l
"Che Conservative.
Canada for example , the regular party
machine is unknown. Mr. Lecky ,
speaking of Jackson , justly says :
"His statue stands in front of the
"White House in Washington as one of
the great men of America , and ho
assuredly deserves to bo remembered as
the' founder of the most stupendous
system of political corruption in modern
history. "
Soon after Jackson's regime the issues
connected with slavery began to darken
the political horizon , growing ever more
threatening until the devastating storm
of the great civil war broke over the
nation. The tendency to perfect the
political machine was in some degree
counteracted by the division of the
North against the South , and by the
activity and participation which the
thrilling questions then agitating the
nation enforced on the highest order of
citizens. The close of the rebellion ,
with its successful settlement of the
issues of slavery and secession , was soon
followed by a moral weakening of the
nation and by proportionate efforts to
wards the perfection of political organ
ization. To the regular and everpresent
stimulus of office-hunting was added by
the republican party the gainful bounties
accorded to so-called protected manu
factures. The natural growth of our
country , following the settlement of a
question which had been the apple of
hideous discord for more than a genera
tion , has resulted in unparalleled trade
expansion. Within the last thirty years
the great organizers of industry have
appeared in this country. This genius
for organization has also thrown its
mantle over our political parties. In
fact , for the last eight years , the politi
cal management of the republican party
has been directly under the supervision
of what we now call a "captain of in
dustry. "
Let us briefly dwell on the present
character of the parties upon which the
administration of this great government
depends. They are held together with
the discipline of an army. There is a
national committee which directs and
stimulates the state committees , which
in turn , keep in close touch with the
county committees , which again keep
the party fires brightly burning in the
breasts of the many workers in the
towns and villages of. their respective
districts. All are animated with the
most intense zeal for the success of their
party. The basic cause for all this zeal
ous animation is , whether immediate or
more prospective , the desire of office. In
other words , the underlying motive of
all this political work is not a yearning
to serve their country but rather a very
keen and hungry desire to serve them
selves. If we remember that there still
remain over a hundred thousand federal
offices directly or indirectly subject to
removal by the president , with annual
salaries aggregating over eighty millions
of dollars , and if to this wo add the vast
number of state , city and county
officials , we begin to get some conception
of the multitudinous army of men to
whom politics mean a living. These
men are all political Hessians who fight
'or ' pay. They make a business of poli
tics , just as other men make a business
of dry-goods , of groceries or of medi
cine. They know that success in their
peculiar business depends not only upon
active work and constant service , but
that the slightest swerving from the
steady support of the party would be
'atal to their hopes. Accordingly , they
do not trouble themselves overmuch
th political principles. They simply
call themselves "Republicans" or "Dem
ocrats , " and they find out what their
principles are after the state and nation
al conventions have met and resolved.
They understand that the purpose of the
game from top to bottom is to win , and
they believe that the conventions will
deal out the trump cards. They well
know that the state or national conven
tions of their party would , in a twink
ling , exchange their whole platform
with their opponents if they knew it
would lead to party success. Why , then ,
should they befuddle their brains with
serious questionings of party principles ?
Their business is to maintain a sharp
lookout at the numerous elections , to run
the primaries , to attend the conventions ,
to keep an eye on the voters , to watch
the machinations of the enemy , to prac
tice any advantageous political tricks ,
and in general , to further the interests of
that great political organization of which
they are so distinguished an ornament.
Closely allied to these nether workers
is a higher grade of men who like the
power or importance associated with
politics , or who have their eyes fixed on
some honorary office which they expect
to obtain sometime in the future. These
men also appreciate that the one all-
essential feature of political success is
party regularity. They must stick to
the party through thick and thin if they
hope for party reward. This class of
men , however intelligent , also swallow
the party enunciation of principles with
out a murmur. As members of a philo
sophical society you need not be told
that there are relatively few men who
know what they believe until somebody
tells them. Starting out with the major
premise that , under all circumstances
they are going to stick to their party , ii
becomes very easy to persuade them
selves that the principles which their
party-convention proclaim must be right
[ TO BE CONTINUED. ]
A LINE OF REMINISCENCES.
THE CONSERAVTIVE , Mr. Morton's
paper , is printing a valuable line o
reminiscences that make up the earlj
history of Nebraska and recall many
incidents that liad passed from memory.
Aside from its general character as a
reviewer of current events , political and
otherwise , every number of THE CON
SERVATJVE is a valuable historical leaflet ,
Gage County Democrat.
FIRST GREAT FORESTER.
Ask the first ton or more persons you
chance to meet who it was that said : "I
cannot tell a lie ; I did it with my little
hatchet , " and no doubt all will hasten
to give the same answer. Ask the next
ten or more persons you meet to give
their earliest remembrance of George
Washington , and most likely each one ,
whether child or sago , will refer to the
story of the cherry tree. Yet few , if
any , of them will give all , or oven the
best , part of young Washington's sub
lime answer when , conscious of ( his
father's great displeasure , and being
asked who cut the tree , he promptly
answered : "I cannot toll a lie ; I did it
with my little hatchet. But remember ,
father , you gave this part of the garden
to me to grow whatever I most liked ,
and see , I have planted it all to oaks. "
Then stooping , ho ran his fingers
through the mellow earth , bringing to
view numerous acorns which had been
placed there by his own hands. George
Washington had not , as his father at
first supposed , and as many persons
doubtless still suppose , wantonly cut the
cherry tree , but rather , with the instinct
of a true planter , but with a too liberal
interpretation of his father's concession ,
he had proudly used his new hatchet to
free the ground of everything cherry
tree included which might obstruct
the growth of his newly-planted forest.
When we recall the well-known fact
that during all the early years
centuries , even after the landing of the
pilgrims their chief thought was to do
away with rather than to plant forests ,
it is not surprising that that part of
Washington's answer which looked to
ward the reforesting of his father's gar
den was left untold , but in the light of
the twentieth century , and of Washing
ton's life-long fostering love of forest
trees , is it not time to restore the part
of the memorable answer which reveals
both a noble purpose and his unflinch
ing courage in defending it ?
On many a splendid banner and
printed page , and on many a humble
cottage wall may be seen a beautiful
tribute of affection , which reads ,
"George Washington , the Father of his
Country. " I should like to see this
tribute so amended as to read , "George
Washington , the Father , and First Great
Forester of His Country. " To this end
I ask all our great patriotic , forestry ,
and other associations , including col
leges , granges , clubs , and primary
schools , to pass resolutions endorsing
our amendment , and adopting the
tribute as amended for use either with
or. without a portrait of Washington , as
occasion favors , on your banners , badges ,
cards and stationery , also in speaking
and wiiting. Such action will be alike
gracious , far-reaching for good , and
self-honoring.
JAKED M. SNYDER.-
Washington , D. 0 ; , Feb. 21,1901.
