Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 303, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1910 — Qualification for Office. [ARTICLE]

Qualification for Office.

The little trial I have had of public employment has been so much disgust to me; I feel at times temptations toward ambition rising in my soul; but 1 obstinately opposfe them. “But thou, Catullus, be thou firm to the last.” - *• I am seldom called to it, and as seldom offer myself uncalled: liberty and laziness, the qualities most predominant in me, are qualities diametrically contrary to that-.trade. We cannot well distinguish the faculties of men; to conclude from the discreet conduct of a private life, a capacity for the management of public affairs, is to conclude ill; a man may govern himself well, who cannot govern others so; and compose essays, who could not work effects; men there may ba who can order a siege well, or would ill marshal a battle; who can speak well in private, who would ill harangue a people or a prince; nay, 'Us peradventure rather a testimony in him, who can do the one, that he cannot do the other, than otherwise.— From Montaigne.