Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-14
WHOLE NO. 3O2

wben we acquire the name oil the people,
Our sovereignty, our virtues, our talents, are
The daily themes OF eulogy: they assure us
that We are the best and wisest Of the hurnsn
race-that their highest glory il to be the IN
strumcn,s of our pleasure, and that they will
never act, nor think, nor sp.ak but as we d-
rect them. J.! we name them To expcutivs
stations, they promise to execute only what
we desire-if we send them To deliberstive
bodies, they epgeoe never 10 deliberate, but
be guided solely by the light Of our intuitye
wisdom. Startled at first by language, which,
when addressed to other sovereigns, we are
accustomed to ridIcule for its abject sycophan-
cy, constant repetition makes it less incredi-
ole. by degrees, although we may not be-
llcve all the praise, we cannot doubt the
praiser, till at last we bee me so spoiled by
adulation, that truth is unwecome. Ii il
come from a stranger, it must be prejudice
If from a native, scarce less than treason; and
when some unhappy traveller ventures to-
smile at follies which we will not see or dare
not acknowledge, instead of disregarding it,
or being amused by il, or profting by it, We
resent it as on ndignity to our sovereign
perfections. This childish sensitveness would
be merely ludicrous if il did not expose us to-
the seduction of those who fatter us only till
they are able to betray us--as men praise
what they mean to sell-treating us like pa
gan luOls, CdreSSeu I'LL we nave gruUteu away
our power-and then scourged for our impo-
tence. Their pursuit of place has alienated
them from the walks Of honest industry-their
anxiety for the public fortunes has dissipated
their own. With nothing left either in their
minds or means to retreat upon; having no
self-esteem, and losing that Of others, they
acquire a servile love OF sunshine-a dread OF
being what is called unpopular, that makes
them the ready instruments of any chief VIII"
promises to be the strongest. No rilatter
with what bitterness they yesterday denounc-
ed and illuminated and scorned him-they
will be ready tomorrow with equal bitterness
to denounce and calumniate and scorn him
but while his short day actually lasts-from
! positive sunrise to undensble sunset-so long
as he commands d majority, their first duty is
! to rush to the assistance of tho coDqueror-
their first impulse to seek forgiveness and
! place. They degenerate at last into mere
| demagogues wandering about the political
common, without principle or dollar, and
anxious to dispose to the highest bidder Of
their only remaining possession, their popu-
: larty. If successful, they grow giddy with
e the frequent turns by which they rose, and
= wiher into obscurity. Ifthey misca cuate--.
Y if they fall into that fatal error-a minority
retirement, which is synonymous with dis
!, grace, awaits them while their more fortu-
nate rivals, after flourishing for a season in
gaudy and feverlsh no.orety, are eclipsed by
r some frcsher demagogue, some more popular
man of the people. Such is the melancholy
history of many persons, victims of an abor-
Il tive ambition, when more cultivation might
: have rendered useful and honorable citizens.
II Above this crowd and beyond them all
stands that character which | trust many Of
i you will become-a real American states
man. For the high and holy duty Of serving
his country, he begins by deep and solitary
I studies of its constitution and laws, and alb
it's great interests. These studies are EXTEND
ed over the whole circumference of know
! ledge-all the depths and shoals Of the humaD
i passions are sounded to acquire the mastery
I over them. The solid structure is them
:, strengthened and embellsbed by familiarity
with ancient and modern languages-witr
history, which supplies the treasures of old
! experiencc-with eloquence, which gives
them attracton-and with the whole of that
wide miscellaneous literature, which spreads
over them all perpetual freshness and va
ricty. These requirements are sometimes
reproached by the ignorant as being pedan-
try. They ould be pedantic if they ntrud-
4, ed into public affairs inappropriately, but In
subordinatlon to the settled habits OF tho in-
dividual, they add grace to the strength OF
his general character, as the foliage orna-
/, ments the fruit that ripens beneath 1t. They
, are again denounced as weakening the force
: of native talent, and contrasted disparagingly
|, with what are called rough and strong mind
5 ed men. But rougbness is no necessary at
= tendant on strength; the true steel Is not
r weakened by the hghes polisb-Just as the
!, scimitar of Damascus, more flexible IN the
hands of its master, inhicts a keencr wound
r than the coarsest blade. So far from impair
: inc the native strength of the mind, at every
r moment this knowledge is available. In the
/, ulay of human interests and passions, the
> same causes ever influence the same resultsS
= what has been. will ogain be, and there Is no
: contingency of affairs on which the history
e Of the past may not shed It's warning ight on
e the future. The modern languages BRING
e him into immediate contact with the living
. science and gifted minds Of his remote con-
o ,emporaries. All the forms Of literature,
;. which nre but the varied notifications III
d which the human intellect developes itself,
v contribute to reveal to him its structure and
"a its passiops-and these endowmeDts can be
y displayed in statesman's career only BY elo-
e ouence-itsef master power, attained only
il by cultivation, and never more requiring y
j. than now, when its influence 10 endangered
= by its abuse.
,f Our institutions require and create null
n titude Of public speakers and wn'ers--ou',
10 without culture, their very numoe's "peee
,r their excellenoe--as the wild richness OF the
10 soil throws out an unweeded and rank iuSu-
re- rance. Accordingly, in oil that we soy OF
Is write about public affairs, a cruoe so"noa"Se "
n ;s tho disease of our American style. On
in tho commonest topic of business, . speech
o. swells into a decamotion--sn oficlsl ssste'
of ment grows to a dissertation. A d,seo.s'
nj abou, any thing must contan every thing
,v W.. will take nothing for granted. We mus