The Charlotte Democrat

Perils of Office Seeking.

The Hon. Albert G. Brown of Mississippi recently wrote a letter to a young friend, wherein he laments he ever made a political speech or held an office. Ex-Governor Brown was for thirty-three years, previously to 1865, continually in high official and political station, and would therefore seem to have had as extensive and favorable an experience as any of his contemporaries and associates. We quote as follows:

'True, as you say, I have held many offices. Indeed, I may say I never knew defeat in any of my aspirations. And it is just because I have had success which people call wonderful, that I feel competent to administer a word of "caution" to the young men of this generation. My young friend, do not be deceived by the glitter of office. I am now past my three-score years, and fast traveling into the ten. I have had almost every office in the gift of the people, and I can truly say with the preacher, "it is all vanity and vexation of spirit."

Looking back over a long, and I hope not unsuccessful life, I can say, with a clear conscience, my greatest regret is that I ever made a political speech or held an office. There is a fascination in office which beguiles men, but be assured my young friend, it is the fascination of a serpent; or to change the figure, it is the ignis fatuus which coaxes you on to inevitable ruin.

I speak of that which I do know. If my young friends will be governed by my advice, I have this to say, after all my successes as a public man, now, when my head is blossoming for the grave, I feel that it would have been better for me if I had followed the occupation of my father, and been a farmer.

The mechanical arts are all honorable. To be a blacksmith, a carpenter or an artisan of any sort is no discredit to any man. Better than to be a jackleg lawyer, a quack doctor, a counterhopper, or worse still, a wretched seeker after office.

Of all pursuits in life that of a farmer is the most respectable. It may have its trials, and its disappointments. so do all others, The mechanic may lose the wages of his labor, the professional man his fees; the editor may weep over delinquent subscribers, but the honest industrious farmer is morally certain of a fair return for his labor.

True, "Paul may plant and Apollos water, but God must give the increase." But where is the faithful cultivator of the soil, God's heritage to man, who ever yet suffered for bread?

Allow me again to "caution" my young friends against the beguiling influence of office, and to advise them most earnestly to stick to mother earth.