Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1886 — Politics and Business. [ARTICLE]

Politics and Business.

Gainesville (Texas) Hesperian: We hear a great deal about sacrificing interest for principle In politics. If we were to listen co some of our spreadeagle orators we would come to the conclusion that politics was semething entirely theoretical and only concerned the feelings and passions of men. But tue truth of the matter is, politics is, or ought to be, the most practical thing we have to deal with. Whether the people so regard it or not, politics is business, and that political party is most worthy of s pport which will best subserve the bu siness interests of the country and most advance the material interests of the ptftople, for upon the action of political parties often depends the material interasts of the people. Ei iminate business from politics and it is not worthy the attention of the citizen. By “business” we do not mean the same thing that the shyster merchant or the confidence man means when he swindles tne ‘greeny,’ but we mean that broad principle of sensible men who have due regard for their own reputation and the rights ot their netgnbors, and who look to the future as well as the present. Then we say that system es government is wisest and that policy is best which will protect and foster the material interests of the whole country. And our idea of a good business government Is one that will give protection to every man in his person and property and will lay the least possible burden upon him for the support of the government. Experience has taught that the best business politics is the policy that interferes as little as possible with the business of the citizen and collects only so much taxes as are necessary to ;un an honest, economical government, leaving each citizen io pursue his own business avocation with only such restaictions as rhe public welfare may demand. Of course, a due regard must be had for public morality, but even ttds may be classed under ths held of "business noli tics,” for it can be shown that those people are most prosperous where the laws against crime are most rigid and best

enforced. A history of parties shows this. The democratic party has always opposed high tariff and morn, polies but when the republican party the party oi “high moral ideas.” g6t into power, the cry of the"Unionl down with the rebellion!” etc., so aroused the people that they forgot to look to their material interests. After the war had closed and had come the people were lulled to sleep by the patriotic speeches of their leaders. In the enthusiasm of the war and their love foi the flag they forgot to look at their own affairs and before they were aware of it a elas? of men, thrown to the surface during the war, bad secured the national banking act and had built up huge manufacturing and railroad monopolies. But 1 is the business of the demo, cratic party to undo all this as rapidly as possible, and it would be the part of wisdom for the people of the west and south to work In harmony with that party to regain their independencejfrom the bankers and man* ufacturera el the east.