The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-14
THE POLITICAL SITUATION,
As Viewed by Philosopher "F;ickcr."

In the light OF passing events and of recent
Developments, my iGeas have undergone
some very marked changes My conception
OF patriotism, or the love Of our country and
It's people, Is very different now from what 1t
was thirty years ago. / then thought that TO
bleed and die for ones country and people
was about the full size OF patriotism and its
requirements. There was a time when !
thought faith, the size of a mustard seed, was
full grow IN, and was large enough for any pur-
pose. once thought to believe that Il whale
swallowed Il man and kept him aboard his
craft for three days, and then safely landed
him in port was about the size OF fully ma
tured credulity.
My faith in the patriotism Of political dem
aagogues, and my ciedulity in the measures
they propose OF bringing prosperity and
wealth. TO the pauperS Of the country, have
until lately been so small. shrunk and dwarf
ed that they were not larger than the ravel-
ings OF the little end of'nOthing.
These latter day political patriots have de-
Veloped love OF country and people, and {.
disregard OF their own interests so reckless,
and craftsmanship so sagacious, that il has
upset all my former notions on these subjects.
am bewildered in establishment, and lost in
amaZement. My comprehensive powers are
disbanded, and l feel as if my Uranium was
disembowelled, and the contents evaporated,
and nothing but the dust of the ashes left To
show the utter deSolation OF the situation.
am left so far behind in Oblivion that il would
take the best astronomer Of the age with
Lick's telescope TO discover my obscurity.
he NdCIIuCeS anu COUueSCeUSlOIS maze Dy
the political patriots of the present day are
so unSpeakaOv stupendouS as to overshadow
and completely obscure all past efforts in
serving the dearly beloved people and coun-
try. In what age or land can we look for
their peers: In what tribe or nation could we
find one so regardless of self interest as la
give up the noble and exalted calling OF SELL
Ing lire eXtinguisherS 10 take seat among
the ragamu!finS Of Congress, in the service OF
the people he loves so well. When we con-
template the surroundings OF culture and re.
tnement, OF ease and dignity, OF financial
prosperity and prospects in the calling and
occu patton Of selling fire eXtipguiSherS, all
cheerfully given up and set aside to serve the
people as Congressman, and when we conSid.
er tine stencil of the low social surroundings
to be endured by one of such cultured refine
ments and such fastdious tastes, being. sub.
jected to such position OF degradation as the
duties OF Congressman subjects him TO, and
when we further reflect that there is no re-
ward or hope or reward, except in the small
pittance OF 5000 year aS salary and n few
perquisites that il judiciously handled might
realize aS much more, at any rate hardly eX
ceeding Sl0,WO year. And then for such ser.
vice. requiring at least thirty days of his pre-
cious time, how can we conceive of the enOr.
nifty Of the sacrifice yet we have the man
willing to endure all this degradation, this
destruction of prospects almost without ask
ing, and ruSheS to take upon himself the bur
dens of n crushed down pcoplc-nO hope of
reward except the consciousness OF duty no
bly, done. Such examples OF devotion ought
10 OutlaSt monuments of brass or marble
and should be kept bright when time ceases
to exist.
There is one other thing ! feel To be my
duty, and that is 10 record the faith Of til,
people in such noble patriotism. There Wa,
II man in the long past hygone told If he had
faith as large as Il mustard seed, he could re-
move mountain by word of mouth. Now
when whole people has faith enough TO be
lieve In such patriotism as this, IL must he ~
large asa Texas pumpkin and large enough tt
swallow Whole range Of mountains, anC
. then swallow themselves and still be hungry
Yours truly Flicker.