The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
COLLEGE MEN IN POLITICS
Senator John ]. Ingalls, on the Elements
of Success in Political Life.
He Does Not Believe Advanced Education Helps
the Aspirant-College Graduates Usually
Impractical and Overcautious.

Written for the Sunday ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Politics, the art of government, active par
tcipation in public affairs. has always been the
| favorite pursuit of men of genius. power and
ambition.
The history of every country is the record of
the ideas, the purposes and passions, the in
trigues and the rivalres Of its political leaders.
Moralists quote the. utterances of Louis XIV,
81 am the State" as an exhibition of brutal AFRO
gance. and dhspotc egotsrn; but it was true.
lie was France, Charlemagne was before
him. and Napoleon afterwards; as Caesar
Rome, as Bismarck is Germany. and as Glad
stone is England
The art and the science Of government are not
to be confounded A man may know the art o f
government, like Aaron Burr, and not be a
Statesman He may be acquainted with the
science of government, like Alexander Hamil-
ton, and not be politician; to be skilled in both
implies the possession of the highest physical
and intellectual attributes of humanity.
Politics, like war, has little concern with
morality. 1t is a struggle for supremacy. When
the battle has been won the victors some
times magnanimous to their vanquished adver-
saries. but while the fight is raging there is
neither mercy nor quarter. Truth. justice,
faith, friendship and honor are disregarded in
the strife for success.
Hence. nearly all great political careers have
been tragedies. Triumph is succeeded by dis
aster. Public favor is fickle The idol of to-
day is forgotten or execrated to omorrow. Peace,
privacy. study. leisure are unknown, and happi-
ness is impossible The drama of ambition has
fatal and gloomy catastrophe.
But Notwithstanding these admonitions and
warnings of history tho infatuation for public
life does not diminish. There are probably
more among the active and aspiring young men
in the United States to-day who look TO seat
in the Senate House of Representatives
the goal of their ambition than for any other
avocation in life. The dome of the Capitol rises
above the horizon of their ambition, and they
yield to the spell whose irresistible fascination
has lured many to disappointment and multi
Governor Seward, of New York, is quoted as
having said, toward the close of his brilliant
and successful life. after having filled with DIS
tlnction nearly every position OF honor. save the
highest, in his State and the Nation. that his
ideal of fortunate the life of
independent farmer, with no acquaintance be-
yond ten miles from home.
The conditions Of success and failure in public
life are, therefore, exceedingly interesting but
success would be predicted others succeed who
apparently ought to fail. Thomas Jefferson, the
father of modern Democracy, taught his follow
ers that in a popular government wealth, virtue,
education and intelligence are ultimately
match for numbers the old Romans had a say
ing, obolus non elet-that is to say, money does
X,
politician considers that votes do not smell bad
~ after they cast and counted, no matter
what may have been the methods by which they
were procured Number and not quality obtains
the certificate of election.
The ambitious politician therefore endeavors
to ascertain what Is popular rather than what is
right, and the possession of an active conscience
or of a sensitive moral nature is formidable
il not insuperable obstacle to success.
Physical health. vieor, vitality and nervous
force are important factors. though there have
been instances of success in political life tout
not the hiehest) in spite of weakness and in
frmi4. John Randolph. Alexander Stephsns
and the late Senator Fessenden are conspicuous
illustrations; but they serve rather to establish
than disprove the rule that robust strength
and endurance indispensable elements.
It is an open secret that eminent citizen
of the Republic lost the nomination for the
presidency at the supreme crisis of his fortunes
by sudden attack Of illness, while the conven-
ton was in session.
The continuous strain of the presidential Office
is sucn that the physical condition of the caudi-
date must hereafter become one of the control
ling considerations of party managers. A weak,
fragile delicately organized man could not sur
vive the stress, confinement, opportunity and
incarceration of the executive Office for single
presidential term. He would inevitably break
under the pressure and pass from the White
House to an asylum or to the tomb.
But perhaps the most interesting inquiry is
that concerning the Importance OF the higher
education one of the elements of success in
politics. and the part which college graduates
take in public affairs.
Much has been said about the s.scholar in
politics" and the duty of educated to the
state Many essays have been written to prove
all the ills that affiict the Republic. purify
suffrage abolish pauperism, and elevate the
standard of national morality
In response this sentiment numerous sscol-
leges" have been established. where the youth of
the country taught that free trade is the
basis of national prosperity, and that political
parties are corrupt and criminal conspiracies
whose destruction Is an indispensable pre-re-
quiste of reformation in the civil service, and
of purity and efficiency in the administration Of
the government
Confning the inquiry to the influence of
college education upon success in politics, to the
legislative branch of the government, the fol-
lowing table shows the number of classical
graduates in the Fiftieth Congress, in
session, and also the number of those educated
in common schools and academies:
administrators, both academic. Representa-
tives three classical and four common school,
Arkansas-Senators, classical,
school Representatives, four common school,
classical.
MISUNDERSTANDING academic, common
school Representatives, six common school and
academic
Coiorado-Senators, both academic. represents
tives, common school.
Connecticut-senators, one classical. one academic.
Representatives, two classical two common school.
Delaware-Senators. one classical one academic
Representatives, ole classical.
Florda-Senators, classical common
school Representatives two academic.
Georgia-Senators. one classical, one academic.
three classical seven aeadenic
Representatives, eight classical twelve academic and
: common school
Indiana Senators, two classical Representa-
tives, four classical. nine school and
academic
Iowa-Senators, classical academic. Rep
resentatives, four classical school and
academic.
Kansas-Senators one classical, common school.
Representatives classical six common school and
academic,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., classical, academic.
Representatives. three classical eight common school
and academic.
Louisiana-Senators. both classical Representa-
tives, two classical. four school and
demic.
ADMINISTRATORS, classical, one academic. Rep
resenatives, three classical. one academic.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., classical, common
school. Representatives, four classical, two
de1nc.
Massachusetts-Senators both classical. Repre-
sentatives, classical. five common school and
academic.
Michigan-senators classical, one common