The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-20
LEADERS OUT OF POLITICS.

A Southern paper, pointing TO tfs
disappearance from the public life Of It's
section of great political leaders, urges
young Southernefs to fit themselves tor
politics and bring back the good old
days when the South could speak py
the lips of men born to attract ana
command an audience throughout the
length and breadth of the Uniont Ii
asks why the men who might lead are
unwilling to do so; why they are con-
tent to live in an era of small polltics
when issues may arise to summon
Calhoun to the Senate and Jackson
to the Presidency?
These questions are often asked, not
in or of the South alone. but the an
wer is not puzzling one. Half a CEN
tury and more ago the highest ana
I best-rewarded career in the united
states was political. The masses were
poor: there were no great fortunes; the
salary of a Senator was something
worth the winning; the distinction OF
loffice was as yet unspoiled by little anu
vulgar men, But growing prosperity
on the one hand and the degradation
of notifies on the other have since sup
nIied an Incentive to the careers or
commerce and "empire-building" which
was lacking half a century ago; and at
the same time have given men or Keen
sensibilities an aversion to ponucs
which many of them are not able TO
overcome. Great men find now better
and more enduring field for their tai
fents in America than the practice OF
craftsmanship can win for them. SEN
ators come and go, their dreams or
greatness soon shattered, their names
soon forgotten; Presidents in the zenith
of their powers are sent back to OBJ
scurity to rust in dignified disuse-but
the great captains of industry are al
ways in the saddle, winning victories
and keeping in the public eye. Proba-
bly, no greater American has lived in
recent years than the late G. p. Hunt
l ington. He would have made one of
! the strongest of public leaders IL he
had gone into politics rather than busi-
ness-but in the end he might have
gnawed the file of disappointment with
Grant or met the misfortunes of Blaine
and Conkling. He chose a. life which
was not subject to the caprice of par
ties-a greater life than politics. save
in the day of crisis, can possibly afford.
! Because men like Webster and Lin
coin and Calhoun and jefferson Davis
no longer wage battle on the high
ground of politics, let it not be sup
posed their qualities are absent from
the American body polite. The great
men are still in evidence-but they
must be looked for in the railroad Of
fees. in the mines, at the head of com
mercial combinations. in the arena OF
finance. There the highest powers
bring the best price. Jerry" said a
financier in one of Charles Dudley
Warmers incompatible studies OF
American life ''you ought to be Presi-
ldent of the United States" Not
much" answered Jerry, himself a cap
tain of industry. "the salary is toe
Ismall." That is not precisely the senti-
ment which sways all men who prefer
business to politics: but the feeling
THAT 1t is better to achieve a lifelong
Isuccess in the world of finance than tc
Iendure the buffets and humiliations ant
Idisappointments of career in which
the winning of the greatest prize Is
but the preparation for laying it aside
forever. After all politics is like a fo-
chase There is excitement, dust ant
dirt ard msrv tumble: q rude race
across country-and then the capture
of an animal the meat of which /:
worthless and the tail alone OF value
and that value the mere worth of ar
ornament: In the end sure retirement
from the field. making way for young.
Ter men. What is there in that to at.
tract the sober-minded? .
: But one reinsurance is due the read.
er who may think that with govern.
Iment turned over to small men the
country will some day meet disaster
Not so. When the great emergencies
lcome. men fit to meet them come from
the ranks of the people,. as LincoIr
lcame and Grant came in the dark days
tof the Civil War. So long as America
bears and rears great men who turr
their energies toward the progress
even the material progress of the
world. so long will she have strons
arms and keen brains to draw upor
when the highest duty of the hour cen.
ters at the seat of government.