The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-02-28
TOO Much PRACTICALLY.

WAxAuACnIE, Feb. o. Editor HRR
AID. THE American government original
ed la "A sentiment; " Is the material deyel-
Opment OF sentiment; ils very lie 10 a
sentiment, And yet there are those even
ia the very centre Of lis mechanism who
shake their practical heads ana curl their
practical lips, when mention Ia made Of the
| sentiment that gave birth TO our institutions
| aud that has Effected tho very public and
wrought out the very system which gives
the power aud position. refer 70 custom
OF snubbing practicet ny some American
statesmen, both IN state and In nation,
| legislation, as well a, In public writing and
speaking generally.
lit Is said that when speaker tries either
10 be funny or to be pathetic he ireacs on
dangerous ground. But hamor and pathos
are solid rock compared with expressions OF
patriotism, liberty or the right OF he peo-
| pie. For no sooner does an energetic lsgis-
| iotor endorse or oppose measure IN lively
| speech and confessions OF duty and re-
sponsibility than his fellow lawmakers and
the gallery mob pronontce him eil.rves
cen. and sophomoric. Or. mayoe, he sue
ceels In impfessing his CONVICTIONS upon
his o)ol associates, and upon the thinking
public without SOTO voce snubs and audible
| sneers, or, may be, In spite al such opposi-
| lion, they take root ana spring up but be-
fore they Can bear iruit the practical politi'
that they are sentimental, aud straight way
blows a chilling bl ,st which nips them In
the bud, aud the eloquent legislator Is "sa'
down on" There seems to be u tendency
among American statesmen to discourage
all mantle stations OF individual action Tor
public good. Men seem ashamed tn confess
that they are the chosen representatives Of
Q free, independent people; they seem to
| despise patriotism az boyish sentiment in-
consistent with practically at least II is
| "a CLOAK for fraud" and "a bid for votes"
| Is 1t true that American statesmen are to-
| tally incapable OF pure motivesf Is 1t true
| that there is no such thing as high.souled
Move of county? Such must be the INFER.
| entail, II not the direct conc. usion OF every
casual observer Of our legislation. The re-.
suit is that young legislators. and old ones,
are not slow to learn-g0 TO congress often
| times with no other idea than that the gov
eminent is general grab bag for few
fortuuates, and the inevitable cOnse quences
are, fret, q failure to properly comprehend
public duties and public responsibility;
second, a false deduction that he owes no
other obligation to his consti uency other
than little petty gratitude Tor his meagre
salary, and third. he concludes that public
stealing is legitimate business. The same
opinions extend to he voting masses, and
they throw their votes and tieir influence
with the candidate or the party that offers
| the most drinks and che biggest brioes.
This condition of affairs has been intensi-
flying during the administration OF the re-
publican party. 1t has resulted in "carpet-
bag rule" 'salary grabs" and star route
Frauds" As soon as American Legislation
shall proceed upon patriotic principles, en-.
dorsed and declared with enthusiasm and
with zeal, just so soon will the voting pu bic
arrive at q proper conception Of their re
sponsibiity. Then will be revived the mo-
tive which inspired "I'd rather be right
than president" and Liberty and Union,
now and forever, one and inseparable,
speeches which would now have strange
ring and an unfamiliar echo.
These observations may be extreme and
impractical, but 1t cannot be said that they
are groundless. Hence. the conclusions 90
hurriedly and imperfectly stated must, In q
measure, be probable. NswDAYoATH.