Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1890-09-13
A PRACTICAL POLITICIAN.

fore he was q voter, and continued
until the day oil lis cruel and
lamentable death. He made
study of political arts and meth
DDS in local contests, and after
wards applied the instruction thus
obtained to matters Of national
and universal moment. There was
was nothing in all the range Of
caucuses and conventions that he
did not understand He was ia
niiiar with all the expedients en-
ployed to bring men together for
associated effort ia behalf OF a
given doctrine or interest. It was
his custom to participate in the
management OF cam palgns, to be
son the inside, as the saying is;
and 10y that course he was ahle to
see what contributed to success
a q what tenNed t. defeat. Dur
ing his memorable canvass with
Douglass for the Senate it was
often remarked that he knew just
what was needed to be done in
each locality, and that his advice
il that respect was worth as much
as his speeches. He had an eye
to success and believed in taking
any advantage that the negligence
or iucompetency of the opposition
leaders placed within his reach.
When he became President he
did not seek out unknown or in-
experienced men for his counsel
ors. He chose men who had been
in politics all their lives, and had
practical views as to the perform
ance of political duties. There
has never been more successful
and capable Cabinet than that
was, all of its members We're poll
ticians as well as statesmen.
But Lincoln was the master
spirit from first to last. They
could not teach him anything
about politics. He consulted them
and listened to him good natured-
ly when they gave him advice, but
1t always happened that he had |
fully considered and correctly de-
cided each point that they pre-
sented. IL they tried to force |
their opinion on him they soon
learned that his convictions were
not lightly held, and that with all
his kindness he could be a rock
when he felt that his convictions
were right. More than once he
had to win his way with them by
artilice and they yielded to him
while thinking that he was making
the surrender. They were all
politicians, but he was their su-
perior in that particular, as he
WAS in every other. His practical
training in Illinois had equipped
him for any emergency and the
time did not come when he need |
cd to take any lessons.
The testimony all goes to show
that political service OF the best
sort Is rendered only by men who
have qualified themselves for it by
years Qr. hard practice. 1t is not
an occupation to be taken up 10y
ss man WHO rancies that it is an
'alogoas TO other pursuits in which |
success has been attained. The
People blynder whenever they |
elect sucb(a man to an important
office, and he plumbers when he
accepts 1t, since he is sure to come |
out of it with a damaged instead
OF an improved reputation. A
man like the late lack Chandler,
who was fair type Of the prac-
teal politician that the Pharisees |
delight to condemn and revile. is
worth more to the country than a
dozen men having equal integrity
but lacking his experience and his
practical sense. Another speci-
men that may be named is John
Sherman, man who has always
beeA a politician, but who is, new
ertheless, u statesman OF the first
quality. 1t is mens of this kind
that fill Offices with conspicuous
Il Il.