The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-17
IMPROVEMENTS OF PUBLIC LIFE.

DISAPPOINTMENTs OF PUBLIC LIFE.
The Portland Oregonlan after long
review of the unpleasant side Of a con-
CHEESEMAN'S life reaches the conclusion
that the game is not worth the candle.
1t quotes approvingly the reply of
George M. Stearns, the brilliant and
witty Massachusetts democrat, to tho
request of friends who asked him to be-
come candidate: II cannot stand it.
l must have the few remaining years of
my life for what can get of pleasure
and joy out Of this beautiful world
and goes on to paint this sombre pic
t1re:
A man who goes to congress can only
rise to notice by rare genius for political
leadership or by round of ceaseless drudg
cry, much of which is the degrading and
exasperating work of playing the part of
winged Mercury between the various de-
partments and his constituents who have
complaints to make or favors to solicit. To
q man of the temperament of Thad Stew
ems, Blaine, Randall or Reed, masters of
debate and leaders in party warfare, there
may be pleasure in congressional life.
But to man of intellect. who does not en-
joy the parliamentary pugilism of politics,
their 10 neither pleasure nor profit in con-
oressional life. If the man is indolent he
soon ignores his duty with its drudgery fol
social enjoyment which brings with it nc
mental or spiritual improvement. If he is
industrious and yet destitute of the capaci
ty to shine upon the floor, his real, solid
talents and learning are concealed from the
people and little known outside his com
mittee rooms.
AS q career for mediocrity the Ore
CONAN secs no adequate reward for long
years of drudgery. "How many mer
there are," it says, who, without an.
capacity to shine in congress half al
brightly a. they do in purely profes
sional or business life, still cling to thu
dull mill round of petty political life. II
tho senate Morrill, is so, Dawes "A
Sawyer "A, Hampton y, Reagan y
Barbour 70, Pugh 20, Brown So, Wilson
(of Maryland) So; all old enough to de
sire recreation and repose. If it be an
swered that these men are happier ii
congress than they could be anywhere
else, this is only confession what poor
narrow natures they had originally, Of
how completely they have become dessi
Gated by the atmosphere of politics Il
the capacity to cling to congress meets
such barren rewards, how wretchet
must be the condition of the creature
with whom congressional life has be
come necessity Of enjoyable existence
who yet finds himself suddenly dropped
by a tickle constituency. Out Of this
class is recruited the hungry pack o
Washington claim agents and the clam
orous seekers for petty offices at home
or contemplate consulships abroad"
And here is the melancholy conclusion
The curse of political life, when the ma,
lacks the rare gift of leadership or impres
sive craftsmanship, is that it creates pas
sion for cheap notoriety as separated frol
sound reputation. The man is never cas-
ont Of congress, even when he knows
can do better work that is better paid
private life than he has ever done in publ
life. He cannot do this work, for he hi
fed % long on adulation and the false fam
of titled Office that he is never happy unit
again in congress, or If not in congress in
federal Office of some sort. This kind
cheap, unsuitable ambition is always in
distressed condition. 1t lives on excit
msnt, and without happiness when it
transiently successful, and it writhes aw
it, days in agony, biting its own flesh like
woandsd wild cat, when its day of disml
sal, defeat and disappointment comes,
come it must. soon or late. Such CO
gresham knows that he cannot always 9
psot 70 b. in Office, and yet he drift
alag dreading the Evil day that is sure