Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-18
THE LESSON NO BE LEARNED FEOA,
VOORHEES, HUMILIATION.

From the Macon, no, Democrat
Honesty is the best in politics as well
as everything else. As Confederate we
have not the slightest doubt of the sym
pathy of Voorhees, being with the peo-
pie of the south: were this not the case
we think almost every Confederate who
knew anything at all about it, was left
to believe that in this brilliant and elo-
quent man the south had a sympathiZing
friend. And this trust has never Yet
been shaken and the knowledge of il
mas not detracted in the least from his
personal popularity. A dignitied silence
or a generous and manly avowal OF
these sentiments would have been inf
nitely better for the man and for the
cause of truth than the weak and silly
denial ne made in the face of evidence
strong enough to convict any man.
1t has never yet been necessary for any
man to deny fighting for or sympathising
with the south in the late struggle 10
men let them be ever SO strong friends
to the Union. Could Senator Voorhees,
succeed in convincing the people of his
own state that he was what he claimed
in his debate, to be at heart in sympathy
with the policies believed to be wrong by
the best men in both the north and the
south, lie would not add to his popular
itv in the least. And if they believe that
he was driven 10 the cowardly denial OF
his sentiments, the mantle of charity
alone can prevent his being most severely
cenSured.
How much better it is for a man TO be
true to himself. And if mistaken,
acknowledge it like man, and if he be-
ieves himself right, to stand by 1t, though
it sinks him into an endless oblivion,
Cowardice and falsehood are SO detest-
able IN the eyes of true men and women
that anything that looks like it cannot
aid him who practices it.
Politicians above all men should keep
clean records. They should at all times
be sincere. and act with clean hands and
a pure heart. And then they should
stand by their record so firmly as to not
deny it though they might know that
they had made mistakes. The man who
tries TO blow hot and cold with the same
breath and be working hard for two
antagonistic men or causes at the same
time, generally is shown up in his true
light and becomes at once contemplate
in the eyes of his enemies and an object
Of pity to his friends. A man whose
word and pledge is not as sacred in
politics as anything else, is unworthy of
being confided in, in anything. A man
who seeks TO betraY man or cause he
represents in politics, is as dishonest,
and more cowardly than the man who
will violate law. La one case honor
alone is all the safeguard thrown around
the cause he represents, III the other the
law protects.
While we find but little in Ingalls, to
admire but his talent, we can but ac-
knowledge that man whom we so much
admired and whom we thought to be his
superior in everything grand and noble
has, through cOwardice alone. allowed
his enemy to gain an advantage over him
which will prove lasting disgrace; and
III contest, too, where the weapons
were 10 be those forged by brains the
one stood grand, noble and self-pOssessed
and the other disregarded the code of
honor in debate and condescended to
use the weapon Of the rutfian and black
guard.
We dislike to say what we have in this
case but the truth demands it; and should
we stand alone among Democratic jour
nails we must condemn the course of the
man we loved and admired, and admire
the course OF him we have so little rea-
son TO love and admire. Cowardice and
ruffianism we shall never endorse while
we hold honor as sacred as we do.