Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1869 — Statesmen. [ARTICLE]

Statesmen.

Tun Chicago THMtns insists that state* men must do the wosk of statesmen. /Undoubtedly ; but it is only by doing his work that a statesman reveals himself Are there a number of ready-made and acknowledged “statesmen” from whom the President i* to select a Cabinet f What is a statesman ? During thw cam paign the Democratic paper* were constantly contrasting Mr. Seymour, a* what they called “ a statesman/’ with General Grant But what was Mr. Seymour's statesmanship? Nothing but the most servile devotion to the political policy of slavery. He had been in political life for a quarter oft century. He was familiar . with our political history. He wa* a fluent public speaker. He wa* a skillful party manager, as hi* own nomination last July sufficiently proved. All these gifts, such aa they were, this American politician de voted to the perpetuity-of human slavery in this country. He wax solemnly called a statesman, and at the begining of the war professed hi* willingness to sacrifice the Union to slavery. He wa* still called a statesman, and at the end of the war he was the Presidential candidate of rebels and repudiators. There are a great many people who still seriously tuppo*c that a man who so totally mis understood the character of his countrymen and the political tendency of the times, whose long political career is associated with no generous purpose or noble sentiment, is a statesman. It shows how curiously misunderstood the word is. 80 when Mr. Lincoln wa* elected President, there was a shout of contempt at the “ tjiird-rate Illinois lawyer." “ Why," it was demanded, " why can’t we have a statesman, at least ?” After the illustrious administrations of statesmen like Buchanan, Pierce, Fillmore and Polk, assisted bv other statesmen like John B. Floyd, I’oucey, Howell Cobb, Jefferson Davis, Jacob Thompson, et cetera, it was intolerable that the country should fall under the administration of a boor and a joker. We have lived to see the boor, and the joker, and the third rate Illinois lawver honored and beloved, as a ruler with Washington. Statesmen must indeed do the work of statesmen —but who are statesmen ? It is a fine and imposing word; to whom does it apply in this country ? How many are there upon whom we all should agree as statesmen ? Meanwhile, is it not quite as well for “ a great and progressive government ” that its administration should be in the hand* of sagacious, honest, capable foen, in full sympathy with the best American principles? With such the President nas surrounded himself; and thus far, whether their names were as familiar, for instance, as those of some members of Congress or not, they have neither discredited themselves, the President, nor the country.— Harper'* Weekly.