CHAPTER XI.

POLITICS.

I Deem it not improper, in addressing young men, to make a few observations respecting politics. It is well for the stability of our republican institutions, that the people are divided into parties. This leads to a strict scrutiny of our public functionaries—to the exposition of their faults and a commendation of their wisdom and virtue—and all this has a tendency to keep them faithful in the discharge of their duties.

There are two prominent evils in regard to politics, against which young men should be upon their guard. The first, is the changing from party to party, for the purpose of obtaining popular applause, or office, or emolument. Such conduct betrays an entire destitution of moral principle and rectitude. If you adopt these motives as the basis of your political bias and proceedings, it is quite certain, although you may be successful for a season, that your object will eventually be discovered, you character and influence will be

lost, and all parties will despise and neglect you. A shuffling, time-serving demagogue, a political weathercock, veering in the direction of every wind that blows, without regard to principle, is a most despicable character; unworthy the privileges of a freeman.

The other evil to which I allude, is upon the contrary extreme—a blind and servile adherence to party—an infatuation, by which every measure, however dangerous, is supported, that is dictated by the leaders, the wire-pullers of the party, and every principle, however valuable and salutary, opposed and contemned, whenever they give the signal—an infatuation, under the degrading influence of which, men abandon their birth-right of freedom of opinion, and are willing to see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the judgment of those whom they permit to lead them. This servility to party tactics, party measures and party men, is an evil greatly to be deprecated. It is rife with dangers—dangers that reach the very vitals of our free institutions.— Should the day ever arrive when this degrading party servitude becomes general, when it winds its enslaving chains around the great mass of the people, the sun of this Republic will wane to the horizon, and early set in clouds and darkness.

In former years, it was the fortune of the writer of these chapters, to be engrossed to no inconsiderable degree, in the political strifes of the day. From the peculiarly favorable opportunities which

I then enjoyed of judging the designs and motives of political leaders, I became fully satisfied, that the degrading principle of servility to party measures, is designedly diffused through community, by interested men for their personal aggrandizement—and that the strife, and clamor, and bitter acrimony that convulses society at the approach of important elections, is caused mainly by the struggle between the "ins" and the "outs"—between those who are in office and wish to keep in, and those who are out and desire to get in! Were it not for the contentions of these two classes, the clangor of political battle would be hushed, and the people would calmly and peaceably adopt the proper measures to continue our institutions in their purity, and keep the wheels of government in well balanced motion. Young men should be aware of these things, that they may 66 through" the sophistical and bombastic declamation of political demagogues. "Measures and not men," was the motto of the founders of our Republic; and it still remains the popular cry of all parties. But it requires only a single glance at the proceedings of politicians at the present day, to discover that, with too many of them, this maxim has become reversed—and their great object is men and not measures!

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It devolves upon the young men who are now coming upon the stage of action, to arrest the progress of this growing evil, and to diffuse abroad a love for political independence and purity. To

this end, allow me to urge every young man whose eye rests upon these lines, not to attach himself so strongly to any party, that he can not without improper bias, exercise that privilege of deciding for himself upon the propriety or impropriety of principles and measures, which is the invaluable legacy bequeathed to us by our fathers! Avoid all party chains and shackles, and all party measures, that are not plainly and strictly for the benefit of the whole body of the people—all attachments to men and names—every thing that can have a tendency to blind the judgment or deaden the love for principle. Understand me--I do not object to political parties. Ina Republic like this, there must be parties while men continue to differ honestly in opinion. But I object to that degrading attachment to party, by which the judgment is so blinded as to consider the interest of the party paramount to all other interests—that dangerous infatuation, which says—" the party must be sustained, at all hazards!" Let it be your highest ambition to be a republican, in the broad and true acceptation of that word—a lover of enlightened and well regulated liberty, of equal rights and privileges—a supporter of the best interests of your country, irrespective of the rise or fall of parties or men. When measures are brought to your consideration, do not inquire who originated them, or by what party are they supported, or what men will they elevate or overthrow ?―but only ask, are the proposed measures

called for by existing exigencies—are they consistent with the genius of our free institutions— are they compatible with republican principles— are they calculated to enhance the public welfare? If, after strict and candid examination, you can answer these inquiries in the affirmative, support the measures; but if not, reject them entirely. And when an individual is held up for public station, let not the question be, by whom was he nominated--or to what party does he belong ?— but ask, what are his principles, his abilities?— apply the text of the patriot Jefferson—" is he capable, is he honest, is he faithful?" Never give him your support until you are perfectly satisfied upon these points. Let the young men of this Union free themselves from all debasing manacles, from every improper bias, and pursue an upright, manly, independent course in regard to politics, and the evils that are now sapping the foundations of our Republic, will become annihilated. And I can not avoid here recommending young men to patronize more extensively, those public prints that are neutral respecting politics—those papers which freely and boldly canvass the political questions of the day, without becoming attached to any party or any set of men. One publication of this character, conducted with ability and discrimination, will throw more light upon the actual state of the country, the true nature of its interests, and the character and tendencies of the current and prominent measures