The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-04-09

that the bosom Of the Virginian swels
with pride as he recalls the long line of
her patriots and statesmen. The citizens
of Ohio must feel pride in the lives and
memory of Chase, Garfield and Thurman,
which the citizens of other states cannot
experience in the same degree Our
hearts warm towards our State in proper
ton as we are proud of the public men of
our State, and not so much because of
their brillancy as by reason of their
fidelity. coupled with fitness, to the trusts
devolved upon them. Just in proportion
as our faith in public men increases, our
intense partisanshp decreases Intense
partisanship cannot be based on faith in
public men. but rather the reverse, for
our faith is based on faithful service and
intense partisanship is based on distrust
OF every patriot who refuses to wear a
certain kind of party collar no matter
how pure or dsnterested his motives may
be. Intense partisanshp can only be
justified when some vital principle is
involved which closely affects the welfare
of the people rather than the advance
ment of the individual or the interests of
class. Should the time ever come in a
State when any man, in order TO receive
the honor OF public trust must pledge
himself to the advancement of the selfish
ambition OF an individual, or the interests
of selfish class, rather than TO the en-
forcement of principle for the good of
all, there is danger ahead for that party
and for that State. So long as our polti-
cal methods are based on the good OF the
people and the whole people, SO long as
our legislatures enact laws based on the
wants of the people, rather than on
schemes for entrenching party in power
prosperity and progress will smile on our
State. But should the vicious political
methods of the East be transplanted here,
methods by which every office, from
justice OF the peace up to congressman, is
promised as bride in the interests of
individual political leaders. and the well
fare of the people is forgotten in the strife
and scramble for individual advantage.
manhood will be at discount and shame
will cover the face of the patriot. Ideas
applicable to all must rule in our country.
Men are chosen to enforce those ideas
America was the incarnation of an idea
1a,, ;,,s.> Al.
for an idea, not in the selfish interest Of IA
person or class OF persons. All the
treasure expended, all the lives sacrificed
on the altar of our country, were the
price paid to establish this idea compass
ing the good Of all. and not the selfish in
terests of the few And as the debris
formed from these shattered mountains
by the volcano, the earthquake and the
storm, contains the elements which bring
into bloom the flower and the fruit tree.
so does the principle of Equality before
the Law. ground from the shattered en-
pires of the past, form the granite base
on which rests our proud American
republic.
] would like to observe at this point
that self-seeking in the public service will
prove fatal. The State that allows self
seeking men To serve themselves through
it, is to be both pitied and despised.
Franklin, Washington and Lincoln were
acknowledged to be great, not ess because
of their capacity for public service than
by reason of their personal disinterested-
ness in that service. The self. seeking
man is always little man. and the people
who choose such men to represent and
serve them, are n little people Every
man whose unworthness is dignified by
official position subtracts from the true
wealth Of State more than figures can
express. MIR. Lecky, the great social his.
torian. tells us: IF you would form
wise judgment of the future of State.
observe carefully what qualities count for
most ip public life. Is character becom-
ing of greater or less Importance Are
the men who obtain the highest posts of
honor men of whom in private life. and
irrespective of party, competent Judges
speak with genuine respect? Are they of
sincere convictions, consistent lives, indis-
putable integrity? 1t is by observing this
moral current that you can best cast the
horoscope of State"
CONTINUED