The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-08-02
NEGATIVE QUALIFICATIONS.

public office, respectfully calls attention,
in the most delicate and impersonal man.
ner, to some minor or negative qualifics-
tions which, if they do not facilitate the
transaction of business, at least tend to
refine and embellish official life. Their
discussion will be carried on purely in the
abstract, not in the concrete, lest any
sensitive public officer should think him
self referred to.
A public official Of a great common
wealth ought not to be a whisky filter,
nor yet a perambulating beer keg. His
breath should not poison the atmosphere
with the fumes OF alcohol. He ought not
to be inebriated more than seven days in
the week, nor more han twenty-four
hours in each day.
The e~xhilaration OF q ~protracted Jag is
not permanent. It is followed by a period
of depression during which the previously
elevated individual is anything but bril-
liant, anything but agreeable, anything
but satisfied with his physical and men
tai condition. and anything but good COM
pany. This condition does not inspire
self respect. nor command the respect OF
others. mol better qualify an official for
the important work before him there
fore the jag which produced it ought not
to be perpetual.
1t would seem, then, that q State Off
cial ought to have some lucid, some tenn
perate intervals. At least he ought to
be sober long enough to accept q nomin-
alton, take the oath of Office and receipt
for his salary. The latter occurs only
once q month, and it ought not to be con
sidered a great hardship for a State off,
cial to preserve his equilibrium while
drawing bis monthly stipend.
In color his nose ought not to rival the
rag that exasperates the bull. Every
body knows what a sad story a red nose
tells. 1t is a flag of distress which
exhausted nature holds out when it cries
for aid, and should never be unfurled in
the presence of the Court, during the
transaction Of important public business,
before legislative assemblies, in military
or street parades, nor while addressing a
public audience. 1t is certainly too sug-
gestive to be worn in polite society.
A State officer addicted to snoring,
when about to fall into the arms of Nor
pheus. ought not to select the street for a
couch, especially if wet and muddy. 1t
would not be dignified. 1t would not be
decorous. 1t would not be respectable.
1t might occasion more or less scandal,
and give rise to unkind or uncompliment-
airy remarks. Besides, he might soil his
clothing. to say nothing Of the danger Of
being run over by a sympathetic burro,
or trodden under foot by the ubiquitous
small boy.
Some may deem these negative quail
fications unimportant. Not so the SEN
TINEL. 1t considers them absolutely es-
sential to the faithful, efficient and dig
nifed performance of every public duty,
and an essential qualification of every
public servant.
There is no sadder spectacle than that
of a being made in the image and like
ness of its Creator, having the outward
form and semblance Of a man, occupying
q position of responsibility and trust, yet
utterly devoid of reason. self respect and
even shame; having 10 sense Of decency
or manhood, through the debasing habit
of intemperance. Yet such men have
occupied, and may now occupy, high Of
fetal positions to the disgrace of them
selves, their constituents and the State.
For such creatures the SENTINEL has
profound pity but no use; neither can it
respect them. 1t believes that their
proper place is not at the head OF the
government, not in the halls of legisla-
lion, nor in any public Office, but in a
home for inebriates. where they may be
Kept under restraint, away from tempta-
ton, and where under proper treatment
and q system of gradual retrenchment in
the use of alcoholic stimulsnts, their res-
son may be partially restored and the
poor creatures kept from disgracing them
selves. their families and official posi-
tions.
As stated in our last issue. the SENTI-
MEL stands for honesty. decency and re-
~spectability in official life. 1t believes
that . public Office is not the place for
imbecility or fossilized stupidity. 1t be-
lieves that. q brain embalmed in alcohol
in its bony shell. is as Intellectually dead
and far less useful than one preserved in
alcohol in q glass jar. The latter
may be used to demonstrate the
structure and functions of the grand
est intellectual organ in the uni
verse, save only that of the Omnipotent.
The former is useful only to illustrate
the baneful. parslyzing and disastrous