Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1899 — The Politician's Creed. [ARTICLE]

The Politician's Creed.

I believe in the almighty dollar, the maker of place and power, and in the party, which, conceived in the hearts of the people, born of their votes, suffered to exist for a time under the direction of men who were such fools as to use their power for the benefit of the people instead of themselves, was nearly killed by corruption but instead of dying and being buried was attached to a galvanic battery called the “machine,” which now keeps it going and to which it now and forever belongs. I believe in the political boss, who is a child of the devil, who ascends to the throne of political power, sits at the right of all officials and from there rewards his fronds and punishes his enemies; who is shrewd enough to fool the people, expert enough to secure the money for his purposes, adroit enough to control officials without the people knowing it, wily enough to use political power for the good of his pals, and tricky enough to rob the treasury without being caught at it. I believe in politics without religion, in the communion of politicians, the forgiveness of their sins by the people, the political death of all patriots, the everlasting life of the “machine” and that the government of the country should be left to the professional politician. **♦