Year: 1864




A correspondents of the New York Free
mans Journal asks the question, What Is
politics and we'll may he be inquisitive.-
Politics in a mysterious thing-its require
ments still stranger. Old-fashioDed die
tionaries define it as the science OF govern
ment, but this is now obsolete. The truth
defined is 1t is the art of getting Office
1t has its votaries as all other tyrannical
mistresses have, and it requires the intensest
devotion from it's slaves. 1t Is not yon
dull eyed student poring over the ancient
laws of defunct commonwealth, nor that
skilliul searcher IN the anatomy of the hu-
man frame The politician has more diff
ficult task. In his studous hours he must
gather scrap here from the ancient fathers
and there a new -minted dogma fresh from
Washington. He must know how to Gull
choice quotations and set them all together
to sustain whatever view he may wish. AS
there is so much to read, his knowledge
must be superfic al and, indeed, it is now
the common custom Tor him TO depend on
the authorities and arguments of the daily
press. This superficial knowledge is, how
ever, an advantage; for, if he dips too deep,
he gets below the common standard and
utters thoughts which, however true, have
not yet received the stamp of popular ap-
proval. The politician is not expected to
inform the world.


There are innocent ways of gaining pop
ular favor, but sometimes an opposite
course is chosen. Instead of lauding up
ones own merits, or the merits OF bis friends
some seek power by decrying their adver-
Saries.


There is added to this dish all the acid to
make it palatable. Slanders equivocations,
falsifications and the like, become dreadful
weapons. These Just now are used freely
with regard to the aspirants to the Presl-
dency. To read much that is said of them
one would conclude that such mass OF
crime and iniquity never bubbied up to the
top of the political pot as the approaching
canvass has produced. One journal gravely
asserts that Mcclellan hopes for dissolu-
ton of the Union; another, that those ia
yoring him would rejoice at such result.


Then again it is proved beyond q doubt
that the opposing party would rather see
the Union dissolved than to have 1t as 1t
was. Thus blinded and mysti6ed in the
turbid pool of politics, the simple observer
wonders, when every body is for the dlsso-
luton Of the Union, taey do not quit night
ing and dissolve it.


Simple indeed! Once secure the Key;
once revert to the given definition OF what
politics is, and the question is settled. Inc
Union has no more to Go with it than the
occulation- of Orion, or any other very i'm
pertinent subject 1t is to get of1ce-hon'
estly if you can; but get office.


None of these men want dissolution
Some of them would not look on 1t as
calamity provided it did not interfere with
the prime important business OF getting Of
fee. Which of these candidates would be
least apt too obtain office ander restored
Union, the public is just as competent to
Judge a. ourselves. Still, if it does not in
terfere with their pursuit, they would not
only be willing, but even anxious, to see 1t
restored. Why blame them? Why con-
| meet two such different things as Office and
the Union? When they 30 to get office,
thew 90 to get Office; and when they 60 to
restore the Union, they go to restore the
IIn;on.- Why then should there be this
confusion in the public mind; this insane
desire 20 m ke oil and water mix and
why suppose that these men can not be
ioval lust on account of their lawful pur>
suitsP n the merchant sticks TO his busi
ness. and the shoemaker to his last, We dc
not call them dlsloyal 1t is their daily
business. Messrs. Chase, Lincoln aud
Seward have been all their lives trying to
get Office, and holding Office; and why not
allow them to follow their usual pursuits
lust as we do the merchant and mechanic