The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-05-23
Personal lGrudgs
Inspires Some Men
To Work ina campaign-When
They Don'tHaye Occasion to
do That, They Remain
Inactive.

was always candidate or Two whom
the old man had slated to beat, anc
| he worked over his community FOL
weeks before the election, and as act
iyely at the polls against the object Of
his dislike. There came campaign
however, in which he was not active
Through all the weeks leading up te
election day he was inactive and equal
lily Indifferent. Election day dawned
and still no evidences Of concern were
apparent. Those who passed that way
saw :the beast he was accustomed t.
ride grazing quietly in the pasture,
and the old man busted himself about
the affairs Of his own premises. Tc
all inquirers who wished to know why
he was not making of to the election,
he made the one characteristic reply
~ reckon I'll not go to the election
this time; there's nobody runnln' this
season that I'm particly agin."
Some weeks ago one Of our contem'
poraries took occasion to recall the
words of wise old republican leader
who was accustomed to say that a re.
publican is a republican because be
lovessomething,and that democratic
sdemocrat because he hatessomething.
This is true with few exceptions which
only prove the truth OF the propo-
sition. The motive which prompts us
to act in politics as In other things,
marks US as naturally adapted to men,
bership in a party of hope and good
cheer, and affirmative. action, or a
party of sullen opposition and soreness
aud negation. Men there are who
never think Of doing anything in a
campaign in anybody's favor and from
motives OF admiration. They are
wholly unknown as helpers In any
affirmative cause. No one ever found
them expanding any time, trouble or
means trying to win a party victory.
They are always "agin" somebody,
and the only time you ever see them
out working among the voters is when
they are trying to injure some one in
their own party. Whom are YOU
working for?' isneyer properquestion
to PROFOUND to them. If you are in
terested In their fight ask them whom
they are ssagln." You may possibly
find some of these fellows in the re-
publican party, but they are few in
number and far from home and native
land. They ought to go home to de-
mocracy.
Party Affiliations ought to be the re-
suit of intellectual choice. Issues
which divide parties are proper sub
iects for 6eliberation and thoughtful
perseverance,. Choice between individ-
val candidatesis also proper matter
for Intellectual operation. We need
TO reflect on the relative merits Of in
dtvtduals. Since we must choose our
own servants let us choose those who
can serve US most ably and satisfac-
torily. Some time we let sentiment
play the part Of intelligence. Senti-
ment has its proper place, even in
politics. Where we fail to discrimi-
nate as to the merits of candidates,
and let the emotions prevail the be-
neyolent rather than the malevalent
affections should rule. tits safer to
act from motives Of love and admira-
ton or gratitude than from feelings Of
envy, revenge or hate. There is no
higher emotional ground prompting to
action than that Of gratitude, for this
carries with love for the benefactor
and desire to do good instead of evil
toward the Individual whose conduct
toward us we regard either as bene-
faction or an injustice. Even where
the emotion Of resentment is right
eously aroused the danger Of excuses
in the attempt to crafty the revenge
ful spirit is such that one frequently
stops not at the sacrifice OF truth and
the besmirching of character to attain
his ends. 1t is for this reason that
the thoughtful man prefers rather to
take council from him who has higher
aims in life than to harbor in his
bosom the degrading passion OF hate.
Byron calls hate the madness OF
mind. Another author calls it a dis
ease of one which can only be cured by
the letting Of the blood Of another,
but this produces relapse, he declares,
which is incurable. 1t is the awful
malady OF the man who is always
"asin'' somebody. And when that OPP
position becomes so chronic that the
patiert is willing to stake all corners
against the object Of his spleen, then
the case ought to be speedily quaran-
tined and the danger flag hung out to
warn away the unsuspecting who
might become innoculated with this
terrible poison Of envy, malice, and
hate.
gratitude which one owes TO friend
is an obligation which no honest man
refuses to pay. ''Ingratitude is the
basest OF crimes" The Bible it,
self is full Of the teaching that graft
tude is proper ground Of Christian
obligation, and we sing the same sen,
timent in sacred song.
Reveals Great Secret
1t is often asked how such startling
. ha has nh ,Isi ft ~