The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-12
HOW TO SUCCEED i'm POLITICS
Governor Foraker, Of Ohio, Offers PRACTICAL Ad-
vice to Aspiring Young (1len.

Recurring now TO your questions IL Is
upon this kind OF experience that / would
advise young man 10 consider well be-
fore he enters politics. Unless he has
aptitude for public affairs he Is not likely
TO succeed, and II he has power 10 sue
coed he must expect all kinds OF ups and
downs. Today successful and popular.
tomorrow defeated and cenSured, some
times Justly. but more frequently unjust
". To withstand all this he must have
COOL nature and the quality OF self-adap-
taticn. He must learn that his own per-
sonaiity IS not important TO anybody but
himself. and consequently the people do
not care anything about his grievances
He must keep them 20 himself. When he
meets with disappointment he must ae
cept Il as ali right and be satisfied 10
abide by IL, no matter how permanent
its consequences may be. II time should
enable him 20 recover. as il probably viii.
il Will not only he clear gain. but he
will be stronger than ever, while IL he
does not recover he is no worse of be-
cause OF keeping his temper.
l do not think any programme can be
outlined for a young man. excepting in
the most general way. Situations are
constantly changing. and one Is likely TO
be called upon TO meet unforeseen ext
geucies that will turn his career into I'M
expected directions. but this much
young man can always regard as abso-
iutely essential to genuine success in any
of the important walks or relations of life,
public or private: he mus be a hard
worker. No matter what his intellectual
endowments may be, investigation and
preparation VIII always be necessary TO
the satisfactory discharge OF public duty.
The men who depend upon natural ge-
MUS or upon the inspiration Of the mo-
ment" are not safe examples TO follow.
And not only must he he diligent. but
- y cslszs-. in oil IN
does Only temporary advantages can be
obtained by sacrifice of these qualities.
and they are never worth what they cost.
There is only one safe rule. and that is TO
stand at all times for honest convictions
without equivocation or assembling of any
kind His views may be erroneous or il
correct they cannot prevail. but however
that may be. man Is strong only when he
advocates wha. he believes.
Following these ideas a man should at
tain as high a success as his qualifications
may fit him for. Assuming that they are
of the best, and that he attains important
place and high distinction. are the rewards
sufficient 10 justify the struggles and sacri-
fees involved? AS a general rule. they are
not. The salaries of public officials are In
consequential. They are seldom sufficient
to pay expenses. The honors are all that
Is left. Nine times out of ten they are
fieeting and unsatisfactory. However at
traetiye they may appear when far re-
moved. they almost always dwindle and
siisappoint on near approach, SO that il
ne only had words of appreciation ana en-
souragemert he would be underpaid: but
when. instdad Of words of appreciation and
encoura cement. he Is criticised. lied about.
and abused. held up to ridicule. and SUBJ
jected to detraction and disparagement.
the reward Is poor indeed. And yet men
go on pursuing these deluS!ye hopes and
seeking these unremunerative rewards.
Why, no one can exactly tell. except upon
the theory that hope springs eternal in the