounce him eliervts
cen. aud sophomorlc. Of, msyne, h3 sue
ceeAs IN impressing his convictions. upon
hia clol associates, and upon the thinking
public without soto voce snubs bnd auulole
sueers, or, maybe, In spite OF such oppC-l-
ton, they take root ana sprinR mp bur be-
fore they can bear fruit the practical pohli'
cal critic or the prsctlcsl ed.tlr alseov.is
that they are sentimental, aud ttralght way
blows chilling blast which nips them IN
the bud, and tho eloquent legslat Or 10 'aa,
down co." There oeems TO be tendency
among A mericRn statesmen To discOnrsBe
al mantle itat lons of individual acton Tor
public good. Men seem ashamed TIC mess
that they are tire chosen representatives o'
free, independent people; they seem 10
despise pstriotisn Us q boyish sentiment IN
consistent with practicali,y-nt least IL is
a.. cloak for fraud" and ~ bid for votes.
| Is IL true that American statesmen ere IT,
tally incapable OF pure mot'yehp Isl true
that there IL no such thing AS lbighsoulsd
love of couDtry2 Such must Do the inler'
entail, II net the direct conc usion OF every
casual observer OF our leehlailon. Inc re-
suit is tina, young lsglsl it0rs. ana old ones
ere not slow TO learn-go 10 congress Often
tunes with no other idea than that the gov
eminent 10 a general grab beg Tor lew
| ioitu mates, and the Inevitable consequences
are, first. "a failure to properly comprenenu
public duties and public. responsibility
second, false deduction that he owes no
other obligation TO his consti uency o'he'
! than little petty gratitude Tor his mehgie
salary, and tl'rd. he concludes that puollc
stealing is legit mate business. The same
opinions extend TO he voting messss, and
they throw their votes and Il cir " nuencs
W Tia the candidate or the party that Oilers
tho most drinks and ;he biggest brloes'
This condition OF affairs has been intensi-
iying during the administration OF the re-
publican party. 1t has resulted In carpet
bag ruls,n salary grabs" and 'star route
frauds" As soon 40 American LEGISLATION
shall proceed upon patriotic principles, &c,
dorsed aud declared with enthusiasm ana
WITH zeal, jus. so soon will the votlngpuolic
arrive 1T n proper conception ei their r
sponsibiIiiy. Then will be revived the mo-
1.-Two which inspired I'D rather be right
than president" and Liberty and Union,
now and forever, one and ipsepsrable, =
spec which would now have strange
ring and an unfamiliar echo.
These observations may be extreme ano
unpr .ctical. but IL cannot be laid that they
are grouudless. Hence. the conclusions co
hurrie lily and imperfectly stated must, in
measure, be probable. NswDAYaATE.