The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-01

dent poured out in few numbers all the choice vitu
peration (and he has rhetorical talent of that
i sort he had been collecting for six months. This
may have been very amusing reading to personal
enemy Its effect on the public mind was, of course,
less decided What DIR. Johnson said Of the men Of
literature is true also in politics. and in life generally
no man was ever written down, but by himself +"
No man was ever injured by abuse like that which
forms the staple Of the articles in the Independent in
relation to MIR. Wise. Even if there were any sense
or truth IN the charges, the invecve, and vitupera
tive form IN which they put, would disarm them
OF any power to harm. No body could see any thing
IN them except the rage and malice which dictated
them The affected moderation of less violent but
more cunning luminosity carries certain air of truth
to and and set oil its misrepresentation But the UNI
disguised passion and reckless hostility Of the indie
pendent render harmless it ought to be. 1t Is
| little remarkable that the conductors of Federal
Wing politics have never been distinguished for dis
erection. The heated and headlong temper of its
leader seems to have infected the whole party. The
smallest party movement is directed with the same
want of political sagacity as the greatest The fool
ish zeal OF their newspapers, always in extremes,
renders them incapable of operating with any sensi-
BILE effect, upon the public mind The absurd vio-
lence of their abuse revots the public. For twelve
years. with nearly all the talent of the public press
in the possession of that party with the large majo-
rty OF the talent in Congress the same side, they
have been steadily and hopelessly in the minority.
Such are among the consequences of want of discre-
tion temper sobrety, and public principle.
| Among the last Of these newspaper assaults Mr.
Wise is an article in the New World This is paper
which has heretofore aimed at being literary rather
than politioal-of very limited circulation, and the
feeblest popular impression The literary history
(and he has other) Of the editor, Mr. Park Benja
min is obscure-and do not profess to know
much about him. He has cultivated, as we are in
formed, small renown as a writer Of occasional SON
nets, which are generally published, and suppose
sometimes read, in the New World. Great as are
sins, is penance have not endured This is
minor and not very delightful species of literature
at least in language, though the exclusive cult
vaors of that branch of poetry are not necessarily
contemplate persons. 1t is to the higher depart
ments Of the art what miniature to historical paint
ing This person is among the smallest of that small
tribe who live in the magazines; and he appears to
large share of the vices and weaknesses Of
his cass-so fruitful subject for the genius of sa-
tire their dull pedanry and afiectation with their
vanity ill-temper, and turn to falsehood The article
he has published on Mr. Wise was probably furnished
from Washington, though it is printed in his editorial
type, and has, in other respects, editorial
| plexion, which is apparent in the fustian maya
zine STYLE the love of what he thinks fine phrases,
and the curious ignorance Of political occurrences
| But Mr., Wise might have Jared worse He might
| b,y haa, slond al dofe la
| OF all mad creatures if the learned be right
1t is the SLAYER kills, and not the bite,
We do not propose examine this article, with much
attention, or to criticise the mans magazine
sense; but only correct some of his false assertions
upon points of fact.
He sets out with remarking that for reason
not explained, and perhaps not very important, he,
Mr. Park Benjamin, other equally candid and
illustrious person, has recently investigated Mr..
Wses claims to public reputation; that he has ex-
amined his published speeches, and the facts of his
public life and as the result of his inquiries he Ger
titles to the world or to all who may value his OPT
Mon, that MIR. Wise does not possess the virtues or
talents which should entitle him to the public dstnc-
ton he has attained. This, in ineligible language
is the amount. The writer has expressed it in the
graceful phrases which belong to the sonnets and
the learned illusions in which the magazines delight;
such as the bravest of the Greeks sinking into
wrangng, sc. Thersites.' Certainly of all classes of
men, the vansst and weakest to be found in the
low and obscure employments of literature. 1t is
pursuit. which rarely teaches modesty even to the
clever men who by success in it, attain some
public reputation, and consequently to a more
enlarged intercourse with life, and thereby to some
general liberay Of sentiments and opinions. But
in the humble capacities which employed in its
drudgeres it cultivates all the original weak
nesses it may find to operate on. 1t nurses vanity
nherentvice Of that character, little
short of madness. Here is man of obscure life,
and very slender Abilities who ventures to form an
opinion directly contrary to what he acknow lodges
to be every one elses opinion, upon subject on
which all the world have all the materials for judg-
ing well as himself and then he has the pre-emi-
nent concet and the measureless folly to publish his
opinion, if it calculated to influence the opin-
ions of the world The talents and character of
public man, are what the world at large can judge of
as well as the cleverest individual in it. When any
man rises into public distinction, without any original
advantages of fortune, the world will acknowledge
the ability which has achieved such success To de-
ny such to possess any talents is to talk like
fool. Gravey to answer such declaration, is to be
equally nonsensical. But, whenever the detractors
of Mr.. Wise deny him. not ordinary talents, but the
eminent talents which have won for him command
ing influence in public life and will secure it to him
as long he may remain upon the theatre of public
affairs the friends and admirers of that gentleman
may, in answer, triumphantly point to as many evil
dences of real ability be found in the public
life Of any man who has for years appeared in this
country Is it not enough to cite the whole of the
most remarkable public career which has, since the
late war; been displayed in the Congress of the ma