The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-08-26
FOR THE BANNER.
WHO is TRULY GREAT.

more pleasure than the study of man,
and the peculiar features which mark
the leading propensities of his character,
and disposition. BY contemplation, 1t is
easily observed that there are certain
principles in human nature, which
teach, that every man is created with
various and dissimilar forms of desire,
which move to active and persevering
exertion. That some are moved to ac-
ton from pure and laudable principles
of philanthropy, while others are inAa-
med by the jealous pride of power, and
dazzled by the vain glories of aspiring
demagogues. And that also the seeds
of true and real virtue, planted by ma
ture, early springing up, wields at plea
sure the evil propensities of the one, and
makes him look into his own heart, and
from himself learn not alone, the weak
ness of human nature, but to bound and
set limits to its natural wants and era
wings. Whilst the inordinate love of
fame fires the breast of the other. arou-
ses his slumbering energies, paralyzcs
his nobler faculties, and prepares HIM
for the horrors and bloody scenes
of unholy strife, and to grasp with
Il hand goary with the blood of in
nocency the wreath Of ,ransitory fame.
But how fleeting are its phantoms.
Like star on the verge Of the horizon,
they dazzle in the gaze of the world for
moment and then sink into the abyss
OF darkness, "even the renowned Ene-
as, the terror of the Greeks, and whose
magnanimity of soul drove him amid
the flaming towers Of hoas,cd Troy"
bearing upon his back his old father
ANcnIsEs," was made to wander even
an exile from the land he loved and is
only remembered in the songs" and fic-
tions "of Virgil" No conqucror has
ever yet shook the world by arms, or
made nations bow suppliant a. his feet
who was not indeed doomed to 60 down
in the great vortex Of revolution. His
fame is low and poor compared with the
magnanimity of virtue" 1t vanlshes
before the greatness Of principle" The
martyr, the patriot, and the phlanthro-
pist. "The unshrinking adhcrcnt to
despair, Of deserted truth and religion"
without a smiling compassionate friend,
to extend to him the balm Of consolation.
"nor variety Of objects to draw his
thoughts from himself, with no cheering
voice to arouse and nourish energy but
yields calmly to the most powerful sour
gings of fortune, and perhaps to the
most excrucia:ing pain which one word
retracted would remove" is as far supes
rior to the bloody conqueror, Gas heaven
above is superior to all beneath"
God then, the maker Of heaven and
earth, and ali things else is alone truly
great. And he who aspires 10 great
ness, should with the rest of his conduct,
practice christian purity and holiness
That greatness is not true, which is
gained by the sword of an ambitious
and relentless unfeeling con queror, or
by the artful intrigues of the aspiring
politician. But he is great, and truly
great too, whose generous heart exuIts
with proud delight, and swells at the
sametime, with gratitude and benevo-
lence to humanity, for the high distinc-
ton to which he may have promoted
himself
True greatness is not then, what the
world has always supposed it to be-.
But what is it2 and in what does it con.
- So Il. n