The herald., 1894-09-19
RAISE THE STANDARD.

There are great many yeople who
would simply laugh at the idea OF prin-
ciple as applied to politics. and bearing
in mind the ordinary run OF small-fry
politicians it is small wonder that they
should. Multitudes. of persons rush
tumultuously into a campaign as though
their lives depended upon the issue, who
have no more idea OF the essential dif-
ferences between the Democratic and
publican parties than q COW has of
algebrs 1t is true that in view Of the
determination OF both OF those parties
in the effort to kill silver in the special
session of last year it may be said that
there is very little difference. and that
that little is scarcely worth bearing in
mind in any question in which Wall
street is interested.
Itis only too true that the great pivot
Of politics with most people in whose
mouth the word oftenest rscurs is office.
The place hunting instinct has become
an overwhelming one with large por-
ton of the American nation.
Ia there. then, no such thing as prin-
ciple in politics? We should be sorry
to think that there was not. Here and
there undoubtedly man can be
found who really believes that the men
who write platforms and adopt them
are in earnest. If it were not for this
occasional honest man they undoubt.
edly would not be written. for who
would take the trouble to string out 3
lot Of senseless p!atitudes ii they were
to be absolutely without effect? There
are some persons so honest themselves
that they actually take psrty platforms
seriously. For instance, the Chicago
platform on which Mr.. Cleveland was
nominated was loud in its devotion to
the tariff. What honest Democrat.
who did not belong to the professional
politicians, ever dreamed that the presi-
dent elected upon it would call special
session of congress to demonetizs sill
YER. and that the long session of the
Fifty-third congress would adjourn with
the principle OF protection again en-
throned and the trusts triumphant?
And yet that is just what happened,
and it was accentuated by the silly coup
de theatre of the president in declining
to sign the bill.
Are politics really degenerating or are
we witnessing greed for Office and a
lack of principle that have always
characterized political parties? Un-
patriotic as the confession is, we are
afraid that We are retrograding in the
United States and that they are i'm
proving in England, France and othsr
countries of Europe. England was at
one time probably the most corrupt
country on the footstool. 1t was her
! ce1eDrated SIT hoperJ warPO,e -
iginstsd the aphorism that every man
has bis price," and English public men
were careful to prove the truth OF this
sordid saying. But in the frat quarter
! of the nineteenth century decided
reform set in which has steadily &C
celebrated until the standard OF tie poll
tician ia now as high in personal honor
and sense of responsibility as in any
country on earth. A whisky trust Of
a sugar truat would find it impossible
to affect the legislation OF the United
Kingdom OF Great Britain and Ireland
In France the Panama canal infamy
temporarily blackened the air, but l
is safe to say that most wholesome
reaction has set in in that country
Principle cuts far more OF figure II
the politics of England, France AM
Germany, we are afraid, than it doe
in the United States.
This being the case, what must b
done? Well, we must simply raise tn
standard, that is all. 1t will requir
effort, and probably the best way t
set about it is to sit down on the Office
seeker. and let the office seek the man