Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-06-16

anu is uelnE demonstrated NhhAN W ~ MAJ
who occupies one Of the most important
political positions in the United statcs-i
refer to Governor Hughes Of New York. lie
liz a man who. In spite Of the conditions
surrounding him. has. SO far, succeeded IN
obtaining the most positive and benefieial
results without. in any way, departing from
the standards he has set w for his guild
ance. He has constantly refused to be led
astray by the specious arguments OF ma
chine politicians, or the urgings Of prece
dent. or hints Of eNpediency. He Is a
strong republican. and believes in the prin-
ciples OF his party. and no one ever doubts
that he Is in thorough sympathy with that
party's welfare and success but he does
not think that its success can be promoted
by giving in to men who conceal personal
and unworthy motives under the party
cloak. Lincoln was a great-one OF our
neutrality-suspicious., yet no one ever ac-
cused him OF equivocRtion or insthcefitN.
because It was absolutely evident that his
every action was impellcd by a real and
u~nselfish desire for his country's good. \"
one doubted the purity OF his motives or
the sincerity or his acts. John Hay and
Ethan A. Hitchcock went through long
years OF public service in various capacities.
doing splendid service for their country
without a murmur against either their hon
esty or efficiency. If they made any enc
mics they were Of a kind that were flatter-
ing to them
We need not lack for xample TO look
up to and to serve us as guides, when we
determine to enter public life.
The common honesty and good sense Of
the average American citizen is not. I be
lieVe, highly enough rated by those who
have not had some experience in public
life. There is certainly a large number OF
voters in every community who are IN
thinking and 10 whom the privilege Of the
franchise means but little. There are
everywhere many men who can be bought
by ~flattery. by promises Of prefcrment and
by more tangible and sordid methods OF
bribery. There are a great many others
who would be decent and honorable II there
We're more encOuragement for them to be so
on the part Of the men who are leaders in
political matters. But the number who are
entirely free from the possibility OF CON
tamination and who have a sincere desire
TO act straightforwardly ana honestly in
public affairs, is far greater than is gen
orally believed. They are by no means
confined TO the men who have had the
benefits OF a college education, or even to
those who have had something less than a
college education. In fact II there is one
class Of spells politician more dangerous
than any other, il is that class Of educated
and refined men who have started out with
high ideals and u~nselfish motives, and
through either avarice. weakness or tnordi-
nate personal ambition, have swerved from
their original purpose, and become the
tools Of corruption and enemies Of good
government They are far more vicious
than the out and out CRATER. or Common
boss, because they have the advantage Of a
trained intelligence. ny cold, premedita-
ton. working stealthily under the protec-
ton Of their former good reputation, they
can work infinitely greater harm than tho
men who make no pretense Of being hon
est or sincere in public affairs. II is
among the great numbers OF wcll-iuten-
toned but wavering individuals who have a
Vi desire to do right that the college man
can be effective. Unless such people are
organized under men who have the educa-
ton and ability to lead them in the right
direction, many OF them viii be led in the
wrong direction by the unprinciplcd palit-
clans, who are always organized. 1t is not
only in high official positions that men of
good Judgment, integrity and education are
needed, but in the caucus, at the primary,
at the polls and in convention 1t seems
to me IT is Just as much the duty Of an
American citizen 10 do his share in pro-
teeting the nation or the community against
the invasion Of political free-hooters when
the danger Of such invasion arises, az it is
for him to fight on the battlefield against
the invasion Of a foreign enemy. IT
doesn't matter much in what rank he does
the work, whether in office or out. It ia
an impersonal duty connected with the duty
of citizenship which none OF US should try
to escape.
Looking at the matter from one point of
view. It is a great deal easier not TO dip
into politics at an. but TO calmly submit
to what often seems the inevitable and
pay the price Of such submission. Nor does