The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-02

There is one thing the people of this
state should resolve to do this year. and
that is TO take more interest in politics.
BY this we do not mean that they should
neglect business TO discuss politics and
make political states, but they should
make themselves acquainted with politi-
cal questions and should strive to have
capable, honest and efficient men chosen
to fill the Offices.
Unless we have good laws, intelligently
administered we shall have many I'M
necessary burdens, which will make it
more difficult to achieve prosperity.
Too many of those who are the most
deeply interested in having good and hon
est government do not exercise any infu-
ence whatever in the choice Of those who
make and administer the laws. The con
sequence is that, in too many cases, infe-
rior men, by wire pulling, trickery and
promises, and with the aid of those who
have little or nothing at stake, get into
places of honor and influence. They care
very little for the public welfare. Their
sole aim is to get into office, and they use
the positions in which they are placed
by the people to get better
places. In the discharge of their
public duties they seek to make political
friends whom they can use TO climb to
better places. Such men are not worthy
TO be honored and trusted. They sug-
gest and urge no reforms for fear they
will offend somebody who may be able to
assist them in gratifying their ambition.
They are dangerous to the public welfare
and they exercise a demoralizing infu-
enee
The people should not permit incompe-
tent and inferior men to have the offices
simply because such men make an
effort to get them. The people
are under no obligation to give
the Offices to those who persistently seek
them, aud very often these office seekers
are not fitted for the positions to which
they aspire.
The people are under no obligations to
to give a man an Office simply because he
wants it, but they are under obligations
to select as their public servants the most
competentmen obtainable.
This year large number of offices are
to be filed in this state. Why should the
people meekly submit to having
incompetent men forced upon them as
their officials when there are men of high
character and broad and progressive
views who are willing to serve them2
Why should they accept as candidates
those who announce themselves as such
if they are in doubt as to their fitness2
They are not bound to accept those
whose chief merit is their persistency in
seeking office They should act with in
dependence and judgment, calling only
upon those to serve them whom they
have good reason to believe could and
would serve them efficiently and faith
fully. And this rule should govern them
in choosing every official from governor
down to justice of the peace.
There is so much that is disagreeable
in politics that there is growing dispo- 4
sition among those who are not seeking
Office to have nothing TO do with the
selection of candidates for office. They
are wrong in thus neglecting their duty
as citizens, and must pay the penalty of
their neglect. If they would take more
interest in practical politics they might
relieve it of much that is Objectionable,
and they would do the public and them
selves a great service.