Year: 1878

In contemplating the needs of the
country, is it not time for statesmen
and thoughtful men to raise them
selves above the mere conflicts of


party? Is there no higher object
worthy of their effort than to become
mere partisan retainers and gladia-
tors? Is it not the duty of the in
tellect of the nation, with Opportu-
nifty in public life, to initiate and
shape legislation looking to fuller
development of our material resour-
ces and a more profitable use of the
advantages which God and nature
have given US? However desirable
a reform in the civil service may be
and however important the preser-
walton intact of the political Organi-
cations to which we belong may be,
yet these and all other pending
questions are secondary to that of
the political economies, involving
in their consideration the highest
interests of the present as well as of
succeeding generations, by an intel
ligent utilization of existing vet
hidden superior possessions.


The late war, like all wars, es-
pecially in republics, threw into the
leading places in the public councils
those who have commended them
selves to public favor by military
achievements, and, so long as a
lively recollection of the incidents
of the war lasted, this class, as a
class, ruled the public councils.
Time has, however, calmed the
popular pulse, and the sober judg-
ment of the country has reached the
conclusion that the meritOrious SOL
dier is not always a statesman. He
may answer the purpose of war, but
not of peace. For the great objects
and duty of government we require
a broad, catholic spirit and an ele-
waited comprehension of the needs
and the resources of the nation. He
who possesses these is the most use
full legislator and best qualified to
determine measures for the general
well-being. l do not declare that
soldiers cannot be statesmen; his
tory has many brilliant examples
to the contrary; but l do say that
for the past fifteen years the heroes
of our late war, from whose merits
| would not detract, have occupied
almost entirely the control of our
civil affairs, thrusting aside, by
their hold on popular esteem, those
who by their training, great abili-
ties, and much higher qualifications
were better fitted for the purposes
of the State. Is it unjust, therefore,
to attribute to this fact much of our
present distress and lack of material
progress?


Now, however, the time has come
when men can stand upon their own
merits for the purposes required,
and we can seek the great minds of
the country to lead us onward in
the important struggle for national
grandeur, power and wealth. The
hero has been remembered and re-
Warded let US do likewise by those
who will lead us out of the present
labarynth of despair and point to
the road which will keep us from a
like condition hereafter.


Doubtless there are many now in
obscurity who have the capacity to
do this, who will become illustriOus
in the effort. 1t is true that ours is
a Government Of party; but / con-
telu LldI IHcy Wllo, Il9lnS oupellOI
to the degrading servitude required
by political organizations, will think
out, suggest and practically apply
measures for the public good such
as /. have indicated will not only
advantage the party to which they
belong, but will create for them
selves names that will stand side by
side in history with the fathers of
our country and transmit to their
posterity valid claim to a just
pride of ancestry.