Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 188]

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180 in legislative halls are usually untrue and are always unwise. While it is a fact that some weak men and some bad men find their way to represent the people, they are the exceptions. The larger number, and usually the controlling minds, possess honor, integrity, principle and reputation, and do fairly represent those who elected them. Indeed, it may well be questioned whether even those less reputable do not after all fairly represent their constituents. But the failure to give due honor to these places of public trust and to those placed in them, tends to lower in tbe occupants the tone of lofty principle and of high responsibility which should actuate them. Men soon permit themselves to become time-servers, selfish and mercenary, when they find that the public expects nothing better of them. Sure the public welfare would be better served if all influences could concur to put all legislators on higher planes of ability, and dignity and honor, if by such means there might result a more perfect appreciation of public trusts, and a more perfect discharge of public duties. If the people were themselves accustomed to view these duties and responsibilities as they ought to be considered, would not more care be taken in the selection of the men who are given the chance to be chosen to public office? Pardon me if I digress and trespass briefly upon ground usually placarded as dangerous. 1. As to legislators. The questions brought before men for their decision and votes are partizan or non-partizan, chiefly the latter. In regard to the first, the man of sense will usually go with his party; first, because it is supposed that he is honestly and from conviction a member of that party; next, because by so doing he obeys the will of the constituents who elected him as their partizan representative; lastly, from policy, for he who does not act with his friends will presently find that he has no friends to act with him. As a rule the legislator who begins by posing as an "independent," either falls presently into line on one side or the other, or finds himself still alone, trusted by neither and hated by both. But the majority of questions are non-partizan. They are, moreover, very frequently questions upon which neither the general public nor their immediate constituents have any well-defined opinions. To discuss, weigh and settle these questions requires sound discretion and good judgment. The men who are to discharge this duty, no matter by whom nominated, ought to be men of experience, honor, discretion and common sense, who can be trusted with the management of affairs. If more such men could be elected, our legislatures would have shorter sessions, would pass better laws, and would leave less dead-wood on the statute books. Young men, you who are going into the world with some hope of becoming forces in political as in other matters, this is the sort of politics that I would teach you. Remember that in all constitutional governments, public policy will be controlled by partizan organizations, whether you approve of it or not. Make up your minds that the present great political parties, or their lineal descendants, will rule this country for long, if not for your life-time. Choose, then, whom ye will serve. Choose, deliberately and thoughtfully, that par y whose principles of public policy, exemplified in the light of