The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-14
SMALL POLITICIANS
AND POLITICAL
PHAR|SEES
An Ancient Fable With a Mod
ern Application in the
Field of Politics.
ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR
The Salvation of the Negro Race is in
the Industrial Education of
It's Youth.
ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR
SHIP MEMORIAL FARM" AT WINSTON
Captain 0May Burns and His Good Ship The
Snap Dragon" The Duty Of Writing
History. Soldiers Coming Back
From the Philippines.

Much is being said these days about the
vicious influence of the small politician"
within the Democratic party in North
Carolina. Certain newspapers are just
now ringing the changes on this small
politician song, daily rolling it under
their tongues as sweet morsel and,
mayhaps, chanting it in their dreams at
night. And ever and always it's the other
fellow that's the small politician-"We"
are the big variety, the only No. 1
brand
Well perhaps, and then again perhaps
not; but as the names of these disappoint-
ed songsters now occur to me l am re-
minded of one of the fables of our mutual
friend, Aesop, and which I would COM
mend to their careful consideration.
If the fellow who is bowling himself
hoarse about 'small politicians" can't
see the appropriateness of it. why the rest
of the world will, and therein lies its vir-
tue. Here It is:
THE FLY AND THE HORSE.
fly once alighted upon the hub of the
wheel of a great war chariot. Indeed"
cried he, as the strong horses raced along
the road what a dust / do raise as
go round and round on this great wheel.
The dust gets in my eyes, too. l will go
sit for a while on the horses harness.
There is a nice place on that bit of brass
between the horses ears
So away flew the vain little fly. After
a time he said to the horse. "Now | will
fly away, am sure l must burden you
resting SO long upon your head
''As you please snorted the war horse;
81 did not even know you were there
until you spoke.
did not know I was here!'' cried the
fly opening his eyes in great surprise
Little people who think themselves so
important are often mistaken" answered
the old war horse.
The little fly's pride was sadly hurt. He
went away by himself and thought about
it all day long, and all the next day, and
all the day after that. And the war
horse? Why, he galloped into battle and
in one minute had forgotten that little
fly had ever spoken to him.
The fact Of the business is that the de-
nunciation, small politician" is usually
either the scream of Disappointment, de-
claring its opposition to the government,
or it is the snarling reply of Corruption
when charged with it's misdeeds; for there
is the Pharisaical as we'll as the Small
in politics. Both are old as tyranny and
they occupy opposite ends of the see-saw.
Too frequently it happens, when a man
finds himself unable to control his party S
policy, that he parades the streets rolling
his eyes and thanking God that he is not
as other men. The sweets he
sought have suddenly become bitter;
all virtue has turned to viciousness, and
but for the squeak of selfishness in his
voice you would imagine him going around
in heaven holding up his skirts lest they
be soiled on the golden streets of the New
Jerusalem.
Then, too, the reformer-he who would
demand better measures of government
more fitting, reasonable or economical-is
always the small politician in the eyes
of the big fellow who has been caught
with his hand in the public treasury
either vulgarly in the way of common
stealing, or in the form of trying to with
hold the taxes which under the laws he
ought to be made pay. His sarcastic and
vituperative ''small politician" is then but
the writings of David under the stern and
convicting tongue of Nathan. To the re-
morseless accuse ton, Thou art the
man." the savage sheer of small poll
tician'' is only the furious but irrespressi-
BILE reply, Il am"
Mind you, / do not contend for mo-
ment that there are no small politi-
clans" Unfortunately, the breed is en-
tirely too numerous, but my point is that
the Pharsee in politics is equally noxious
and numerous, and it i'll becomes the pot
to call the kettle black, especially when
both should have a shining face.
Next year will by no means be an off
year" in North Carolina. Besides the
election of the Legislature and ten Con-
gressmen, we have to elect United Safes
Senator to succeed Pritchard, a majority
of the Supreme Court to succeed Judges
Clark, Furches and Cook. ten Superior
court Judges to succeed Judges Winston,
Timh Jake, Robinson. Neal, Coble, Star
buck, Eoke, Moore. Justice and Jones, j.