Warren sheaf., 1900-03-08

1y, and who would not for the world
suspect their idols of selfshness. They
pose as the friends of the dear people
and assure their hearers that they are
laboring by day and by night to pro-
mote the welfare of the poor and op-
pressed. 1t 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 liv-
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 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 we'll 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 1.-The world
IS self, and self alone, from surface to
foundation stone." But selfshness in
business and in all other walks of life
appears but slightly in comparison to
it's exhibition in the field of politics.
Men rend and tear each others reputa-
tions, 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
cult to receive recognition. The older
men who manage political affairs in
their districts and states will not per-
nit 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, but they scan
and criticise the speeches of those who
are permitted to address their con-
stituents. The utterance of a single
sentence has often marred the fortunes
of ambitious men, even when spoken
sincerely in the interest of the candi-
date. The most noted instance of in
iudicious utterance was that of Rev.
Dr. Burchaxd in October, 1884, 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 Cant0n, but he carefully read
every speech which was to be made to
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
speeches were made to Mr.. Bryan in
that campaign, as he preferred to do
most of the talking himself.
The first notable political mis-
take in the history of our repub-
lie was made by Henry Clay. in
1914, when he wrote letter con-
tanning a clause of less than doz-
en- words that sealed his defeat. There
was probably never a more popular
politician than Henry Clay, and his
election seemed foregone conclusion.
He had been nominated with enthusi-
asm and with unanimity. His party
was splendidly disciplined, and abso-
lutely sure of success. But, unfor-
tunately, Mr.. Clay wrote a letter to a
friend in Alabama, in which he made
some ill-considered allusion to the ad-
mission of Texas; and that single SEN
tence caused him to lose the elec-
,toral vote of New York state, and thus
to fail of.election to the presidency. It
was called the Alabama letter." and
was used upon the hustings everywhere
with great effect to the detriment of
Mr.. Clay Politicians Of that day all