New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02
PRACTICAL POLITICS.
SOME FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS

LETTERS TO A KING BY Albion W. Tourgee.
IL d. 12mo. PIP. 303' Phillips Hunt.
In n series of twenty four letters, addressed
to young man just entering upon the duhes
and privileges of citizenship, Judge lourgee DIS
cusscs the fundamental problems OF American
poItics, and gives great deal OF sound ADVICE
as to the course to be followed by the voter
He emphasizes the Importance of aiming at the
reform of current political abuses by taxing
direct and unintermittent part in poltcai action :
and he dcprecates the illogical and pesslmlstlc
view which results in holding aloof from poll
ties until they have become corrupt ana DOM
mated by selfish and dishonest men-and then
seeking TO remedy things by some patent me-
chanical device or some spasmodc independent
movement He points out the illusveness of all cx-
pectaticns based upon such methods, and strives
T., make it plain that the only sure way 10
cleanse the filthy pool is 10 secure conscientious
performance of their full political duty by the
intelligent masses who, as things are, so ire
oucntlv fall into slavery TO bosses and wire
nullers.n because they will not take their Hght-
full share of the countrys public work
Judge IourGec holds that the men VINO 40
nothing but prophesy the failure OF republican
institutions, while neglecting their own PLAIN
duties are in effect no less unpatriotic than the
selves of their opportunities to make money cor
ruptly. Nor does he lose sight of the unprinci-
pled voters who make the worst kind of cor
ruptjon possible by putting the franchise up 10
sale. But these venal voters, he maintains,
are really not numerous enough to consummate
the schemes of the political manipulators, were
the intelligent and more conscientious voters
not so lax in the performance of their civic
lie ,ln inl
and does not evade difficulties or mince matters
in any way While he defends party ana Or
panization and holds it TO be indispensable to
healthy and progressive government under the
democratic system, he does not write here in
nar,isan shirt The doctrine he lays down
applies with like force to all parties and may
he followed with profit by all politicians. 1t
is q sober, thorough and enlightened examina-
ton of political problems from the point OF
view of one who has had ample practical ex-
perience. who can put his finger upon all the
weak places in our system, and who sees clearly
not only what can but what cannot be done
in the way of improvement.
The author is neither an optimist nor pes
sirnist but a plain man, who sees things as
they are: pcrccives by what processes they nave
come to be so: and suggests such measures OF
reform as experience has shown to be IN accord
with reason To say, he does, that those
who claim to be considered the better classes
are often the worst and most dangerous eie-
mcnts IN the community may appear paradox
ical but it is at bottom statement of fact
only made little more boldly and strikngy
than usual Nor can there be any doubt as
TO the entire soundnoss Of the proposition that
the sole effective remedy for political abuses
is the active and steady participation of all
citizens in politics That, indeed, is the master
key to all political problems and if the pres
ent percentage of the ahstainers is what 1t was,
nsmcly, about twenty per cent, it would not
be difficult to prove that the final response
bI1ity for al tho most serious abuses OF the
times rests upon those who, for one frivolous
reason or another, refuse TO have anything to
do with politics, and ar:osate to themselves a
peculiar credit for their incvism Such a.
plain-speakine, sober and practical discussion OF
politics generally these letters contain should
provoke serious and fruitful thinking. Ii is,
indeed, a capital book TO put IN the hands OF
young men about to cast their first vote, ana
nothing but good can come Of the ASSIMILATION
of the principles laid down in it by Judge
Touropp