Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-11-18
THE STANDING AND INFLUENCE OF
TALENT In TIE WEST

THE STANDING AND INFLUENCE OF
TALENT IN THE WEST
The influence of talent 10 The West has
never risen to its common level, and has by no
means kept pace with tho rapid advance Of
the Western frontier. We find, on the contra
~, that it has been completely GU, ran, and
that before reaching the base Of the mighty
valley, the test Of qualification for Office, or of
professional cosideralion. is rarely decided by
The standard Of ability aud learning The man
who has succeeded in leaving upon the minds
OF Tho people the mos, favorable personal i'm.
preston. particularly if he uniies uniformity
or seadiasiness Of character with the golden
gli, OF rendering himself generally liked,
though his education and capacity for educa.
lion arc both extremely limited, finds himself
able TO meet any array of the brigh,es, talent,
and 10 stand firm AMID every blast of opposi-
ton This arises neither from the want of
disposition or ability to appreciate talent, for
The mass OF Western population is compare.
lively one Of superior intelligence. II is
strictly population who are prepared TO dis.
Germ advantages, and who possess the requis-
ito enterprise and forii,ude TO embrsce those
advantages in the face Of hardship and dan
ger Indeed their knowle ledge OF men and ia.
mlliariy with character, Joined with their
known aptitude Of detecting motive, emnenlly
prepares them TO approve and condemn with
justice. The chief cause Of tho low esima.
ton Ia which talent is held, 10 its continued
mlsappllcaion and abuse by its possessors.
Such have too often betrayed their trust-ioo
often violated confidence TOO often made the
Interests of the community subservo their owu
private aud vicious ends l, would seem as
though the atmosphere Of the West was only
favorable to the growth Of particular devel
opponents; that the intellectual rose superior
10, aud controlled the moral faculties that
calculation was the only one Of these that re.
ceived attention or was called into use, and
that finding the greatest good 10 tho greatest
number problem too difficult of solution, they
reverse the proposition and nc, altogether up.
on The opposite extreme, or the greatest good
10 the smallest number. With the single ex-
cepiion of the Lava profession 10 which tai.
eat, regardless Of It's moral tone, will ever hold
the highest place every profession has suffer
cd from the avarlce and treachory Of IL. vota-
Ties. The Pulpit has been shameiuly desert
cd for more lucrative employment, as though
the Minister Of the Gospel was mere hire.
ling IN the service of religion. prompted by no
other motive than the most sorIid, and ready
al any momeu, TO sell himself into a moro
llber;l service Poi,icsl science has been
too often degraded into school of demsgogu-
ism. The efforts OF the politician are not d.
rec,ed TO the welfare of the State, are not how
existing evils can be hes, remedied and future
ones guarded against. bu, how. BY means Of
any humbug or hobby at hand. he can first
obtain place, and secondly, how he can by the
assistance OF sac, and intrigue turn tha, place
10 pecunisry snd personal benefit We do no.
mean thai Ialeai'in the West is Invariably as
socaeJ with doub,.ol moral character, bat
that in many instances, the conduct Of this ia.
vored class has been such that at this day the
reputation Of extraordinary endowmenIs and
education are Ear from being passport to the
confidence and esteem Of the people. that
they either pass as idle words or are under
stood to mean something from vi HEB the real
good Of society has nothing TO expect. A
higher regard Ter The welfare Of community,
for truth and moral principle, and a less devo-
ted regard for SELF aud selfish purposes, can
alone give to the high degree OF ,alen, in the
West. It's proner s,sndinC and iuauenee.