Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-11-01

we nave accomplished during our snort sep"
arate existence we have right to be vain;
tha, this feeling is not altogether unheCom-
ing in young people making unoxampIed
strides toward wealth, power aud national
consideration. This may do as a paiiation
OF the fault in the eyes OF others, but forms
no reason WHY we should encourage or al
lw it in ourselves. The truly great are
the last TO insist upon their own claims 10
admiration. "They "know their rights and
knowing dare maintain" but they are ever
careless Of present praise and content to
await the deliberate judgement OF posteritY.
The incense which intoxjCates the vain, is
an offence in their nostrils. They feel
adu'ation to be insult. 1t is only because
we are young as people that we have not
yet perceived this. Age will doubtless give
US dignity. Meanwhile, as we cannot deny
our proneness TO this fault charged upon
us, can we not at once set about guarding
against it.
it is to be seriously lamentsd that there
IS SO much N the country TO favor and per-
petuate this evil. Our Fourth Of July ora
tors and our political demagogues find ma.
tiona Boosting unfortunately the readiest
way 10 the hearts or at least 10 the accIa-
nations Of the people. The more extraya-
CANT the encomlum the louder the applause.
Like other soverelgns, the people like TO be
fatlered; and, also like other soveregns,
they find those as ready 10 offer as they
can possibly be to receive the deiUslve tu'
mes. For the inevitable resu.t-an lntta'
ted and deblIItatlng egotIsm which affects
security while il looks with trembling anXs
| lelv for sustenance from Without is diff
cult to imagine any immediate corrective.
! Our foreign monitors, so ready TO perceive
and anlmadvert upon the fault, fail TO indie
cate a remedy. Some among ourselves
would fam have it voted unpatrotlc 10
/ point out or ever confess any national fall
|lrgs. According TO them the American
tongue or pen when employed about itself
/ Is TO deal only in eulOgy. The foreign
writer's, who alone find fault with US, are in
TACT our truest friends. Yet il is wonder.
ius what pains are taken by our own writers,
critics and reviewers in particular, TO inter-
cept whatever benefit might reach the peo-
pie from this source. Censure, however
Just, aruuses a pseudo patriotism and they
don their critical armOr and, touching the
IODpOsite shield with the sharp end Of the
lance. prepare at once for battle EOutrdRCe
They seem TO think that The charge should
he GlSproyed; II true the more needu that
il should be repealed with ndIgnaton.-
Even the grave editor of De Toqueyllle
thought it necessary 10 preface with an
apologize explanation the indication Of
some Disadvantages by that candid and
saCact0us author, which compared with the
commentators bestowed were but as the
small dust of the balance. The North
American Review denied almost every
charge brought by captain Hall and Mrs.
Tro!ope, or attempted to rebut them by
showing that similar ills exist eIseWhere.-
Much in both those works required refuta.
ton, and so far the critics pen was COM
mendablv employed, as well as in showing
that the spirit Of both was untrendiy, ii not
malicious. But as to what was true and
deserved, why not aid IN sending home 1.-THE
blunt arrow, rather than try to prevent it
: from reaching tue mark! This was the du.
~ Of the critic, aad is the duty Of every
American writer, In no country on earth
IS Il more dl.ti.u't TO point ont popular
faults and la..!DEs in tone Of earnest kind.
ness, 10 carp and gall at them, and thus 10
nlu spicy articles nd readaHe books, is
not difficult; each viii apply hem very viii
.ng,v 10 his ne'EuyOr, and vii enjoy the
Joke and the sarcasm. But sober reproof
the prevalent errors end fo,iies, from Bit
lernpsS, personality. sectarllnsm, and par.
II bias, yet with sa-aciry SO obvious and a
manner 50 lively as u comm1nd attention,
IS WORK worthy Of PATRIOTISM Of a high
stamp AMI talents such IS ale ye!rare among
The ploi=ssed writer's OF our country,