Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-07-21
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.

A phase of latter day politics Is for par.
ties TO follow men. II is part Of the teach
ing of that class who make a life business
Of politics, that everything must be done
with u view TO the preservation Of that par.
ticular organization which will maintain
the status gao. II Is the legitimate successor
oil the claim Of the divine right of kings, and
practically It's motto savors of the old saw
that "the king can do no wrong" Essen.
tally, II is not more defensible or respect.
able than the thing we profess to have out.
grown aud 10 desplse; In effect 1t is more
dangerous, because 1t masquerades under
false colors aud It's preaching Is Of larger
liberty and gain and prosperity. II We stop
10 consider, We will soon discover that the
preachers Of this idea belong for the most
part to those who have never done any.
thing that rebounds TO the real glory OF the
enduring welfare of the people; their names
are not associated with great measures
they are never in the van Of reforms, but
are sure 10 lead the procession when vic
tory crowns some great and patriotic effort
Of the people. The Tweeds, the Cookers,
the Quays, and that ilk are its chief apostles
and benefciarles.
1t is not legitimate leadership. To this
here can be no valid objection. As We
have stated time and again, we must be
governed by parties aud parties must have
leaders. But the true party leader is the
ran who sees an evil and exposes il and
esls upon the people 10 assist 10 abating II
he lie not one who after others have borne
the brunt of the battle PUSHES up In the mo.
ment of victory TO claim the reward. The true
leader knows that for time. at least, he
must bear the odiun that attaches 10 new
ideas and the yituperation OF those who will
suffer from the new order Of things; but he
never relaxes his grasp OF good cause or
loses faith in the intelligence and rectitude
of free people lie anticipates no advan.
tages which will not be shared by all his
fellow-citizens. He Is developed from the
people, not imposed upon them.
We hear great deal about leaders and
leadership In Maryland at this time, and the
effort Is made TO induce our people TO be-
lieve that certain men possess all Of polit
ical knowledge that Is worth the owning,
and all ofpolltical power that can accom-
plish substantial results. The fact that the
Federal administration has yielded 10 Ger.
tain demands is heralded Ms evidence that
political preferment can come only through
certain channels, and that 1t Is suicidal TO
resist But zone swallow does not make q
summer" and those who are making such
large use OF prospective patronage 10 order
10 secure votes, may find themselves In the
predicament Of being unable W deliver the
goods which were paid for ln advance
The leadership which results from such
schemes Is lar from genuine, and while il
may fnd followers who are blind, cannot
deceive the man OF sense. and must ultl.
mAtely come 70 grief.
The true leader, AZ we have said, Is de.
veloped from the people He Is one OF them,
identified with and devoted 70 their inter.
ssts. The people take him up and put him
forward as their agent aud servant, because
they know his WORT aud feel that they can
fely upon his word loder all circumstances
md 10 the face Of ali ssraptationa
IN thu prsssat. ltustion. when % many !