Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-02-07
Political Self.SacriAce.

Of the best Of the addresses. His
subject was "Seli-Sacrifice in Politics.
and among other excellent things be
said:
81 come to you this evening with a
subject far removed from the expert
ence Of most Of us, for it may be safe
ly said that nearly, II not quite. all Of
us hold, have held, or hope to hold
Office. That was as true OF the first
meeting Of this club as OF this, and
the year books provsit. There are ex.
ceptions, Of course, but most Of the
excepted ones are living without the
stste--they left before the coming OF
the day Of reward. They we're not
seers, as we're We. They fought and
ran away only to find that the art Of
politics is widely distinguished from
the art Of war. They were not here
to fight another day and conse-
quently the offices are ours. But the
mere fact that we have not practiced
a virtue proves not that we esteem it
the less, nor that 1t Is so rare thing
as to have escaped our observation.
A virtue is always modest, even
though its very modesty cause IT to
fail to hold the attention. 1t ever
needs an advocate, because OF mans
iorgetfulness. This advocacy is the
reason for the church. 1t should be
reason for the political party. But,
whether it be or not, the pathway Of
every political party Is strewn with
ashes from the affairs Of sacrifice
genuine seli-sacriice, seeking no re-
ward, demanding no price, and Of that
| desire to speak.
"Selt.sacriice in politics has not a
meaning different from seli-sacri6ce
in religion. NJ man loves his God
who gives Him only the day and the
dollar that he can spare. Self-sacri.
flee is the test-the measuring stand.
ard in every walk Of life, and, apply.
Ing it to politics, how few Of US are
able to measure up to 1t? Among
the great men there is an occasional
illustration, and that will make you
think Of Theodore Roosevelt. We
have no better living example-in
politics. Yet bis motives have always
been questioned. As long ago as
when be was police commissioner Of
the city Of New York, as dirty and
disagreeable a job as q man ever
undertook, an illustrious Kansan said
that any man with RooSevelt's tinan.
cial independence could do it. The
truth Is that all the days Of the years
Of bis life Theodore Roosevelt has
been doing the things that he did not
have to do. Rewards have come to
him, but they are but the offerings Of
grateful people.
"A Kansas politician who has never
held an Office and desires none-a fact
strange but provable--remarked not
long since that he was trying to do a
little work for his party and bis friends
and it made him tired to have every
other man ask him what he was after
for himself. Surely little self.sac-
rifce in politics is not so rare thing
in this day Of ours that we do not
recognize it when we see it.
"But the example to which | desire
particularly to call your attention is
the politician at home, the one who
works in the ward, and who is office
less passless' and hopeless, except
for bis party. He knows noguile and
needs none. lie asks only for the OPP
of honest service. When
one recounts the work that he does,
With no hope Of reward, there comes
affecting Of gratitude and respect that
is not easy Of expression. You know
him; he lives in your ward. When
you wish to know how some obscure
party is going TO vote, you send for
him. He knows; il no. he finds out.
"When a meeting is on hand, he
does all the dirty work; carries the
chairs, gets the water and lights the
lamps. In the professions he carries
the flag, not because we accorded him
the honor, but because the flag is too
heavy for the rest Of us. He keeps
the headquarters open, gives out the
literature, posts the bills, puts up the
pictures, and best Of all, he visits his
doubtful neighbors. When the great
men Of the ward meet in a back room
and 'check over the POLLOCK, they
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