The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-04
NEW YORK HERALD.
The Idolatry OF Politics.

We published in the Weekly Herald yester
day, two sngravings descriptive Of Interesting and
characteristic scenes in the career OF the Pres
Dental candidates. MIR. Clay and Mr. Polk. In
one the champion, selected by the Democracy as.
sembled in Convention at Baltimore, was repre-
scented in The act Of cutting down tree in the vi
entity OF his iorest-home, for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning fuel for his mother In the other engraving,
Mr. Clay, advanced to mans estate, Is represented
az addressing vast assemblage OF his feow-citl-
zens, in one Of the wild, romantic woods OF his
own beloved Kentucky Both these illustrations
are emnenty Characteristic of this land, and OF the
history of many Of its most illustrious men, They
are suggestive in great degree, calling up host
ofinterestng associations and reminding all in the
most striking manner, Of the peculiar excellence
and value Of the free institutions Of this land Of
liberty, under whose genial influence the energies
Of men are lett altoge her free and unfettered SO
that the humblest child of toiling industry, may,
by the aid OF his talents, diligence, and virtue,
alone, reach the highest point in social distinction
and public renown.
There has been one consideration suggested to
our own mind by these pictorial illustrations, which
we deem not unworthy of public attention. II IS
the folly and absurdiy to use no harsher epihets,
nen, Of which all political parties are guilty
The public men of this country are, it would APP
pear from the partzans, either gods or devils. Mr.
Clay, according 10 his opponents, is perfect in
carnation OF all the demoniac passions Of the hu-
man soul-according 10 his adherents he embodes
allthe virtues and graces OF humanity and hardly
a little lower than the angels When he speaks,
his followers like the besoued sycophants Of Herod,
al. NJ
ready 10 cry out-It is the voice Of god, and not
Of man!' Every thing that he does is the per-
lection Of wisdom. The followers of Mahomet,
or the worshppers of Charles Fourier, do not
speak one whit less extravagantly Of their idols,
than do the partizans Of Henry Clay Of him.
With the admirers of Mr.. Van Buren, it is the
same. We have just seen an elaborate article in
the Democratic Review, referring to this suPeran-
nuated g. nlleman, which contains greater qnanll-
ty vi disgusting laudatlon, than ever recollect
to have met with in the same space. There Is not
the slightest-he 1imsest-the most gossamer
web-like-veil Of delicacy thrown over this syco-
phantlc offerng-the adulatlon is indeed thrown
on with the trowel, and not bit of the little gen.
tlemans carcase, but is plastered over six inches
deep. The last number of the same journal con-
tains some half dozen pages of eulogium on MIR.
Polk and though it is in the same style, yet 1t
would appear that the respectable bald headed d.
vny Of Kinderhook still ret .ihs the enthusiastic
homage, as he looks askant the newly intro
duced hickory god OF the democracy.
Now, howvery absurd, ridiculous and improper is
all this excessive laud alton Of men, distn
gulshed II is altogether contrary to the spirit and
genius of our institutions This extravagant eulogy
only dsgraces him who gives and him who receives
it. 1t is all right and proper to render to men who
have risen from poverty, and TOLL and privatlon, to
the enjoyment of the highest honors in the State,
that homage which is rational aud discriminating.
But this blind, partizan, bigotted, insane expression
of admiration excItes only the ridlcue and the pity
of the wise man. And after ALL it is not your great
statesman-your distinguished political champion
your Henry Clay, or-your Martin Van Buren,, who
best deserve the earnest homage of men. The man
of integrity, in whatever sphere his lot may be
cast, who daily indicates his claim to manhood, by
a virtuous life and practical illustration Of that
squire and unde6led religion" to which belongwhat-
soever things pure, and lovely, and Of good
port, and which is the very opposite of all bigotry,
and cant, and Pharsaism-is infinitely more de.
serving of the esteem and admiration of his fel.
lows, than the most boated and selfsatsfied of all
the objects of political dolatry.