The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-14

Editor Morning News II there ever was
Il time in tine history of our government
when the people neeuel Statesmen 10 -,
iu legislative halls now is the day and now
the hour. we DO not want elegant speak
ers. orators. rhetoricians. or theorists. and
under n1 considerations 10 we want bia-
taut partisals. demagogues. or dabblers
iu politics VINO know just enough % be-
fore and TO befog the common mind, but
who have not one clear or weii-dedned idea
m their heads. Nor DO we want men OF
that class So wen portrayed and described
by Thomas jefferson IN his day. ia speak
ing OF members OF congress. of whom DC
sands eff The present congress crIs IN
TOO much talking, how can DO De other
wise. in "a body 10 which the people send
15l lawyers, whose trade 10 is, to- question
everything, yield nothing, and talk 10y the
hour.
The curse to-day IS congress with its
2S0 lawyers. There may be safety in a
multitude of counseli0rs, but not Wnen
party spirits, party spois ana party sue
cess ranks every other consideration, as
is now plainly The case with men who
look alone TO party and a presidential
success. Our sO-called statesmen are as
dumb as oysters when asked for their
views on the money question and olher
questions. They are waiting for a party
platform to stand upon, instead of being
builders of policies and public measures
They expect and desire to run upon a
party platform and eNclaim as a clinchinE
argument. Il am a democrat Il am q
republican" or any other party name
that viii catch the unthinking.
AS some writer has said. True states
manship has been defined to be that
quality which sees not only the exist
ing evil ia government, which evil 10 is
ready to destroy, but is also able TO pro-
pose a remedy which IN the final outcome
shall not only remove that evil, but er-
fectually prevent greater evils to follow. %
o. fG Hfltr
destructive in his methods, ne is cOnstruc-
tive as well. A true statesman should
have suggestive and constructive mind
Such as blessed this government in the
days Of Washington, Adams, jefferson,
Madison, Marshall Jay, Clinton, Trum-
bun and many others. They were really
and truly statesmen in the broadcast sense
of the word. and demagogues in the purer
sense of that word leaders of the people
Tor they thought for the people wisely
and well. They were very far removed
from the present type Of sO-called states
men, VINO are anNiOusly waiting for a
party platform to be manufactured at ST.
Louis or Chicago before their lips will
open.
A statesman when he tears down IS
ready TO build something better, safer and
Sounder i'm governmental policies. He does
not go about asking what the people want
but ike physician who knows his busi-
ness, tells the sick man what he should
take. He leads, but never follows Like
Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton TrOup. Cal
hounClay are i'm themselves party. From
their brain spring pOlicies and measures
President Cleveland and those connected
with him, have from their very surround
ings been compelled TO declare their poll
cies. But what of those who are seekine
hlEh Office, who are as cautious as they
are coWardly Of expression, and as silent
as III struck with senility?
\ statesman sees the evil of a meas
ure or policy and has q remedy, and il
must be reasonable and sensible The
mass of the people have no great politi-
cal sense, but they have that which every
one recognizes There Is more of solid, hard
common sense among the people than they
nave credit for. They can be made to see
their individual interests very soon. and
that Is the only way TO reach their minds
and 20 put them to thinking. The farmer
can De made to see his interest very quick
so Of the merchant. the MANUFACTURED the
banker, the shipper But our government
Is one Of compromise with all of its con-
hicung interests, and wise legislation IS
or should be directed by the principle of
the greatest good to the greatest number
Wlthout injustice TO any. We now want
Men whom the lust of office does not
kill.
buy,
Men who possess opinions and a will,
Men VINO have honor and viii not lie.
Men who stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous hattery with
out winking." r. NJ q