The Caldwell tribune., 1905-07-15
POLITICS, POLITICIANS.
a Candid Defense of a Much
Abused Class. 49,.
AT THE GRAVE OF BOISE CIVIC PURITY.
Touching ln-MemOrium Remarks by
the Statesman Championship
graphical Sketch and EuIOgy
KILLED by a Chunk of
Frozen Virtue. -

We often marvel at the attitude
which, popularity in this country, is
assumed toward politics and politi-
clans. There is so much inconsist-
ency, so much hypocricy, about it
that it is difficult to reconcile its
existence and vogue with that de-
gree of intelligence and sincerity
which, in other respects, seems to
characterize the American people.
1t has come to be thought that the
surest and speediest way of ingra-
t1atlng oneself with the people is to
howl about the filth of politics and
the corruption of politicians. The
discarded and soured old skate,
burning for revenge and restora-
ton, the glorifed reformers, on the
ragged edge of translation, and the
callow young prig, surging with
evangelical aspirations, all invoke
the same god and, in common,
expect to achieve solace and exalta-
ton by tonguelashing politics and
politicians. The persistency and in
dustry OF those selt-seeking lip lam
mers have so wrought upon the
popular mind that rarely can any
one be. found with candor and cour-
age to speak respectfully of politics
or politicians.
At peril of mourning popular dis
approval, we venture to say that
politics is just as clean and whole
some business as any in which men
engage, and politicians are just as
upright and honorable as any other
class of men. There are dishonest
and grasping men in politics and
so are there dishonest and graspiug
men in commerce, in finance, in
the professions, in the fraternities,
in the schools, in the churches, in
the trades, on the farms and in
the HOMES. Politics is no more
dominated by vicious and depraved
men than are banks, stores, church es
and fresides. Political parties are
no more controlled by dishonest
tricksters than are commercial clubs
fraternal societies and religious or
: ganiZations. A mothers confer
ence, a civic league or an eccleslas
tical council is just as liable to gt
wrong as Populist caucus. There
r is iust as much wire pulling in
: holy governing synod as in a ma
tional convention. With respect tt
: politicians, taking them up one side
= and down the other, they will
t square with any class of men or
:. earth, in honesty, liberality, fai
S dealing, patriotism, fidelity an(
! ability. The average politician
/ who has achieved sufficient success
i to entitle him to the name, is no
t the CRATER and corruptionist depict
: ed by the holy lip hammers. He i
n upright, big hearted and capable
: He loves the clash and excitem ell
= and pomp of public life. Upon tn
y altar of his political convictions h'
e cheerfu1ly sacrifices lersonal cas-
# and financial gain. He aspires t
= positions of honor, trust and powe
:. not to defle but to grace them.
sometimes he miscarries, he doe
no worse than men in all othe
# walks of life. If he has some re
r gard to the .emoluments of place
q it is no discredit to him, for 1''h
= that labors does not hope for sui
v stantial reward? As a rule there
f. no money in politics and they VIII
IS play at the game are general
(. worse off financially at the end tha
re in the beginning. Positions occ'
re sionally afford opportunities, SON
10 of them legitimate, some, otherwis
but, in general, the man who stay