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Show YOUNG MSN AUD POLITICS. The Philadelphia Public Ledger, one of the safest and wisest journals in the laud, advises young men lo "go into politics." It says: "It certainly ia a duty in a republic that a man Buould give something of his ability to the public pervice. Every citizen m bound to exercise his freedom ot suflrago, and to let his influence be felt on the right side in public affairs." The Herald haB for years tried to mnke young men Bee the importance j and neceasity of taking part in polit ical and public afbira. We do not mean to convey the impression that politics implies office-seeking, or that it necessarily leads to trickery, scheming schem-ing or dishonesty. A certain moral and highly respectable and honest element of every community bringB its weight and influence against politics, and specially exercises its power in opposition to young men taking part in public affairs. Theae people use aa obief arguments the corruption aud roguery to be found among profea-j Bional politicians. No ono can deny j that it looks as though dishouesty and politics went hand in band, aud itj almost Bcems like the greater the politician the greater tho rogue. Examples Ex-amples may be numerous to bolster this reasoning. It ia to cure tho evils complained that men, young and old, should actively interest themselves them-selves in politics. Politics has been made a sort of speculation, in which the operator is euoceesful or otherwise, as be promotes hia own advantage If he ventures upon tho race for office, no matter what dis reputable wire-pulling he may do, or tricka perform, if he wins he is regarded re-garded as a successful politician, and hia maneuvers, questionable aa they may have been, are Bet down to his shrewdness and quickness iu the profession he baa adopted. The true idea of representative, or popular government, gov-ernment, is that the people select the best men for office to administer pub- l. fl Thfl r,Kiot nf tho clpfiioi. franchiae is properly carried out when the citizens exercise their judgment and knowledge of men in voting far candidates, the positions to he filled, with their requirements and duties, being taken into consideration, and not the advancement of individuals or the preterence of persons. Political angling is political dishonesty. Where a candidate or bis managers fish for place for the gain that it will bring to the individual, either in money or notoriety, it is chicanery and fraud upon the popular will or privilege. Republican government is then destroyed, de-stroyed, and the elective franchise debased. The contest is no longer to secure the be3t man for the place, hut a struggle of candidates to obtain personal prizes for themselves, the administration of the aflairs of the office for the benefit of the public being of secondary considcra ticn. That politics in thia country has degenerated and become leas respectable, and tho profession less honest than originally, is due to the fact that many of the belter clasa of citizens have taken so little interest in it. Tho selfishness of man, commendable com-mendable in a certain degree, has led politicians into working fr private advancement rather lhan the public welfare, acd the meana euipkyed have not been t all times consistent with honesty and moral.ty. They have thua eo crooked and turned the path to success, that high-minded men do net feel themsflvea at liberty to follow its devious winaioga. As the read baa been made to deviate farther from the slra;ght line, the really honest citizens have been driven away trom it, leaving success easier ol aisaiuimct to tho professed office seekera aLd political mauipu lalors. To restore politics to a higher plane, the higo-mmdtd and honest men ot the country should take more active interest in ti, and theioung man should enter the fiid, not perhaps per-haps lor tho purpo-e ol winning office, but to perform his duly as a citizen a duty which he ovfea tt. himself, to his neighbor and to tht Country. |