758 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



uncomfortable truths. What to me is the saddest feature 

 of our present methods is the pitfalls which they dig in 

 the path of ambitious and able men who feel that they are 

 fitted for a political career, that by character and training 

 they could be of service to their country, yet who find 

 every avenue closed to them unless at the sacrifice of the 

 very independence which gave them a claim to what they 

 sought. ' ' 



George William Curtis, one of the greatest reformers 

 of the country, says: 



u An organized political class independent of the 

 great body of the people practically absorbs the authority 

 of the people. By mercenary control of caucuses and con- 

 ventions they nominate candidates and require implicit 

 obedience to their will as the condition to political prefer- 

 ment. By assessing the salaries of their subordinates the 

 leaders of this class lay a tax upon the public treasury for 

 their own benefit and that of their party. The voters of 

 the party submit to their sway because refusal seems to 

 mean the success of the opposition. Party ceases to be a 

 voluntary union to shape public policy and becomes a fac- 

 tion to promote private gain and gratify personal ambition. 

 Politics degenerate into mere place-hunting and venal job- 

 bery. Self-respecting men withdraw more and more front 

 public life. Honorable ambition disappears. Bosses replace 

 statesmen. The young American is taught that the qual- 

 ifications for public service are not integrity, intelligence 

 and industry, but sycophancy and servility, cheating and 

 bribing, and every kind of disorderly violence and unmanly 

 trickery. He must be a parasite or a ruffian instead of a 

 man. In such a situation loss of self-respect becomes the 

 condition of public employment. The evil system multi- 

 plies enormously unnecessary places. It stimulates reckless 

 extravagance in public expenditure. It controls the vast 

 contracts of the government. It transforms the highest 



