The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1888-12-20
GOOD ADVICE.

tcISOu lOT Ills duVlcc as TO the prop
er study for political career, the
brilliant editor, who has himself en-
joyed iauch observation and some
experience, thus happily responds
in country like ours there is
no such thing, strictly speaking, as
a political career" A man may
qualify himself ever so we'll for
official station, and miss it altogeth-
er. Our public life is made up Of
most fantastic odds and ends, the
elements of chance largely prevail
ing over every part Of it. Our pub
lie men are the merest sports of for
tune, gamblers in the lottery Of bal
lots, spectators in the gullibflity
of mankind, individually independ-
ent, and more or less the creatures
Eof every wind that blows. Our
politics is species of comic opera.
1t seems to young ambition fine
thing to be great man; but how
would it seem if the possible, and
sometimes the actual source of that
greatness were exposed to view !;
the mean self-seeking and abase-
ment; the sordid appliances; the
dishonoring sacrifices and cowardly
surrenders; the concessions here,
the submission there the petty arts
of soliciting and chicane, and the
obsequious stoops to conquer, and
all the deviousness, the delays, the
heart-burnings, the longing and
suspense, the Disappointment and
the dirt, which SO often attend the
transit from obscurity to eminence.
An honest, free man shudders to
think of it.
There is nothing more squalid and
pititul than poor great man in pub
lie station as society is now con-
structed in the National Capital.
1t may be that he has reached his
position on somebody else's money,
and is, therefore slave to those who
sent him. He is miserably under
paid out OF the public treasury, and,
if his integrity be in the least un-
certain, the temptation to put it
in commission is ever present and
pressing. If he satisfies his consti-
tuents, he must work like niger
on a rock pile. If he does not, he
is likely to fall by the way side into
the moral slums that yawn on every
hand. He is every man S man when
he is wanted for something, and NO
mans man when he wants something
for himself. His life is perpetual
hypocrisy, for it is impossible for
any one honestly to slop over as he
is required to do on every occasion
OF public excitement or private en-
treaty. He becomes, in spite Of
himself, a kind of masculine courte-
san, and, in time, sustains himself
upon a system OF organised selfish
ness, or sinks beneath load too
heavy for human endurance.
Both Clay and Webster lamented
in their last days that they had ever
entered public life. So did Douglas.
So, if the truth could be known, do
half of the men of the hour who
have lived long in Washington. 1t
may be said, truly, that they never
give i: up until they are forced to-.
But that is because they arc fit for
nothing else. Politics, too, like
other forms oflgambling, has its fas-
clnatlOnS.
Our answer to our young CORES
pendent is this: Except as a citi-
zen and voter let politics alone
learn a profession or craft not for
the fame and honors it may bring
You, but tor the means of an honor
able and independent subsistence
for yourself and for the family it is
your duty to bring into the world
and maintain; be true to the walk
in life and to yourself, loving work
for works sake and money for its
uses; and, if, as you pursue your
way, politics and office come seek
ing you, put them to question; &C
cept none Of their promises on faith
or credit, and before you conclude
to take them, even on trial, be sure
you are lettering your condition,
that 10 hn cnrn Won oro nn+ o.;~.s,o ..