The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-08
Politics as a Career.

students of Michigan university. Pres
ident Angel urged that educated men
should avoid entering upon a profess
edly political career THE chances of
gaining an honest livelihood" he said,
"by holding offices obtainable only by
election are III this country extreme
ly precarious. The adoption of politics
as a profession is generally fatal to
success in any other profession. While
occasional excursions into the field of
public service may not only be eXped-
lent, but may even be regarded in some
cases as a duty, it should be remem-
bered that they cost one heavily in in
terruptions of professional work and
study, and that one should not suffer
himself to be drawn into them by un-
worthy motives"
In the sense in which this advice was
meant it was unquestionably whole
come. 1t it not to be believed that
President Angel intended to discour-
age active participation by the scholar
in politics or that he wished to un-
derrate the emphasis of the call which
the conditions of public affairs in this
country now extend to brave and well
equipped citizens to engage in the pa
triotic work of publication. We may
feel sure that that which he wished
to advise against was the deliberate
choice by the educated man of an
office seeking career, with not only its
poor and uncertain monetary rewards,
but with that infinitely deeper sacri-
flee of mental and moral independence
which such a career sooner or later in
wolves. A time may come in this coun-
try as it has already come in Eng
land when a man who has thoroughly
equipped himself for the broadest
duties of craftsmanship can find hon
orable and continuous employment in
some one of the numerous branches
of the public service. without surrender
of the qualities which differentiate the
philosopher from the demagogue; but
that time has not yet arrived, and in
the meanwhile the scholar should let
duty rather than self-interest be the
force which propels him into active
participation in political struggles.
The lawyer. for instance, who, at the
outset of his career at the bar, sub
ordinates his professional work and
studies to the activities OF office-pur-
suit may, as conditions now are. even
tually become postmaster, revenue col
lector, district attorney or something
else which will bring him in a fairly
comfortable living so long as it lasts
and in exceptional cases the step may
be taken from one of these minor posi-
tions to the bench, to congress or to a
very desirable appointment in the ser
vice of some large corporation. But in
the average of cases, the same assid.
uity and ingenuity which are expended
| in this search after Office would yielt
| quite as profitable and more steady
returns if applied to the building VI
of a regular practice and to persona
! equipment for large professional op
| portunities when they come In 9th
! er words, while the hunting law
| yer is continually at the mercy o
/ gusts and twists in public opinion anC
! from the nature of his surrounding
! finds it increasingly difficult to stead.
down to the hard work required of tn,
! successful attorney, the client-huntinl
lawyer builds up n business which
when built, is stable, profitable ant
honorable, and which will serve as
bulwark of strength should its Great
or afterward feel impelled to seek tn
suffrages of the people.
We are speaking now Of ohice-hunt
ing as a business. There remains
large margin of opportunity for politi
cal activity which has not the hop
of office as its principal motive an,
in these activities the judicious younl
lawyer strengthens himself by gaining
a valuable acquaintance with men an,
affairs and qualities himself to exer
else an influence for good upon tn
community i'm which he lives. Sue
work in politics is not to be shirlSe
but is rather to be accounted one o
the sovereign privileges.
-
Since March Senator Cullom's