Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-12-09
POLITICS AS A BUSINESS.


Ex-senator Edmunds contributes an
article on the above topic to the current
issue of the Forum, and, like everything
he writes. 1t Is worthy of consideration.
The drift If his arguenent is best given
in his own words.
"The first duty of man is to provide by
honest means for the maintenance of
himself and his family, that is If he have
family. Honest politics as "A pursuit
does not furnish such means except in
the small class of administrative employ
ments, and then only in very meagre
degree. Every person, certainly In
republic, ought to be politician in some
way; but to pursue political career as
such implies much more. Assuming, as
may be safely done, that the great
majority of young citizens are honest,
the chances for them of good political
career have many attractions; but If
that career Is to be exclusive of the pri-
vate pursuit of some business or pro-
fession, it will be found difficult and
disappointing. Indeed, only those of
assured competence could enter it.
"In the century of our political exist
tence there have been very few, if in
deed any. instances of the pursuit of pol
tics as career otherwise than in the
lowest and worst forms to which we
have alluded. The politicians who have
been most largely useful to the country
and most often in public service have
been men still engaged in ole way or
another in occupations common to their
fellow-citizcns, and they have been call
ed into public affairs by considerations
far other than personal self-seeking.
They came to possess and exercise pow
err, not as professional experts looking
for employment, but were called as the
best representative opponents of the So
cial and political views of the communi-
ties of which they were homogeneous
parts. This is the essential idea OF rep
resentative government. He is the best
politician and will have the best political
career whose everyday life and occupa-
tions are in contact and sympathy with
those of his fellow-men. He accepts
public employment and exercises public
power as duty, and it may be as
pleasure, when called to do it, and thus
he is able IN the chances of political move
ments to leave them without regret ard
feel himself again happily at home. in
his former place among the people.
"Inasmuch as we believe in the divine
order that places the sum of human hap
piness within the reach of all men, and
inasmuch as only the smallest proper
ton of the members of a political cNm'
munity can possibly be employed in car
rying on a government. 1t would seem &c
follow that politics rs a career came
be looked to by young Americans as the
best choice of occupation in life; ano
leaving aside considerable of individu
al happiness and the faculties, tastes ant
ambitions that affect it, the very princi
pie and structure of republic woulc
seem to be opposed to the idea or TIM
profession of politics to be taken up ant
pursued as law or medicine or engineer
ing are. A political class in republic
must always be IN danger of becoming
or trying to become, the master and die
tator of political movements trust I"
bossism and corruption, OF which ther'
is already an over-abundance."