The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-04-05

some error. Thurlow Weed went to
Springfield to see Lincoln and caution
him, to tell him to remain absolutely
quiet and say nothing about politics
even to his neighbors. After half an
hours conversation with Mr.. Lincoln
the great New York politician told him
the object of his visit, but stated that
he had no advice to offer. He returned
to New York and told the politicians
that Lincoln possessed the keenest
and most subtle intellect he had ever
encountered. He said that during his
half hour conversation Mr.. Lincoln
cleverly entertained him, drew from
him all manner of information, but
never made any suggestions himself.
He said to Mr.. Seward: This man
Lincoln may be only country lawyer,
and may have had no great political
training, but he is wiser than all of us,
and we need give ourselves no concern
about him during the canvass. If he
says anything he will say what should
be said, and he will say nothing else"
In 1868 the politicians had an easy
time of it with Gen. Grant, because he
was not speech maker; knew it. and
did not want to talk. He kept quiet
and allowed his military fame to speak
for him, and it spoke most eloquently
and successfully. In 1872 Gen. Grant
was again 1.-The silent man" during the
campaign, while Mr.. Greeley made a
famous tour of the country, making
speeches.
In 1876 Hayes and Tilden were con-
spicuously silent. In 1880 Garfield and
Hancock left the speech making to
others, and the country was deluged
with political talk. In 1884 Mr.. Cleve-
land made no pretense as an orator,
while Mr.. Blaine talked necessarily
without avail. In 1883 Benjamin Har-
rison made speeches daily, and all of
them marvelously discreet, many of
them eloquent. Harrison was, in fact,
the only presidential candidate since
the days of Lincoln in whose discre-
ton the political managers had abso-
lutte confidence. In 1896 both Bryan
and Mckinley appeared daily before
the people, and neither one of them
was guilty of an indiscretion. although
Mr.. Bryan disappointed public expecta-
ton in his first speech in New York
city, because he read long statement
instead of giving the vast audience an
exhibition of the eloquence for which
he had become famous in the nominal
ing convention.
But, presidential candidates aside,
end without criticism or commenda-
| ton of any of them, we may return
to the original proposition that all
political leaders are supremely selfish,
very few of them having at heart the
welfare of the people so much as their
own advancement and preferment in
| public place. One of the older senators
this evening, after giving hints from
which the above facts were deduced,
said: "There are three candidates for
an office in my state, and all of them
have supported me in my campaigns.
This morning1 spent an hour thinking
them over, and selfishly studying
which of them could do me the most
| good in the future. l finally settled
the matter, decided which one l would
prefer, and concluded to drop the
other two, as gently as possible, as
surfing them of my distinguished con-
sideration. That is the way we have
to do in politics"
That is the gist of it. They are all
after the offices, because the salaries
are large, and usually larger than they
ought to be in a government econom.
ically administered. Covetousness is
the incentive to sclfishness. In the
mad struggle for place the strong men,
not always the good men, achieve sue
cess. In no other vocation in life is
there better eXemplification of the
theory of the survival of the fittest, be-
cause those who are most selfish and
self-seeking, wholly disregarding the
feelings and suiferings of all others
are they who obtain precedence.
SMITH D. FRY.
Flatterers are the cats that lick be.
fore and scratch behind.-Germar
|