New-York tribune., 1903-06-28


upon the individual entities and must rise or
fan with the average intelligence OF the people
Our public school system. therefore. Is the
foundation stone Of our governmental structure
and one Of its chief features should always be 70
teach the nature Of our political institutions and
the duties of citizenship.
If one aspires to enter the halls OF Congress
he should have some other motive than TO mere
" draw the salary, TO hold the place as an heir
loom or TO use it as a wedge to enter the social
world. there 70 play a part among the official
funzles simply for the pleasure it affords. The
people have no real interest in such a servant.
and. while ne may excite their curiosity. he Ger
tainIv does not appeal TO their pride fire their
Imagination
With Webster. Clay, Calhoun. Sumner. Nor
ton and Sherman as ideals several statesmen
Of the present day quickly come TO mind To
. prepare for such standing in the Senate one
should be of unquestioned usefulness in his PRO
fessfon or life work at home 1t is not neces-
sary that man should be a lawyer TO be a
great Senator. though 10 have read law would
be Of much assistance 10 any Senator, however
great he might be part from such legal knowl-
edge
To say that the United States Senate IL the
most powerful legislative body in the world IS,
think well within the truth; for. in addition to
its veto power upon such legislation which IN
der the Constitution must originate in the
Hou-e Of Representatives, IL also has the power
to veto all treaties which must originate with
! the Executive.
| The best Senatorial equipment, therefore. in
cludes a knowledge OF the law; but above that.
and. indeed above any specia- knowledge, should
be placed sOundmindedness, judicial tenpera-
nent and true patriotism
Exceptional ability combined with vast knowl-
edge would not necessarily make a truly great
Senator for IL narrow partisanship and per-
sonaI seIfshness dominate one so endowed he
| might prove a curse, instead of a blessing. to
his country.
The Senate Is the one place in our national
administration where the keenest intellect the
largest ability the profoundest learning. the
| soundest common sense. the truest patrtotisr2
and the most comprehensive statesmanship can
be Of the utmost possible service 70 the country
indeed, it calls for the ideal aIl-around Amer
| lean.
| Since Senator though approaching this high
standard. must in the very nature Of things fol-
| low the fortunes Of the party TO which he be-
| longs he will in turn often determine the fort
unes Of that party in his State, and ii has often
| happened that Senators who have proved
/ worthy have been returned when the trend OF
. politics has been toward the opposite party
| Accordingly. il seems clear that the best ad-
/ rinstratfon is always assured through a close
| competition Of parties for public place by put
ting forward the highest types Of American
manhood as candidates for popular approval
1t is largely because there has been serious
disregard of this rule of action on the part Of
the states in the selection Of United States Sen
ators that there has come an insistent demand
for their election by direct vote Of the people.
and il NAV be set down now as inevitable that
| in some way this end Will ultimately be secured
| Indeed. several OF the States to-day determine
| the action of the legislature by a direct vote
upon the question Of choice, the respective leg
islatfve bodies merely registering the viii OF the
people as expressed at the polls. precisely as is
the case with the Electoral College
The work Of the House is diversified to-
| day that. generally speaking. a thoroughly good
! business man viii make an excellent Represen-
| tative but the vast extent Of our national at
| fairs renders it impossible for any one man TO
! encompass the whole field Of legislation within
/ a score Of years. In a decade he may become so
| familiar with current work as 70 be an inteit-
| gent listener. but if in that time he has mas
| tered any one of half dozen OF the most i'm
/ portant subjects so that his Judgment IS re-
I spected and his opinion is final he has done his
| duty fairly well and can serve his country to
| son. extent beyond the limits OF that eonEen-
| tionaI phrase, "a good Congressman
| But in the House. as IN all other lines OF Work,
| the member must become a specialist TO achieve
any degree OF real success or render his country
1 significant lLeLlILle Is TOO SA-OAI
TO conclude the study Of interna tional law, trade
! conditions both domestic and foreign, or finance
and its kindred topics Principles are funda-
| mental and one may grasp them, but their ap-
/ pIication to conditions intricate and comDli-
( Gated and changing almost hourly, calls for IN
| trims. work and a devotion 10 public duty sur
passfng the stress Of business life even in these
I cruelty busy times
I Public service as an occupation calls primarily
/ for the same qualifications that successful and
/ respected business career requires, whether one
enters the ranks through the civil service exam
/ nations or by means Of a Presidential appoint
met to a consular post or is elected to Office by
/ the people. But in addition to these qualinca-
/ tions there must be both aptitude and indefat-
I igabIe industry Il one hopes for even moderate
| success.
I The false notion now too often entertained
/ that under the government there are many TAT
/ Jobs. any one Of which would make a man OF
/ the aspirant can only lead 70 disappointment,
/ even though his highest ambition is merely 70
/ pass the time away Under the government. as
/ in all other vocatious. positions DO not make
/ u,en-men make themselves-and unless young
man has ideals and purposes he viii fare no bet
1 +ar rnder the one than IN ny or the oLher- Ine
/ nriCe OF success is the same the world over and
| in an relationships and that price - one SELF.
| II the Achievements is to be conspicuous and the
| result glorious