Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-11-07
THE VOICE OF WISDOM.

who hna been Tor many years 'Ho R..gt,,r,d
and able editor of that valuable " hors. :"
paper, but who now rests iroIn n is.sors of
- f,lis Of instruction. Such iessons ~
s..s..;,.s Republicanism should DC impressed
Snon The minds Of all Americans;
Ths P1oeantvv Of Republics. TO nnalrIuIn
-, ,.s,.,hI;,ss, T,rinci.les and republican gov
'ss.s.s.,t q IS necessary that we preserve re-
as,..hs:ssr Sabits and customs. We attect to
IL fHSe. vet we glory in being the slaves OF
nSrfv. we profess liberation, yet we pro-
scriSe, as unworthy Of public confidence the
brother who dissents from our political creed
Or who refuses 70 support our candidate. oe
he ever so bad. We are republican by pro-
fession, but aristocrats or ycophants IN prac-
iice. 81 ,.3.. .,h.
Our news journals, for the last two monlns,
s,avs taem f;Iled with accounts of pageant
nrocessions. laudatory addresses, and sumP-
fsn,Is entertainments, got up ostensiDiys M
honnr Of distinguished citizens, whose du-
s;aa mr. pleasures have induced them 10 frav-
81 abroad. Thousands, many thousands,
have been expended, vast deal OF time mas
been wasted, and some Of the more danger
Gus Of the human passions invoked. in get
ting up these shows--not SO much, we sus-
meet, with the view Of doing real honor TO
the individuals. as Of strengthening the lnte-
rests. Of party, and subscribing the sinister
purposes Of individuals. AS republicans, we
ridicule the adulatory homage PAID 20 1ne
crowned heads and privileged classes OF Eu-
rope, by what we term an ignorant ana en-
shaved population; and yet we outstrlp mem
in indiscrimina:e and tuisome panegyTE,
and narfisan worship. Our constitution and
laws regard public officers as public SER
wants, not elevated for their own, but for the
public good; yet, in our practice, we treat
Them as our masters, and it would De no
wonder, such is human propensity 70 ABUSE
power, if they soon assumed 70 De SUCH
Rome granted triumphs to her distinguished
men; and these distinguished men became
her masters. Elections 0y the legllmate
authorities soon ceased to be voluntary ana
Caesars were raised up, by the tumuifuous
acclamations Of the mob, or the army, %
We would BY no means withhold from
public officers the respect due 70 their sta
tons, nor from distinguished individuals, the
honor due to their merits: We would as cor
daily tender our hand and respects TO mer-
1t, as any man, yet we verify think that this
respect and this honor would be more COM
patible with our republican professions, less
derogaf0ry to our dignity as freemen, and
equally complimentary 10 those whom we
would honor, if professions, cavalcades and
military parade were dispensed with. It is
but too apparent that these pageants are got
up for party, and not for public benefit; and
that if tolerated, they will increase in FREE
quency and in mischief. i is not the evils
that have happened, that we so much depre-
cate, but the evils that are likely to grow out
of these anti-republican presidents.
it should be a mans virtues, his public
services, and his fidelity TO our republican
institutions. that should recommend him to
public confidence and support--afid these
ARE likely to be known whenever they are de-
which can be, drunmed up to swell his cav
alcade. A good man needs not these extra
bad man iscertainly not entitled to them.