San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-06-23
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1895
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS

that he hears Some one remark
"Is it not about time for recess"
True, "School" has held the boards
for some weeks, but the end is not
for little while. These discourses
are not so much for the pleasure
ss for the profit Of the great LIGHT
congregation, and they will yield
the peaceable fruits of improve
ment to some who are exercised
thereby. Have patience, then, my
Beloved Hearers, and listen to
word Of admonition upon the
"Political School"
The "politics" that deals with
the affairs Of the people is one
thing and the "politics" that deals
with the pocket Of the politician
is another thing. From the time
that Brother Jonathan married
Miss Hail Columbia and raised q
large family of children many Of
his offspring have had an insane
idea that all the affairs Of public
and private life ought to be consid-
cred in "town meetin," and that it
was the special privilege Of the
smart Alexis of the family to do
the considering. Fer the "town
meetin" OF the early American
substitute the political club" Of
the present and the situation is
pretty accurately defined.
While there is no more honor
able ambition in life than to figure
largely and usefully in public az
fairs, it is just as true that there is
nothing more dishonorable than to
figure for the loaves and fishes OF
public Office. The man whom
nature and education has fitted
for real usefulness in political life,
no matter in what branch Of the
public service, is endowed with too
much good sense, too exalted an
idea of the dignity Of that service,
to "pull" for it. He will at least
tarry at Jericho until his beard is
grown, that is he will wait until
he is called for instead OF rushing
In to seek position that the COM
mon voice OF his fellows has not
called him to. There is fitness
in things, and there is a correspon-
dence between the capability and
adaptability of a man to serve his
fellows wisely and well, and the
call of his fellows to that service.
There is a world of sense in the
hackeyed statement "the Office
should seek the man and not the
man the Office" Disregard OF this
truth has flooded the public service
of this country with so called
"public servants" who are not
worth their mileage, much less
their perdiem. These are the men
who save more spot cash in one or
two terms of Congressional life
than they had been able to earn in
the whole of their previous lives
1t can be put down as a general
truth, that the man who cannot
earn more out of public office than
in 1t is not fit for it. There may be
once In a century an exception tc
this rule, but it is the exception
that proves the rule.
1t would puzzle the ordinary ex
pert to diagnose this politica
fever and determine what Is cause
and what is effect. Does this itcf
for Office that is so universal grow
out Of the natural restlessness o
the American mind, or does tn
national restlessness in grea
measure arise from this all bu
universal longing to fill some Of
fee, be it no more than that o
own constable?
1t is not the intention OF thi
sermon to teach the lessons OF
true political course. 1t would b
q pleasant task to enlarge on tn
dignity and grandeur and eleva
ton and largeness Of life with
drawing itself from the pursuit o
wealth and honors in the vocation
Of private lite, and devoting itsel
at the call Of its fellows to the con
s.deration of those larger quest
ions that are involved in devisint
wisely and well for the publil