The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
A DEFENSE OF PUBLIC MEN.


Few men among the newspaper corre-
spondents at Washington enjoy so nearly
a national reputation as does General Boyn-
ton. 1t may be added that few of them
have been so outspoken in their criticism
of public men and measures as General
Boynton. His standard regarding the pub
lie service has always been high and his
personal reputation above reproach. When
such man, with thirty-two years expe-
rience in Washington, becomes the cham
pion of the men in the public service his
words are entitled to consideration. General
Boynton makes himself such q champion,
in letter recently published in the New
York Sun. The letter begins with the fol-
lowing suggestion:
The comments in various places by news
papers of certain sort upon the as embling
of Congress suggest that, Notwithstanding
land, there is another needed whose special
province shall be to inculcate speaking we'll
of the government and the great body of de-
serving and patriotic public men of all
grades who administer it.
The suggestion is a good one, but if such
societies cannot be formed, fair-minded
and patriotic men can do much to correct
the tendency to speak slightingly Of the in
tentions Of men who are selected to serve
in Congress- The current comment is de-
rogatory to the character of such men. The
jokes Of the end men and the hits of the
favorites in popular shows have been d.
rected at public men for years. Such plays
as the Texas Steer are attacks upon the
character of congressman, and such books
as "a Federal Judge" recently published
by. most reputable house, are ISLANDERS
upon the methods which prevail in the Sc
lection of members of the federal judiciary.
A class of newspapers, some Of them with
the best intentions, as well as those be-
longing to the class known as yellow, have
the habit of speaking of Congress as If it's
members were venal The prevalence of the
impression that public men are corrupt not
only undermines the faith of the people in
public institutions, but causes people to look
with Indifference upon inefficency and
wastefulness in local government as
natural result of the public service. In view
of the prevalence of the impression that
public men in Washington are generally
dishonest, the following testimony of Gen.
An observation of thirty years in WASH
ington. not counting two years spent in
earnest effort to learn how to observe, JUS
titles the statement that administrations,
officers. in short, government workers Of
every grade and without regard to party.
are. in large majority, in. very large major
ity indeed. honest, and faithful men. 1t is
not intended by this statement to imply
that there have not been dishonest men in
the. public service or that. they have been
QT1fi iT11iY1 tod G IN
clare belief. founded on long and close OBJ
servation, with at least fair opportunities
earnest purpose to faithfully discharge
public duty is the rule, and the opposite the
rare exception.
General Boynton goes on to maintain that
it is utterly erroneous to allege that Con-
gress is constantly deteriorating in ability
or that the Congresses of these latter days
rank far below those of earlier periods. He
declares that in point Of general ability,
the Congresses of recent times "are by no
means cast into the shade by those of the
period of Webster, Clay and Calhoun Con-
gressional oratory has gone out, because
there is no time for it. In fact, mere oratory
has little place anywhere in recent years.
Extravaganza in appropriation is due to the
demands of constituents. Members will do
for constituents what they would not think
of doing for themselves. True, there are
demagogues in Congress, but most of them
are such because they assume that con-
stituencies prefer demagogy to statesman
ship 1t is not the aim of General Boynton
to stop criticism or the censure of law
makers for unwise measures. delays, etc.,
but to check the growth of the half con-
yiction that large part of the men in the
public service are venal.