The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-09-07


country proves, hat the real leaders,
who live on after their life-work is
done, have claimed and received the
support of the people because of their
championship Of some cause or
principle that they believed to be,
and were able to persuade others to
believe, "a in the public interest.
The achievements of the pioneers in
civil service reform are, however,
especially instructive, moi only be-
cause they illustrate what may be
accomplished by men who advocate a
~meritOriOus cause, ever when at the
outset substantially all local party
leaders oppose it, but also because
the men who achieved that great
triumph had nc other purpose in view
than the public good. They were
not led on by personal ambition. In
deed, no one knew better than they
that their course would absolutely
prevent them from obtaining those
Offices of trust and honor for which
many of them were admirably fitted.
1t is service of this character,
prompted solely by an unselfish
desire to serve the country, patriotic
service that seeks no other reward
than the consciousness of helping in
even a humble way toward lettering
the condition of government in town,
city, country, State, Or nation, that
is most needed. And those who can
best appreciate the opportunities
through which, and the method by
which the general public interest al
be advanced, are the men possessed
of trained minds, broadened by
sound reading. careful study. and
association with men of thought and
action, the best foundation for which
is laid in our colleges and universe
ties. My observation has led me to
the conclusion that there are many
cultivated, patriotic men who would
gladly contribute something of their
time and effort to the Improvement of
public conditions, if they but saw the
opportunity. but this they often fail to
see, for the sole reason that they !
look for it, at the very outset. in the
larger field of State or national
affairs, instead of analyzing the con-
ditiOns in the town, village. Or city
where they live. and then attempting
correct the errors of local govern
to be found there. The latter
task should be the first attempted by
those who are willing to surrender
some portion of their time from their
usual vOcatiOns for the public veal.
If their work at home be wisely done,
not only will they be better prepared
for a broader field of usefulness. but
their success will quite likely result
in their being called to it: because. in
political as we'll as in business
affairs, for the commanding position
there is always a demand for men
who are known to be preeminently
qualified to fill them, men with records
to which party leaders can conf
IDENTIFY appeal in support OF the claim
their candidates r not only
capable men, but also worthy of the
trusts sought for them: for in
contests. the issue of which
is doubtful. the conventions of great
parties. local as we'll as State and
national. assiduously seek for their
nominees the strongest possible can
.idates: and. being composed OF
practical men in the main. they re-
gard the candidate as the strongest
whose record and personal character
are such as will most strongly appeal
to the good sense of the people.
Do Whot Noture Best Fits You For.
A mar who would succeed in bust
ness should begin at the bottom and
work towards the top. which he may
reach if he master every detail of it
and proves himself more skillful than
those who are vying with him in the
struggle for it's ultimate control. The
same rule applies in politics. There
are exceptions to the rule, but they
tend to prove it, as exceptions
do: as where a fond father
makes the fatal error of putting his
and unframed son at the head
Of q great business about which he
knows nothing, or an accident in
u1ocoS u man ov.