The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-03

The term politician, Instead OF being
one Of derisOn, ought to be title OF COM
pliment and honor, and is such title when
the man who works for his country through
his party is honest in his intentions ana in
telligent In his effort The challenge by
superficial people that men work too much
for each other, or for men in their party,
instead Of being stigma on politics is
decoration. For friendship and faith are
of the best things in the world, II man
in politics beleyesin another, and believes
that that man can~aceomplish good for So
ciety, for country and the Government and
he devotes time, and possibly money and
great deal Of etfOrt-in behalf of that friends
promotion, he is simply doing his duty as a
citizen and as lover Of his country and his
kind. The sharp conflicts in politics, the
friction of contests, are simply the repeti-
tion of the same things in other organized
forms of human society. Indeed, the church
itself is not without its sharp contests, its
malice.
The love of man for his party is only an
other form of the love of man for his
country. If he have an.honest faith in his
party's principles. he is poor citizen if he
does not strive in every way to advance
into a place in the laws. 1t Is the
very theory of our Government that
every American has right and
duty to his own political opinions
and to fight for them. 1t is the
health of our politics, the sharp con-
each other and the fierce white light that
shines on all contests between parties III
American affairs. The Indifference of
the American voter is the greatest
danger to- the American republic.
Danger. is not to be feared from the men
who are too active in politics. 1t will come
rather from the men who think themselves
too good for politics, or that no party is
coed enough for them. ANY free Govern
meut is balanced on its citizens who are
voters, and the safety Of a republic is bal
anced on every vote. Ii voting could be
made cOmpulsOry-if all the winners and
GROWERS of the intellectual sort could be
compelled to vote-politics, of course,
would be much better. If we could have
something like the Australian bal
lot law, and with 1t a statute. COM
pelling every man entitled to a
vote to deposit his ballot, then the
republic would have the benefit at the polls
of the opinion one way or the other of every
available voter in its population. The good
American who Will not vote once when he
knows that he ought to do it is unfaithful
only in less degree than the bad American
Whe tries to vote twice. Therefore, l think
that all activity and zeal in politics, other
wise personal interest in government, in
stead of being discouraged ought to be
encouraged. The very safety of the re-
puDllc uepcuuS upon ll
MEN WHO CARRY TORCHES.
As to activity and demonstration in poll
ties the country is in little danger from the
man who is proud of his colOrs and Op emily
shows them, who carries torch aud goes
with hurrah on his way to political vic
tory; that fellow is patriot, or as near it
as he has the capacity to be. 1t is the
skulkiDg, growing fellow, who finds no
party good enough for him, who will not
vote at all, who does not believe in the
honesty of six millions of Democrats in a
party. nor Of six millions of Republicans
In party, but who SCOTS at everything
and signs: for a better sort of politics
and a better sort of world, who does
more harM by omission than the most
active man in politics does by commission.
As to the charge that in politics men grow
selfish, l would reply that instead they
grow generous. Where one man in politics
serves himself, 10000 serve their country.
1t is a field Of constant discipline, and the
sort OF discipline that Droadens men. 1t is
an arena Of conflict where they see the
good and the bad side of men displayed.
They easily and quickly learn to discover
and TO initiate the good. and to reject
the bad. 1t is libel on American char
aeter and American love Of fair play TO say
that the ignOble, mean and little man
in politics wins more support than
the noble, generous and true man. The
salary of Office is scarcely ever thought of
RS bride to manhood, except by the
scOffer and the Pharisee. There is hardly
public man drawing a salary in the
United States to-day, IL he be above 30
years Of age, who has not expended for his
Party's honest needs, for his c0untry's
honest behalf, more Of his own money than
he finds returned in present salary. In
deed, politics is school of generosity
rather than of selfishness. Poor men take
Of their little te help their party, because
they believe that their party helps their
country. Good men never fight together
without bond of sympathy being developed
between them. Good men in warfare are
always generous to the weak, quick to 60 10
the helpless and needy, generous in stand
ing aside for those more needy.
SOMETHING FOR THE POOR.
The world of politics takes care OF its
poor, helps 10 reform by human sympathy
and cheer those who have made mistakes,
helps to make everything fair and free from
. successful accusation or stain, as much as
any other OF the organized forms OF society.
1t is in contest that men learn to know each
other. II in is contest that they learn to be
generous. Politics have developed good
fellowship in many a chap who never knew
before what good fellowship was. 1t has
Taught MN to lie generous where he was
llLlle ana mean before. 1t has Shamed into
the display Of manhood where it was not in
MIN TO be manly before. Participation in q
great political contest, the same as partici-
patton in Office. tends to make a man con-
servauVe. Put responsibility on an
American, and you have got your best
American. Put responsibility on men
In political convention, and you have
made better Americans Of them. Men 90
together in politics to help serve their coun-
try. The indictment of men in politics for
selfshness has nothing to stand on. There
are twelve or thirteen millions of men who
are active in politics. and there are less than
100000 Offices Why indict the 1900. 900
men who go into politics as all hunting for
an Office, in face of this great fact, that
there is not an Office for one in ffty2 Why
not be fair? Why should not intellectual
critics and moral cynics be fair, even with
workers in politicsp 1t would be great
change, and new experience to them, but
Why not try it for once2
In the last year, holding an humble place