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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1879)
152 THK 8II.KKT l'AKTY. VOL. Vltl, poal to sectional interests or biased opin ions, public aid is almost impossible Even the statesman lias found that unless be can maintain sulUciont intiuence to in sure tlie conlidonco of bis constituents, be is powerless to reform or reconstruct. The political history of our country re mains unwritten. True, we llnd sufllcicnt material in the newspaper and the journ. al, but it partakes too much of a prcju. diced iiatuie. The pnilius that have from time to lime shaped the policy of the government, have found it agreeable to themselves to bury their disgraces and defeats, and laud thoir victories and success. These arc the elements of the commonwealth that repre sent the nation abioad. If a foreign crit ic can appreciate the institutions of an Amorican, he speaks of our government as under the control of a particular party. The principals of that party are to him an ideal of what the American Govurnmcnt must be. Its laws, its decrees, and its de cisious are to him the standard of our credit. With the cry of oppression he lias forebodings of our danger. At home, we, true to our name, tend still faithor. That politician who utters tho boldest denunciations against his op ponent, leaves the gieatcst imnicssion upon the public ear. Once, pcihaps lie has feasted upon fluctuating legislation and now clamors loudly for its icluni. But far beneath the din of the so-called politi. cal parties will always be found one as immovable as the Republic itself. Though silent in its address, it speaks by example. Though it sounds no trumpet to summon its politicians for consultation, yet its plans arc made known to its adherents; for reason in hor quiet way caries from humlol to hamlut thodesigns of dangerous opposition. Willi no its dogmas, witli no herald to announce its advent, or its actions, it engages tho at tcntion of men who arc not yet bound soul and body to the wild declamer of "rights and wrongs." And while the two great parties wrangle it is this silent party, this silent ballot, that suddenly throws consternation among ill ranks. It is this zles the politician, his aid, neither can ponent. Willi the welfare of society at large de pendent upon political associations and be liefs, it is a perplexing situation for tho young man about to accopt the responsibil ity of citizenship. To avoid them all is impossible. He must select the one best suited to the occasion and the public dc niands The two great parties of to.day have little issue at stake. The thoughts of the Rebellion may fire the hearts of a few who were wronged. But the young man of to-day cannot view the Rebellion and and its causes in the same light as its he rcos review them. He can never share their prejudice. He cannot unite in thoir politics. The two parties fouded upon the issue that led to the Rebellion, they have little claim upon the present generation. The bilont paity is consequently increas ing in numbers and its influence more tel ling upon national allairs. And the lime is not far distant, when this clement must assume sufficient strength and skill to di rect the shin of state free fiom the shoals of sectional strife. If not, these constant strifes will take the line of national boun daries. Eugknk. platform to assert for public plunder, silent voice that puz lie cannot call it to ho tioal it as his op