The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-03-09
CHARACTER IN POLITICS.

The great speech delivered at Ann
Harbor last week by eX-P-esident Cleve-
land. on the subject of character in pol
itics, was almost drowned by the noise
Of the machine at Albany. The politi
clans of the country, those who are now
running and yelling with the machine,
turned deaf ears to the voice of the great
Democratic statesman who had gone a
great distance to say to the youth there
assembled, and to the youth of the land,
that there is something higher and nObler
in politics than its spoils. 1t was lofty
theme, worthy the man and worthy the
hour. The two thousand or more stu
dents who heard the address must have
been impressed with the nobility of the
thought and tile crystal purity of the
patriotism which pervaded it. If they,
and with them the youth of the land,
shall take the lesson into their lives as
an inspiration and guide into the citizen
ship and its responsibilities which they
are soon to assume, the future will be
full of hope for the Republic.
The following is an extract from Nh
Cleveland's speech:
II BEG you, therefore, to take with you
vixen you go forth to assume the obliga-
ton of American citizenship, as one of
the best gifts Of your alma mater, &
strong and abid ng faith in the value and
potency of good conscience and pure
heart. Never yield one i0ta to those
that teach that these are weak and child
| ish things, not needed in the struggle OF
manhood with the stern realities of life.
Interest yourself in public affairs as a
duty of itiAenship; but do not surrender
your faith to those who discredit and de-
base politics by soothing at sentiment and
pinciple, and whose political activity con
sists in attempts to gain popular support
bv cunning devices and sbrewd manipu-
lation. You will find plenty of these
who will smile at your profession of faith
and tell you that truth and virtue and
honesty and goodness were well enough
in the old days when Washington lived
but are not suited to the present size and
development of our country and the pro-
Cress we have made in the art of pOliti
cal management Be steadfast. The
strong and sturdy oak still needs the
support of its native earth, and as il
grows in size and spreading branches, its
roots must strike deeper in the soil which
warmed and fed its first tender sprout
You will be told that the people have nc
longer any desire for the things you pro
fess. Be not deceived. The people are
not dead but sleeping. They will awake
~ gvu,t -,S..sv, cyuyl oUUuI ST tho mooney
changers from their sacred temple.
you may be chosen to public Office
Do not shrink from it, for holding Office
is also a duly of citizenship. But dc
not leave your faith behind you. Every
public office, small OF great is held il
trust for your fellow-c itizens They diff
fer in impo tance, in responsibility ant
in the labor they impose; but the duties
Of none of them can be well performed il
the membership of a good conscience and
!. pure heart be discarded. OF course
other equipment is necessary, but with
out this membership all else is insufficient
lii times Of gravest responsibility it vii.
solve your difficulties; in the most try
ing noun it will lead YOU out OF perplex
ties, and it viii at al times deliver yoy
rom temptation"