The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-27

we have always with us. AS long as men
delegate TO other men the function of act
ing for them, If not of thinking for them,
we shall continue to have him. He is,
OF course, a varita BILE quantity. In the
crowded centres of population, his dis
tinguishing marks are short hair and
cunning; upon the confines. sentiment.
and the six-shooter. In New York. he
becomes a Boss; in Kentucky and Texas,
an orator. Let me hope that on this oc-
casion at least, I shall not be suspected
of being a politician. But, the Statesman
the ideal Statesman-in the minds eye.
Horatio, Bound by our limitations such
an anomaly would be a Statesman lacking
a party. a Statesman who never gets
any votes, a Statesman perpetually out
of job We have had some imitation
ideal Statesmen who have been more or
less successful in palming off their pinch
beck jewels for the real: but, looking
backward over the history of the country
we shall find the greatest among our pub
lie men-measurng greatness by eminent
service-to have been whilst they lived
least considered as ideals; for they were
men of flesh and blood, who. amid the
rush of duty as they saw it could not
stop to paint pictures. to brood over de-
tails, to consider sensiblities, to put forth
the deft hand. where life and death hung
upon the stroke of the bludgeon, or the
swinging of a club.
Washington was not an ideal Statesman.
nor Hamilton. nor Jefferson, nor Lincoln;
though each of them conceived grandly
and executed nObly. They loved truth
for truths sake even as they loved their
country. Yet no one Of them ever quite
attained his own conception Of it. Truth
inleod is ideal But, when we come to
adapt and apply it, how many faces IL
shows us, what varying aspects. so that
he is fortunate who is able to catch hold
a single fleeting expression, to bride this
and saddle it. and. as We say in Kentucky,
TO ride il a turn or two around the
homestretch of things accomplished. The
real Statesman must often do as he can.
not as he would; the ideal Statesman
existing only in the credulity of those
simple idolaters who are captivated by
appearances or deceived by professions.
The ideal in public life as 1 conceive
it. relates rather 20 the aggIomeration
of the States than To any individual ex-
ample; to people sufficiently lifted
above the strifes and passions of their
leaders TO discriminate between right and
wrong; TO a body of voters who do not
trot in droves 10 the polls like sheep 10
the shambles happy in the bonfires that
blind their eyes. exultant through sheer
sound and fury. signfying at least no.
thing 10 them except more taxes. heavier
burdens. and, at last. confirmation CT
the right 10 pay the piper and settle with
the undertaken.
The nearest approach 10 the ideal States
man this country has evolved lived and
died here IN this metropolis. II ever man
pursued an ideal life. he did. From youth
10 age he dwelt amid the fancies. He
was truly man OF the world among
men OF letters and man Of letters among
men Of the world. \ philosopher pure
ard simple-s lover Of books. OF pictures
Of all things beautiful and elevating-yet
he attained great riches. and. being a
doctrinaire and having a passion for
affairs. ne was able 20 crafty the as
piration 20 eruinence and the yearn!as to
be OF service 10 the State which had flled
his heart. Without any Of the articles
usual 70 the practical politician he
gradually rose 20 b power IN his party;
thence. to become the leader of a vast
following. his name a shibboleth of mil
lions Of his countryneu. who enthusiastic
ally supported him and who believed that
be was elected chef MAGISTRATE e the
United states He vas indeed an ideslisj:
he lost The White House becs Use he was
= ---r-e liz ~
his enemies as scheming spider weaving
web am.G the coz of nyst,fIcation II
vyhlch hs hid himself For this usn was
persan3ily known 20 bat feT u the city
where ne had made ms career: great
81 yer and iurls- = 10 rarely appeared Il
coarf q great political leader . Nhou
the musings were mainly stranger.
thinker. ard set a dreamer. Sho lived his
own life q littis apart. as poet might
uacorrupting AID ircCrrupt.ble- least q
al lis political Companions moved - ne
loss % The presidency which had seemed
ir his grasp And. 6azfy. he died-thoush
q master q legal lore-,o have hss lssi
WI and testament successfully ssssiiea-
7 hope the society q american Au-hers
whose guests we sre TINS night VII cot
consider IRE lENi5e0us when say ftat
-.er1lure ard politics are as side apsri
81 the poles FTou Beilnsbrokr- The
most splendid = The world : failures. 70
Thackeray. ore q SIS greatesT masters z
Ietter-who happily I'D 1o- set TIE
chance he sought e. p'ilaic Afe q fail
10Th English AID AnericAa sistery =
f.lii = Illustrations . this eject E-Ee=pt
n the comic cBer9 4 french politics. TIE
ooet tie artist invested wlth poser
seems % lose rs sfiiclsncy II re -st.o
os has gsnlas. the literary gifs. instead
q aiding. scsuaiiy ants<onizing TIE zFtt-
t1.de for pubic business The SsatssrrE7
nan rot be Esstidious The poet t5s
artist. must bs always So z the parry
leaoe- preserves h.s !-tegrry-E he keep