St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-04-14
HONOR IN POLITICS.
Shrewd Observers Say Such Z Viz
tue Has No Existence.
Absolute SelAsAness q Prerequisite
to Success In Political Life
Honesty n Dangerous n
UnGuaFdeA Speech.
Especial Washington Letter.l

Especial Washington Letter.1
nROPERLY defined, politics is the
science of selfshness. Men who
engage in politics, young men
who have political hopes and aspira-
tions, may as well understand that
only those who are selfish and self-seek-
ing can achieve success.
There are exceptions to all rules, but
men who have had long experience in
dealing with politicians will tell you.
if they tell the truth, that there is no
notable exception to this rule, but that
absolute selfshness is prerequisite
to success in the political world.
All living political leaders have their
followers who believe in them implicit
", and who would not for the world
suspect their idols of selfishness. They
pose as the friends of the dear people
and assure their hearers that they arc
laboring by day and by night to pro-
mote the welfare of the poor and OPP
pressed. It may be easy for the peo-
pie of the present day to believe that
Buchanan, Pierce, Van Buren,. jackson
and other long dead presidents were
politicians; but the people would not
like to have mention made Of their Nv
ing leaders in that manner.
These reflections and the following
statements are timely because the peo-
pie of this republic are soon to be
stirred to fever heat by political lead
ers in a great struggle for the control
Of the government. When the candi-
dates for congress, for the legislature
and for state Offices are shouting and
ranting before the people it may be
Just as well for the calm and consider
ate citizens to realize all the while that
the candidates are not working them
selves into frenzy without hoping for
their own preferment, primarily.
1t has been truly said that ''the world
is self, and self alone, from surface to
foundation stone" But selfishness in
business and in all other walks of life
appears but slightly in comparison to
its exhibition in the field of politics.
Men rend and tear each others reputa-
lions, as wild beasts rend and tear their
prey. Every man endeavors to build
himself up. and in SO doing often deems
it necessary to pull down those about
him who aspire. For this reason
young men of real ability, worth and
forcefulness of character find it diff
cult to receive recognition. The older
men who manage political affairs in
their districts and states will not per-
init those young men to rise who mani
fest superior ability. Only those who
dissemble or sincerely -truckle to the
leaders are permitted to come to the
front.
No class Of men exercises greater
care and precaution in political cam
paigns than the candidates for the i'm
portant offices. They not only prepare
their speeches carefully, butthey scan
and criticise the speeches Of those who
are permitted to address their con-
stituents. The utterance of single
sentence has often married the fortunes
of ambitious men, even when spoken
sincerely in the interest of the candi-
date. The most noted instance of in
judicious utterance was that of Rev
DR.. Burchard in October, 1854, when he
referred to the democratic party as the
party of rum, Romanism and rebel
lion" That remark caused Mr.. Blaine
to lose many thousands of votes. there.
by defeating the ambition of his life
During the campaign of 1896 Maj
Mckinley not only carefully prepared
every speech which he delivered at his
home in Canton. but he carefully read
every speech which was to be made te
him before it was delivered; and many
of those speeches were revised by the
major before he permitted his visit
ing admirers to be heard. Very few