The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-11-26

thought. THE greatest statesman?
Really, Friend Jenkins, l have not the
slightest idea. Ask the colonel"
jenkins turned again to Colone' Mon
roe.
aYou might as well ask me to tell
you where to find the largest living
mastOdon,'' replied Colonel Monroe.
The mastodon is extinct So is the
statesman"
'sTOm Reed defined a statesman as
dead politician" observed the judge.
His saying 50 did not make it so"
declared the other with some warmth
'AThe modern politician is the elected
or retained representative Of some COM
mercial or financial interest, and his
life or death is a matter which most
directly concerns his family or per
soual friends and those who profit by
his employment A dead politician Is
a dead politician"
what is a statesman asked Post
master Jenkins.
"a statesman" answered Colonel
Monroe, els one who has breadth OF
vision, keenness Of mind, mastery OF
history, an intimate knowledge Of the
present, an earnestness OF purpose, an
intense love Of his country and an ex-
allied unseIfshness which impels him
to devote all Of these traits to the bet
terment OF his people and Of the world.
He has no interest higher than the wei
fare Of the state. Such men have
lived, and their names and fame sur
vive them. Such men live today, but
all the world Is money hunting and
cares neither to heed nor listen to
them But a man is not statesman
In the accepted sense Of the word until
he Is able to attract and command an
effective following. For such reasons
say that craftsmanship is extinct
But perhaps 1 am too particular. Pos
sibly you can name statesman. judge,
or several of themT
sT confess that 1 cannot recall one
who conforms to your definition" ad-
mitted Judge Sawyer. There are I'M
uDLt1L l4G4A III RuOAA@ 49,
but those who have the ability to lead
seem committed to the championship
of private interests. | do not under
stand why some man Of great attain
ments and commanding ability does
not force himself to the front. The
people would follow him."
Il don't know whether they would
or not" said Colonel Monroe. LOT
course, II he were prodigy Of genius
and magnetism he might be able to
Lead a crusade against existing condl
lions, but such men are born not Of,
tener than once in a century. The am
bition Of the average American citizen
Is not to reform the system which has
made a Rockefeller possible, but &c
climb to the financial height Of thai
Millionaire and then topple him down
and rule in his stead. This Is the 'hn'
spirit OF American independence Of
which we hear so much. The principa
of our grammar school told me recent
~ that he privately questioned all o.
the lads in the upper class, asking then
whose career they intended to imitat
AHur IL tb1eAbAty t-AAlEls A " NA'E "a hAat ~
named Rockefeller, seven looked mp {
]. p. Morgan. five to Andrew Carnegie
one to Thomas Edison and one
Tracy, the departed desperate. 1t
upon such ambitions that the futuT
must look for its guidance. The nj
swers made by the boys were perfect
natural ones. 1t has been taught
them in their schoolbooks, in the p'
pers, books and magazines they rea
and In the events and developments Z
the age in which they live. They al
unaware that the future sounds
them any call other than Get money
They are shrewd enough to obser'
that all Of the substantial rewards
existence go to those who anna
wealth. They cannot comprehend
great poet or philosopher except he
a dead one. They know that WI
street king or a syndicate magna
can make more money in one coup tn
all OF the authors Of a century In
decade. They soon learn that there
no high place for an honest man
political life. They soon learn that 81
picion attaches itself to a man "
goes ONCE seehinBs III oSiei SieS
their self respect they avoid polit
and in later life, If successful, empl
politicians to do their dirty work"
''You draw a depressing pictur
sighed Judge Sawyer.
II draw a true one, the accuracy
which no frank and thoughtful m
can deny" continued Colonel Monr
ave have a government Of eorpor
ana vested interests. II young N
shows evidence Of business ability
openly serves a corporation In q