Example For Politicians

In these times of selfishness and wide spread corruption, our politicians migbt earn a useful lesson trom the example of Sir Isaac Newton. It is coniinonly tnown that he was the greatest seieniflc man that ever lived. But the great sbrvices he perfornied for his country in favor of strict, laborious lonesty, and a sound financial policy are not as well understood. In March, 1696, he left his home at Trinity eolege, Cambridge, and took up his abode in the city of London. He carne to the capital to accept political office, that of warden of the mint. He left the great aws of nature which he had discovered, the properties of light, the wonders of cheiuistry, and the attraction of gravitation, which binds all matter on the earth to its surface, and keeps the planeta in their orbits in their ceaseless movements round the sun to their silent operations, and devoted his time in superinteudiug the inaking oi crowna, shillings, and pence. And he did it faithfully and honestly. It was a time of great national and private dis tress, The coiu had been clipped for individual profit till it was hut one-hal of its original weight. And though the clippers were hung by scores, the busi nt;ss etill went on. The philosopher Locke labored with Newton ana other to lind a remedy. In the mean time government begau to recoin at public expense the circulating ourrency into milled money, which has rarely, if ever, been clipped. Commercial and individual prosperity returned, and the people rejoiced in having honest money. Formerly the office was a mere sinecure, the warden seldom going to the factory. The coinage then of 15,000 ponnds per week was considered a great feat. Under Newton's adruinistration it rose to 120,000 pounds per week. When the learned men of Europe complained that he had left those wonderful discoveries of science to engage in what they considered a meaner employraent, he wrote : " I do not love to be printed on every occasion, niuch less to be dunned and tea sed by foreigners about mathematical things, or to be thought by our own people to be trifling away my time about them when I am about the king's business." Those " mathematical things," whioh made the name of Isaac .Newton iinmortal, were set aside, that he might faithfully and honestly perform his nolitical duties to his country. This esample will be lost to politicians unless the people make it emphatic. Let them require that whosoever accepts office shall faithfully and honestly perform its duties, and improve every available opportuuity to give them honest money worth as ruuch as gold, dollar for dollar, or meet with their manifested rebuke.