, 1921-07-05
THE NoBLEsT OCCUPATION.

John T. Adams, the new chairman of the Repub-
hcan national committee and successor of Will Hays,
has said this: Politics is the art and science of gov
eminent In 4 republic like ours it is the noblest oc-
cupation of citizenship. and he who withholds him
self from its activities is a peace time Stacker"
Mr.. Adams was not using the word politics" in the
sense in which it is commonly used. The science and
art of government is something altogether different
from the manipulation Of elections for the promotion
of ones own self interest The participation in poll
tics which Mr.. Adams had in mind begins with the
individuals own mental processes in which he ascer-
tsins facts and draws sound conclusions, afterward
putting those conclusions into practical effect if pos
sible by influencing legislation and administration,
which, of course, includes the election of proper men
to office. Elections are only one, but none the less
essential step in the practice of the art of politics
There are some people who seem to take a personal
pride in proclaiming themselves free from politics.
Their boast is not a worthy one, even if they allude
to politics in its narrowest sense, for practical poll
tics will never be brought to the highest standard I'M
its affairs. This does not necessarily mean that prac-
teal politics will be 1T subject for reproaeh until it
shall be under the control of men of the highest
ideals. Unfortunately, it frequently happens that
men Of the highest ideals are very impractical in the
means they adopt to secure desirable ends. In a
government of, for and by the people, we cannot
have government by idealists alone.
The composite citizen is made up of millions of in
dividuals each dominated in most cases by self inter
est But because of the difference in the personal
equasions of the individual units making up the COM
posite citizen, there is a corresponding difference in
the interests dominating the units, and while COM
posite action is taking place, friction is developed, at
triton results, s~elfshness is worn away, and gen.
eral welfare is substituted before action is accom-
plished. Such will be the result if all citizens take
an active part in polcitics-the science and art of
government. If a few, through laziness, false pride,
or whatever other motive, Withdraw themselves from
participation in the tasks of government, the result
must be better or worse according to the character of
the men and women who remain inactive.
AT a time when bolshevism is destroying a nation
unsurpassed in natural resources and possibilities and
seeking to gain a foothold in our own nation with its
resources only half developed, the new chairman
could have uttered no more pertinent sentiment than
his declaration that politics is the noblest occupation
of citizenship and that he who withholds himself from
its activities is n peace-time Stacker. The nation
needs its best and ablest citizens actively at work
teaching sound economic doctrines. in season and out
of season; and securing the practical adoption of
those doctrines, by nominating at the primaries and
electing at the polls men who are sincere advocates
of the general welfare as distinguished from any To-
cal, class or self interest.