The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-16
SEATTLE, TUESDAY, JANUARY II
Politics as an Occupation.

In his Random Recollections" Of
forty years. Mr.. e. L. Godkin, until
recently Of the New York Evening Post.
writes entertainingly Of an interesting
period in the work and growth Of the
world. and he also presents to us q
curious study In pessimism. One Of the
most palpable instances OF this yet one
Of the least likely Of detection because
It chimes with too common error, is
found in his reference to Mr.. Samuel
J. Tilden. After paying q high tribute
to the intellectual ability OF Mr.. Tilden
he says: 1T was a pity that 30 much
Of its vigor was flung away on politics.
This is common slur. among peo-
pie who do not share the view that Mr..
Godkin takes Of modern civilization.
Yet 1t is base and an evil mistake.
IT. IL responsible for pretty nearly all
the misgovernment and political abuse
in the country today. It is doctrine
pernicious and actually Immoral to
teach to the youth OF our day. And it
is SO radically false and foolish that
impotence stirs all the more fiercely
because sloth and luxury and corrupt
appetite, as well as austere cultivation
and a sensitive revolt from contact with
the common. unite in preaching this
heresy in morals and this treason to
the state.
The strongest intellect and the great
est heart that the world has ever pro-
duced cannot be thrown away on poll
tics" For that is the noblest of sci
ences and the most finished of the arts.
Politics in its broad and proper sense.
includes the conduct OF government. 1t
embraces the highest and the lowest.
1t meant for some centuries only secur-
ity for life and property against inva-
sion. 1t means now all the utilities, the
beauties. the powers that reside in the
combined acts of men through the state
. 1t is In the world of economics and Of
ethics what electricity is in physics; an
Iimmeasurable and beneficent force. in
which we need but be sufficiently versed
to have miracles at our command.
1t Is the habit of the unthinking to
speak Of politics with deep disdain.
as of forbidden and communicating
occupation. AS well mention the name
OF woman only with a sneer because
there are those unhappy ones who have
forfeited their claim on reverence.
Practical politics are what men have
ever men will them to be. Only let us
be sure that man will no more escape
falling or rising to their level than he
will evade his shadow. Where politics
degenerate hopelessly and finally, the
nation totters down to ruin and the
race will become eventually corrupt. If
a free government is unalterably bad
and participation In the conduct OF It's
affairs badge OF dishonor, If the mass
of people ever feel that to be true. then
furl the flags and close the churches as
well as the forum, for that peoples
work In the world is over
A man who longs to spend himself in
the service of his fellows. in a heroic
effort to lift the reluctant world toward
truth and light can do no better than
to devote himself to politics. He will
find coarseness, evil, buffetings. the
press and odor of the things he hates
But he will find himself also close to the
springs Of the peoples life. Before him
open the ways Of helpfulness and the
paths of power, Intelligence, charity,
remuneration. patriotism. the will to
spend and be spent for lofty purposes
all fnd ample scope in political career
Nowhere else are they so needed. No
where else will they produce an effect
so mighty and so lasting. Nowhere
siss Do good ana evil in such crude and