The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-06
Have Our Statesmen Deteriorated ?

The feature of the Forum for Au-
gust which Immediately attracts atten-
tion is Senator Hoar's comparison of
the craftsmanship of England with
that of the United States. So much
complaining is heard nowadays at
what is called the decadence of our
public men, and so frequently is this
alleged decadence emphasized by mag
nifed contrasts of our senators, rep
resentatives, cabinet officers and chief
diplomats with the corresponding pub
lie functionaries of Great Britain, quite
invariably to the formers disparage-
ment, that the opinion concerning this
subject of a veteran and distinguished
American senator, himself generally
probation, becomes really a matter of
keen interest. Senator Hoar's paper
is in the nature of expert testimony,
and that, to laymen, is always fas-
cinating.
The senator's contribution is not
be read by itself; but the salient note
in it is not a denial that English pub
lie life does offer better oppurtuni-
ties to the man ambitious for public
career than is afforded by public life
in this country. On the contrary he
points out many things in respect of
which the English statesman has the
advantageous, for instance, in the
fact that residence in a certain con-
gressional district state or section is
not a requisite 70 perferment, and also
in the further fact that the aristocratic
spirit in England tends to restrict the
| available competition for public hon
ors, creating in effect governing class
which may prepare its young for the
public service secure in the knowledge
| that such preparation will not be
wasted. But he also contends that the
! peculiar needs of the United States
are calling into play the kind Of states
| manship best suited to supply them.
| Were Webster, or Clay or Calhoun
| alive today" Senator Hoar remarks,
his career as a senator must be, from
necessity of different character from
what it was. His leadership and gui-
| dance of the public thought would be
exercised by writing or speech else
where than in the senate chamber. If
| Benton were living now he would be
known only as an insufferable bore
| The public business cannot bear the
interruption of the great debates OF
former days. The public is impatient
| inlo oIe
lutely necessary"
In expecting one kind of service
from our public men which we don't
| get we stand in danger of failing tC
appreciate the kind of service which
we are receiving. 1T is," says the
gentleman from Massachusetts,, near
ly impossible now for a statesman who
| is in power in this country to be the
leader of it's advanced thought. His
whole time and strength must be taker
up in dealing with the routine duties
of his office. This is true of the presi,
dent; it is true of the heads of depart
ments; 1t is true of the leaders of the
dominant party in both houses of con
gress; certainly of the members of the
finance committee of the senate and o.
the ways and means of the house; o.
the committees on appropriations II
either branch; of the members of tho
great law committees. The American
statesman of today, who is TO provide
supplies to carry on the routine of oul
vast administration, and so regulat,
economies that the supply may b'
equal to the demand; to determine tn,
burden and the benefit in every detail
of a tariff or a tax as 1t affects thou
sands Of industries; to understand
every part OF the complicated mechan
ism OF our governments; and who goe
to bed every night wearied and wori
out with labors and anxietles to which
the manager Of the largest and mos
complicated private concern lisa strans
er, has little room in his life for ney