Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-03-22
BUSINESS MEN IN POLITICS,

Governor McKinley's words, spoken
in his speech at Rochester, N. Y, are
words of wisdom, and we'll worth serious
consideration. He said:
''Interest in public atfairs-national,
state and city should be ever present
and active, and not abated from one
years end to the other. No American
citizen is too great and none too humble
to be exempt from any civic duty, how
ever subordinate. Every public duty is
honorable.
IF the best citizens will not unite to
serve the state or city, the worst may
and generally will he in control. There
is in every state and city a majority in
favor Of the best government, and when
they fail to secure it, it is because the
majority is Indifferent and without unity
OF purpose n action. Business men
cannot, with safety, stand aloof from
political duties. Their success or failure
in their own enterprises is often involved
IN good or bad government. The great
danger to the country is in~differentism.
1.-The menace often comes from the
busy man or man of business, aud some.
times from those possessing the most
leisure or learning. I-have known men
engaged in great commercial enterprises
to leave home on the eve of election, and
then complain Of the result, when their
presence and the good influence they
might properly have exerted would have
secured Il different result. They run
away from one Of the most sacred obi
cations III a government like ours, and
confde to those with less interest IN
volyed and less responsibility to the com
munlty the duty which should be shared
by them. What We need is a revival of
the true spirit where all-not a few
participate actively in government. We
need a new baptism of patriotism; and
suppressing for the time our several re-
llgious views upon the subject, | think
we will all agree that the baptism should
be by immersion. There cannot be too
much patriotism. 1t banishes distrust
AID treason, and anarchy fees before it..
1t is a sentiment which enriches our in
dividual and national life. It is the firm
ament of our power, the security of the
republic, the bulwark of our liberties.
It makes better citizens, better cities, a
better country and a better civilization.
"The business life of the country is so
closely connected with it's political life
that the one is much influenced by the
other. Good politics is good business.
The business man caunot stand aloof
from public affairs without prejudice to
his W business and without neglecting
the grave duties which he owes the state,
Wholesome political activity in tue bust
ness world is promotive of the general
good. Interest in public affairs by spurts
is probably better than no interest at all,
but the steady, uninterrupted, every day
interest is the crying need Of the hour
and the only path of safety. The best
results in free government can be hau in
no other way.
You cannot h lp to improve public
affairs by withholding your own good
offices. If you would clear and purify
the atmosphere of our political life, you
must lend your own energy and virtue
and intelligence and honesty to do it.
"The business men of the country
have devolving upon them a grave re-
sp%onsibility."