The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-11-14

llIiI{IjO|,|
III
i This Is country Of politicians IN
the generic sense OF the word. 1t
is q self,sovernfng country, and poli-
tics is the science Of government
Consequently, every one worthy the
name OF an American citizen is. to
some extent, politician, Having
no rulers born 70 the purple. We
make our own. There being no royal
road to preCerment, the path to posi-
ton may lie trodden BY the humblest-
Anything else but this would be In
consistent with the true spirit OF our.
institutions, and, if established aud
consented to, would in the end work
their destruction.
All this being true, there are very
naturally many aspirants for office In
the United States. From President
down through all the graduatiops OF
place to pathmaster. the ambitious
seek preferment from the people
Some hypercritical souls deplore
this. and talk loftily OF the unseen
~ scramble for Office" There is moth
ing unseemly about it. barring always
the methods sometimes rcsortcd to in |
order to win. The offices are created
for the public service, they must be |
filled, and their honors and emou- !
ments are legitimate objects of am
biIion on the part of those. who seek |
to obtain them. There is a vast deal |
of humbug in the oft-repeated cry that |
the Office should seek the man"
Nothing else seeks tho man except
for public Office there Is /
no faint OF unworthiness. Seek, and
We shall find: knock, and it shall be
opened unto you
The chronic ofice-holder and office,
seeker does, it is true, annoy and dis
gust the people. There are official
eeches, whom long years OF place
md position do not satisfy, and who
seem to think that the public owes
hem a living. These are usually the
exceptions rather than the rule, and
heir desires have grown from the
natural to the abnormal The voters :
,annot too soon get rid of them, for
n their breasts honorable ambition
md civic spirit have given place to
'ure selfishnesS, and often to a sheer
dislike and Discrimination for the task 5
# earning a living under conditions
imilar to those of the great mass Of :
eople. =
In every campaign the candidate" :
a sort of standing joke with great
1any. His going around among thosell :
hose suffrageS must elect him, his .
forts to make friends, and his pleas AZ
Or support all afford themes for gibes .
nd jests to the unthinlting. Judg- i
lg from much that is said, one might :.
link that the candidate Is little more !
ian a sort Of political, mendicant, who :.
oes from door to door seeking a =
land-out" in the shape of votes. s.
his is in deroSation of our institu- :
ons, of honest ambition, and of the :
sht of suffrage Rightly considered =
Ie candidate who makes proper =.
lnvass does just what he should do, -
Id just what the voters have a right 8
demand that he do. There are =,
any reasons why they cannot seek :,
ndidates for the offices to be filed.
the most important positions. such
State Congressional and legisla.
re Offices, saying nothing of the "a
eat National prizes, 1t is often i'm az az
ssIble for the people to know SO II
III and be SO united upon any man w
to go after him and insist that he pr pr
rye them. p
The great body OF the electorate
mt good men as public servants,
N honest, capable and efficient, and c.