The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-25
w. A. BLOUNT IRIS. ADDRESS
ATFLORIDA CnAUTAUOUA

sellers, he yet knew that upon him
rested the burden of his own life and
its duties, and he manfully shouidered
the responsibility and triumphantly
bore it TO the end.
A Lofty Example.
Washington's example and the lofty
standards Of wisdom and public vir-
tue and patriotism, set by him at the
beginning Of our republican govern
ment, long actuated and guided our
public men in the conduct Of their
lives and careers. The idea that a
public Office was a public trust which
found its very embodiment in him,
was long the dominant one for those
who sought political preferment. To
serve ones country according to ones
lights, without fear Of party or fac
tional dlSfavOT, without hope of
pecuniary reward, was sufficient
glory for those statesmen who fol-
lowed near enough to him to feel the
benehcient effect Of his elevating ex-
ample.
Times Changed.
But as the country grew and con-
ditions changed, the nation soon ex-
changed the Washingtonian dignity
for the Jeffersonian simplicity, which
in due time came to be only another
name for the JacksOnian vulgarity
and with the advent of Old Hickory
into public life, that lofty statesman
ship which was above party and pol
itics, and lad its roots firmly fixed in
Q, -
ence OF the individual conscience, be-
came for the time being a thing Of
the past, relic Of the age Of political
cnivaIry, fit companion for Don
Quixote and his windmill.
Washington spoke these words:
imagine them from the lips Of Jack
son:
IN touching upon the most delicate
part Of your letter, the communication
Of which fills me with real concern,
/ will deal with you with all that
frankness which is due to friendship
and which l wish should be a charac-
teristic feature OF my conduct through
life. Should it be my fate
TO administer the government, viii
so TO the chair under no pre-engage-
ment Of any kind or nature whatever,
and when in it, l will. TO the best of
my judgment, discharge the duties Of
the Office with that impartiality and
zeal for the public good which ought
never to suffer connections Of blood
or friendship to have the least sway
on decisions of a public nature"
These were no idle promises, for
on this high level he ever moved, fit
pathway for all, but especially for
those who like him stand high in the
public service.
Our Own Degenerate Times.
But today, Washington is apparent
~ no longer the model His influence
no longer guides, uplifts, controls. No
longer does he stand invisible yet
potent, behind Senator and Represen-
tative. No longer does the heated,
scrambling, thrOng hear his words,
bidding each of them be patient, pat.
riOric, pure. Forgotten are the sage
counsel that fell from his lips. and
the example of his honesty is obscur-
ed by the greed for gold.
We might close our eyes to these
facts, and 80 through life singing with
little Pippa, the maid from the silk
mills, Gods in his Heaven, all's right
with the world but if we do. we but
proclaim our own blindness to those
who hear US. Gods in his Heaven,
but all's not right with the world. We
read daily of those in high places who
have been weighed and found want
ng, and never was the need of clean
men more patent than today, in
.hese United States. The praise and
concentrations ShOwered on Jerome.
Folk, LaFOllette, and others. who sol
signally stand for purity in public
life, but intensity the need of more
men of that stamp. No longer is pub. /
ic Office a public trust, but rather a
source of private gain. Patronage
has usurped the place Of merit, and
wealth rules instead of worth. The
influence and power of the third
.