The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-13
EDUCATED MEN IN POLITICS
Judge Alton 3. Parker's Ideals in Poll
tics and the Public Service.

Judge Alton 3. Parker's ideals in Poll
tics and the Public Service.
The following are extracts from an
address delivered to the graduating
class at Union college by Judge Alton
B. Parker, the honorary chancellor, on
June II, 1901
Opportunity of Educated Men.
Superficial observers of present political
conditions, which too often disclose local
leadership to be in the hands of selfish
men, who use the power they possess 70
accomplish results hostile to the public
interests. frequently assert that there is
no opportunity for the educated, thought
full, unselfish and independent man in
politics; but if such persons would only
sound the depths Of political history the
fact would be revealed to them that
whenever a great question of public i'm
portance has arisen it has been presented
and champiened through the press and
on the rostrum by the educated thinkers
Of the country, who, for the time being,
are the real leaders, and under whose
banners the organization leaders hasten to
marshal their forces lest their power
shall be overthrown by the impelling
force of an idea.
Civil Service Reform.
1t has often happened in the past, and
, in the future will continue to happen,
that organized forces under the leadership
of individuals having for the time no
more lofty ideal than their own personal
advancement or that of some OF their
followers, are made most effective inStru-
ments for the accomplishment of results
wholly foreign to the leaders purpose and
often hostile to their desires. This is well
Illustrated by the fortunes of civil service
reform, the principle of which, by the
way, early found expression in a letter by
President Jefferson, dated July IL, 1901,
which was in reply to committee of
merchants of New Haven, who had pro-
tested against two appointments made by
the president, and in which, after stating
in substance that the members of his
party had been excluded from Office, and
expressing regret that difference of opin-
ion had been deemed sufficient TO inter-
, dict half of society from the rights and
blessings of self government, he eonclud-
ed as follows: But their total exclusion
calls for prompter corrections. 1 shall cor
rect the procedure: but that done, re-
turn with joy to that state of things
where the only questions concerning a
candidate shall be, Is he honest? Is he
capable? Is ne faithful to the constitu-
tion?'
Many years later movement in the d.
rection of civil service reform was initial
ed by students of political affairs, who
were not affected by the question whether
two great political parties were fairly rep
resented in the public service. The lead
ers in that movement, which included
many thoughtful unselfish and public
spirited citizens, like the late George Will
liam Curtis and Dorman B. Eaton, who
believed that the public service would be
greatly benefited by permanency of tenure
and selection because of fitness, rather
than because of caucus efficiency. entered
upon a systematic campaign of education
having for its purpose the upbuilding of a
public sentiment that would command the
necessary legislation to establish on firm
basis such a system of civil service as the
public needs required.
TiIden's Great Services.
Would the limits of this address permit,
crIRn Efa ria1 ffrNn,
to a few of the more remarkable instances
in each class, such, for example, as the
great struggle in the city of New York in
1871, under the leadership of Samuel J.
Filden, which resulted in the overthrow of
the Tweed ring and released that great
city from the clutches of an organized
band of plunderers. Thus was the foun-
datiOn laid broad and deep for his nomi-
nation and election as governor In 1874.
Both his nomination and election were
bitterly opposed by many men who were
prominent in his own party, but they
could not check the tide of public Senti-
ment which set in in favor of a continu-
ance in the state at large of the methods
that had rescued the metropolis. The
election over. some of his friends feared
that his aggressfveneSS against those who
We're defrauding the public might cease,
and among them was his close friend,
Charles OConof. at one time the recog-
throughout the long and bitter fight
against the Tweed ring had stood shOul-
der to shoulder with TfIden, giving him at
all times and in all places the benefit of
his great legal ability and mature judg-
ment. The fear that Tildens zeal might
abate was very frankly expressed in a let
ter from OConor to the governor shortly
after the Iatter's election. in which he
quoted this couplet from Moore:
To place and power all public spirit tends;
In place and power all public spirit ends.
OConor's fears proved to be groundless.
for he who had fought the Tweed ring as
a private citizen at once grappled with
and overthrew the canal ring as governor.
His enemies within the party were legion,
and on every hand Democrats were to be
found who denounced him for conduct
which they were pleased to assert was
disrupting his party. But before his short
term Of office as governor expired he had
been nominated by his party for the office
of president, and later received a majority
of the votes of the people. an experience
that had not fallen to the lot of any other
Democratic candidate for the presidency
in twenty years.
Wise Advice to Young Men.
have thus briefly called your attention
to a broad field; which requires the labor
of many cultiVatorS if the weeds that
menace the choice grain. which all would
have come to maturity are to be kept
down. and have also suggested that it is
the special duty of men with your adVan-
tages to take part in that work and I
beg leave in passing to remind you that
the satisfaction which comes OF the con-
sciousness of duty well performed viii
compensate you for your efforts. But if
you are ambitious for power and place in
government, they also are quite likely to
come either because of faithful and eff
ficient service personally rendered ia hum
BILE positions at the beginning or as re-
suit of the contributions Of intelligent
political effort toward filing public offices
with men whose ambition IS to serve the
public well.
1t may well be that some of your best
efforts in behalf of the public will prove
Ineffective, indeed. may seem to be un-
appreciated; but remember that you are
not striving for appreciation, but only to
accomplish results for those who need
your services. whether they realize it or
not-that yours is higher ideal than to
secure personal applause; it embraces a
war against wrongs and struggle for
justice for those who are sadly in need of
It.
Be discouraged Press on support
ed by the assurance which the history of
civilization gives. that rig@L and justice
Will in the end prevail