The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-25


Our esteemed contemporary, the Ports
mouth Star, takes Tho Times to task for
advising young men, as our contemporary
alleges, not to go into politics. There is
so much good sense in what the Star says
that we reproduce the article. It is as
follows:
The Richmond Times advises young men
to keep out Of politics. This is bad advice,
for politics as well as for the young men.
1t is assumed that the advice OF The.
Times Il; addressed TO the better class of
Young men, Guns, men who have all tho
advantages OF ali education. young men OF
nrinciple and force. If The Times refers
to this sort of young men, then, IN aufls-
ing them to keep out of politics, II con-
fcsscs that, in its opinion. the rottenhess
OF politics is past cure
Is this so? Isn't The Times unduiy pes
simistic? Isn't it a fact that politics is
rotten, putrid. mainly because decent
people will i,aye nothing to do with 1t!
Isn't the one great lack of politics the
savior Of a constant influx Of clean men!
The better class of young men vote, at
tend primaries and make speeches, but
they rarely run for office. In this fact We
have the real explanation of the rapid de-
generation in calibre and character OF the
public servant If men Of standing. men
of education, men with a stake in tue
community will nave nothing to do with
politics, then the baser sort step in and
rule
To-day. all over the land. there are
men IL, Office who are utterly united to
discharge Alright the duties and response
bities OF a public servant These men are
in office solely because so many 2oou men
agree with the Richmond Times Ihey
iS M
more cowardly, nothing more unpatriot.c
rhan bad citizenship on the part of good
c;,;zans Indifference in the selection OIL
nublic servants is the acme of bad citizen
ship.
Don't follow the advice Of The Times,
vouny men. Go mo politics and purify
it.
In r.o,nt of fact The Times did not advise
vounr men not to go into politics. we
urged that it was the duty OF every man.
and espec ally of the young men OF the
country, TO take an active part III pGii-
tics. to attend political meetings 10 De
in evidence when nominating conventions
we're held, to do their best to Get the
hos. man naninated, and then to go to
the polls on election day ana vote loi
The hest candidate. We did say, however,
ma, the Inducements in this day TO young
men to seek office were not, IN our opln-
inn very great, and that a young man MAD
a better chance of succeeding and ac-
cumula:ing property and enjoying 'iie
ernit Of his labors in the private pursuits
Of life than in politics The life OF
po,itician is a life Of drudgery. If he be
honest ana conscientious in the discharge
IF b;s duties ne will do a great deal Of
hard work for very poor pay II he De
of =, sensitive disposition he will suffer
tortures from the sings and arrows OF
a critical public.
But while saying all this we did not adj
wise any man to skulk. If a young man
feels that it is his duty to go into pubic
, life he should not be deferred by the fear
of the hardships no more than he should
he deferred from drawing his sword IN
the defence of his country, when the emer-
sency arises, because he fears that ne
will be shot down by the enemy We
love to see the brainy and honest young
men Of the country go into politics ana
go into office and serve the people ana
| exe,nplify the fact that a public Office Is
| public trust We are in full accord with
| what our Portsmouth contemporary says
| in a general way on this subject Inc
article to which the Star takes exception
(, was designed simply to present the facts
| to our young readers who have political
aspirations We would have them under
stand the life Of the politician is a "stren-
| Gus life,' and that while there may be
| roses ir the path, there are the inevitable
| thorns upon the roses.