The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-27
BE CONSIDERABLE,

BE CONSIDERABLE,
Wherever lawmakers or the adj
ministrators, undertake to satisfy
classes, communities or individuals
in contradistinction to the people at
large, they are sure to run upon
snags or strand upon the rocks and
quicksands that always lie along the
pathway of the public man. Those
who make laws and those who exc
cute them ought to cut loose from
self, friends and every special indus
try in the discharge Of their duty
to the public, and have an eye sin
gle to the public good, regardless of
friend or foe. If human nature was
not so weak, and we were not so
prone to fall in error, and to deceive
ourselves, and thereby deceive 9th
ers. there would not be half the dis
satisfaction with our lawmakers and
the executors Of the law.
If our public servants could rise
above self, and steer clear of the in
luences and surroundings of mon
eyed men, and those who have axes
to grind on the public grind stone,
there would would not be one hun
dreth part Of the inequalities, in
consistencies and incongruities in
the laws. But we are not ignorant of
the fact that it is almost next to
impossible for man to pursue the
line of action we have suggested.
Therefore the greater reason we
should use the greatest care and
precaution in the selection of men
for public servants, and after we
have used all diligence in making a
choice, we frequently fall far short
Of our expectations and hopes.
Not because we have not done our
best but because we did not know
our man. Sometimes the very
man we Judge will make the best
representative Of the people, makes
the very worst.
One of the best rules for a law
maker to follow, is never to give
his sanction to the passage of any
law which has not been discussed by
the people. This cannot always be
so, but as rule it Wilt hold good.
Sometimes it so happens that law
makers must assume the RESPONSE
bility and act on his own Judgment
and when these occasions arrive
and he does not act, but lodges and
and fails to discharge his duties, he
is an unworthy representative. A
public servant has great respon
sibility resting upon him. His pc
sltion is very delicate one. He
must please John " hite, Tom Jones
Bill Smith and Mr.. and Mrs. every
body else. Now an angel could moi
satisfy these varios classes. If Jones
is pleased, Smith is mad, and if PEI
chance they should both be salts
fed, then John White will ex
haust his vocabulary of cuss words
i'll venting his spleen upon his I'm
fortunate head.
And nine times out of ten he viii
heap red hot Goals of fire upon ever.
one who does not join in his TRAD,
OF abuse. Now this is all wrong
1t is impossible that we should al
agree in all things. We are al
prone to look through our own spec
tacles, and out of our own eyes
and to our own interest, and to ig
more the fact that others have right
that we ought to respect.
But we are not apologizing To-
the mistakes and shortcomings O
our public servants. We are onl,
suggesting that we ourselves ma,
be wrong in our judgments, and TO
that reason ought to be more toler
ent in our judgments and criticisms
upon those who disagree with us.
But after all we believe "to tn,
victors belong the spoils'' all thing
else being equal, and while we en-
dorse our administration, we.woult
endorse it with more vim and cor
diality if it would move faster ant
lose less time in turning the rascal
out.
The administration appointed
h roP r..