The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-09-24

A
! laborer in Russia, or Sweden in France or
Germany, in Italy or Corsica. Instead
OF following these examples, let us hold
up our own, which all nations may well
envy, and which, unhappily, in most parts
OF the earth, it is easier to envy than to
initiate. .3 @ sss..
But it is the cry and effort of times
to stimulate those who are called poor,
against those who are called rich; and yet
among those who urge this cry and seek
to profit by it, there is betrayed some
! times an occasional sneer at whatever sa,
vors of humble life. Witness the reproach
against a candidate now before the people
for their highest honors, that a Log Cabin
! with plenty of Hard Cider is good enough
for him. ts-ss -
The Log Cabin Cry. !"
/ 1tappears to some persons. that great
deal too much use is made of the symbol of
the Log Cabin. Norman of sense suppos.
es, certainly, that the having lived in a Log
Cabin is any farther proof of qualification
for the Presidency, than as it creates a
presumption, that any one, who from
! humble condition, or under unfavorable
circumstances. has been able to attract a
considerable degree of public attention, is
possessed of reputable qualities, moral and
intellectual. sa1
But it is to be remembered that this
matter of the Log Cabin originated, not
with the friends of the Wing candidate,
but with his enemies. Soon after his no.
mination at Harrisburg, writer for one
Of the leading Administration papers spoke
of this clog Cabin, and his of ''hard
CIDER by way Of sheer and reproach.-
AS might have been expected, for preten-
ders are generally false, this taunt at hum
BILE life proceeded from the party which
claims for itself the character Of the pur-
est democracy. The whole party appear
ed to enjoy it, or at least they countenan-
ced it, by silent acquiescence; for do not
know that, to this day, any eminent indi-
vidual, or any leading newspaper, attach
ed to the Administration has rebuked this
scornful jcering at the supposed humble
condition or circumstances in life, past or
present, of worthy man and a war-worn
soldier. But it touched tender point in
the public feeling. 1t naturally reused in
dignation. What was intended as reproach
was Immediately seized on as merit. 'sBe
it so-be it so,' was the instant burst of
the public voice. ''I,et him be the Log
Cabin candidate. What you say in scorn,
we will shout with all our lungs; from
this day, we have our cry of rally, and we
shall see whether he, who has dwelt in
one of the rude abodes of the West, may
not become the best house in the coun-
try"
All this is natural. and springs from
sources of just feeling. Other things gen.
temen, have had similar origin. We
all know that the term 'Whig" was be-
slowed in derision, two hundred years
ago, on those who were thought too fond
! of liberty: and our national air of Yankee
Doodle was composed by British officers,
in ridcule of the American troops. Yet,
! ere long, the last of the British armies
laid down its arms at Yorktown, while
this same air was playing in the ears of
officers and men. Gentlemen, it is only
shallow-minded pretenders, who either
; make distinguished origin matter of per-
l'sona merit, or obscure origin matter of
personal reproach. Taunt and scoffing
at humble condition of early life, affect no
| body in this country, but those who are
foolish enough to indulge in them, and
they are generally sufficiently punished
by public rebuke. A man who is not
ashamed of himself need not be ashamed
of his early condition.
Gentlemen, it did not happen to me 10
be born in a log cabin; but my eldest bro
Tiers and sisters were born in log cabin
raised amid the snow-drifts of New Hamp-
shire, at period so early, as that when
! the smoke first rose from its rude Chin
ney, and curled over the frozen hills,
there was no similar evidence of a white
mans habtation between it and the set
! Elements on the rivers of Canada. Its re-
mains still exist. | make to it an annual
visit. carry my children to it, to inspire
like sentiments nthem, and to teach them
the hardships endured by the generations
which have gone before them. Hove to
dwell on the tender recollections, the kim
dred ties, the early affections, and the
/ touching narratives and incidents, which
mingle with all know of this humble.
| primitive family abode. | weep to think
/ that none of those who inhabited it are
. now among the living; and if ever am
| ashamed of it, or,if ever. / fail in affection
ate venera:ion for HIM who reared it. and
defended it against savage violence and
destruction, cherished allthe domestic yir-
! tues beneath its roof, and, Through the
fire and blood of seven years. Revolu-
! tionary War, shrunk from no danger, no
/ toll, no sacrifice, to serve his country, and
i to raise his children to condition better
J than his own, may my name, and the
name of my posterity, be blotted forever
i from the memory Of mankind
Extravaganza of the Administration.
+ The expenditures of this administration
! have been eminently wasteful and eStrav
: agant. Over and above the ordinary rev
!, enue of the country, Mr. Van Buren, ha:
!! spent more. than tecenfy millions tina
] reached the Treasury from other sources