The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-10-22
Rambling Thoughts.

Tho election of man To an Office
Of public trust is testimonial "f
the esteem and confidence in which
he is held by the members of his
community. Thus they publicly
endorse his character as q man aod
citizen and certify TO his fitness for
the position to which he sspires
Not too much consideration can be
paid to the private character Off
candi date. For il is this which
nrst commcnda him to his neigh
bor's notice, and the successful sd
m inist,ation, OF his personal affairs
gives promise 10 like success in
public msttcIs. The fidelity which
governs his course Of private con
duet and the honesty which marks
his business transactions with his
fellow men are measures Of the f.
deity and honesty which will rule
hin in the discharge Of public du
ties. And he who gives his suffrage
to any candidate to whom, AS 40
individual, he cannot give his con
ndence, or he who espouses the
cause of any one without regard to
his f,ness or character, does not
merit the right of elective franchise.
Earth permits man no brighter
honor than the possession Of the
confidence of 4 free and intelligent
people; and no language can ex-
press the just condemnation upon
him who wantonly betrays such sa-
cred trust Whoever aspires to pub
lie favor must show something in
his character and in the principles
be advocates, to merit the esteem of
the electors. A consistent mem Der
Of political party will always look
to his party Tor support. They
have common cause and are bound
by ties of common interest. He is
If the same political school and is
in sympathy with their political be !
lief. Sometimes, however, the exem
plarv lite of a candidate as q private
citizen and his eminent ability may
secure his election although large
portion of his supporters are rot in
harmony with him on various pub
lie questions. Yet because of his
earnest convictions, which testify to
4 decisive character. he wins the
confidence of liberal and patriotic
people who prefer the leadership of
such man to one Of flexible convic-
tions and inferior ability.
A curious combination in politics
is the so,called "lndependent' who
makes it his business TO be neutral
in party contests and agree at the
same time with both sides. The
nobility of his manhood will not
permit him to be a mere private in
the ranks of any party, and the
great holiness of his intellect torhids
him to obey party behest. There
fore he ia independent, and, in order
10 mske his position public, (for q
light like his should not be hid he
runs for office on a specially erected
and carefully built platform. Suck
an independent il the most de
pendent creature on the globe-de |
pendent upon tho disafftctcd, dissp- |
pointed, Indifferent and ignorant of
all parties for their votes. With no
principles save those which are
popular, with no convictions save
those which embrace self, he hobs
up seren-ly in every canvass as the
"people's friend" You have never
yet seen one of these pstriOts who
wss opposed to the people and who
did not advocate some..orisinal, self
conceived measure. which, if sue
cessful, would revolutionize society
In well regulated and intelligent
such individuals rarely
succeed. True men know their
want of earnestness and past obser-
walton has shown their want of in.
duerce.
Dr,IoCsAI