The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-02-03
THE HUM OF POLITICS
HAS DRIVEN MANY MEN TO
DESTRUCTION.
The Temptation 60 satisfy the Onaw-
inEs of the Onnlpressnt Spirit OF
sslnshnsss Il often Too Great Co Bs
Resisted.

disappointed In the line OF their am
billion, have fallen lower than the
angels that fought under the banner
OF Satan. Benedict Arnold was a brave
soldier and judicious commander. but
the promise ~ preferment caused him
to turn traitor. Though he failed 10
deliver the goods-West Point and all
It's army stores-he received the rank
OF maior-general In the British army
and lived twenty remorseful years.
Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Burr. the
ablest politician OF his time, a nne sol
der. shrewd lawyer. a United States
senator from New York for six years
and yice-presldent Of the United States
for four. ruined his prospects by kill
Ing Alexander Hamilton. lie fell 80
low as TO plan the conquest OF Texas
and Mexico with a view Of establish.
Ing a Burr republic In the South. with
New Orleans as the capital and burr
az president lie was caught. tried for
treason and acquitted. Fate was
against him. Had he succeeded he
would have been acclaimed. Failing.
he lived twenty-nlne years and died
Daniel d. Tompklns was a great
man in his day and generation. lie
was an associate justice OF the New
York Supreme court from 1904 to 1907.
aud governor OF the state Tor ten years.
IL was he who prorogued the legisla-
ture Tor ten months In order to pre-
vent the establishment In New YORK.
OF the Bank OF North America. He
was twice elected vice president OF the
United States. In 1917 he recommend
ed the abolition OF slavery In New
York. Yet how pitiful his end! The
legislature passed an act to help re-
lieye him OF his debts. and another
allowance was made later by congress.
But he remained hopelessly embar.
raised. and the unsettled condition Of
his public accounts weighed him down
70 the grave. A. schouler 90 aptly
puts a. THE canvass OF pity. which
is always fatal to political preiermeni.
overwhelmed his sensitive pride. and.
sick In body and mind. he died soon
after the expiration Of his second term
Of ONCE"
The glitter o. Office Is as attractive
20 most men as Is the candle 20 moth b.
and few who seek the bauhle % public
life escape without a strain. Political
associations often are dcmorallzIng
Men Of the highos, honor are Obliged
20 be hail fellows well met with the
district heelcrs They maintain their
influence hy becoming bed-fellows with
what. outside OF politics. they would
not endure. One OF the highest oficaF
within the gift Of the president Is "a.
,ollectorship o. the port ~ New York.
and the influence OF the collector 10
city politics once was greater than
that OF the mayor I do not refer 20
the mayor Of Greater New York. In
the earlier days OF this century the
perquisltes and pickings OF the COLI
lector ranged all the way from $4,000
20 iiO0.OOO year. When Chester A.
Arthur was collector he ruled New
York. lie afterward became president
by the infamy Of Guiteau. and died no,
a politician. but Statesman. mournei
md honorcd.
hut what Of Swartwouti when ne
had secured the prize Of the collector
ship be began to blaze the path Of
peculation that was afterward folloWe
90 successfully by William NJ Tweei
His frauds and thefts were on a gigan-
tic scale. What OF Collector Curtis
lie was a man OF honor and high
standing. but he died In a madhouse
Draper was removed under cloud
Saddest Of all was the end Of Collector
King. lie came 20 New York from
ST. Lawrence county, appointed by
President Lincoln. Unaccustomed "a
dealing out Official patronage. he hc'
came the target Of every political
trlckstcr. and one night. after a tain
With Thurlow Weed. In which he said
he was disguised with life. he bougat
two bags Of shot. put them In his over.
coat pockets. walked TO the Jersey CT,
ferry. and when the boat was In mid.
stream stepped overheard. His body
was subsequently found.
n Horace Greeley had let polite.
alone he would probably have lived
another decade. Great brain az d,
possessed. be could not withstand IA,
glitter 90 ohcc. even accepting IN,
nomination Tor president from "a,
Democrats. BIZ lifelong opponents
His defeat Killed him. Il broke N.
old mans heart and h. died tire,
weeks after the election.
William ~ Tweed. son Of a chair
maker aud himself an apprentice at
the trade. became an alderman. a con
gresham. chairman 90 the board cl
supervisors of New York. state ECna.
tor and commissioner Of public works
Re stole millions from the city. stand.
ing at the head OF a group OF naucn
ual politicians Connolly. sweeny
Genet and others known as On,
Tweed Rims" was tried. found
guilty and sentenced TO twelve years
imprisonment, was released on Icgt'
tcChuIgal'ues. hut committed 20 Iul.
Tow street SAN iu default OF BAN u
cNl suits; csea0ci and went 20 Spain
was arrested hy spanish au,hHltict
returned TO the United States, and rc.
committed 90 Ludlow street Sail. wher,
be- died For such men politics Is not
the degradation OF the honest man
but the elevation oi the thief.