Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-20
Amtt- 9laperp.
From the Boston Courier (Whig.)
HerO'W OrShip.

W
to make men happy by teaching them habits of
industry, the arts Of peace, and the refnements
of literature, philosophy and morals the former
brutalizes a nation and bids defiance to the UNI
armed philosopher and politician, who bring in
to the field Truth without spear and Argument
unbackedby artillery
All wars beget Heroes, as naturally land al
most as suddenly as lightning produces thunder,
and the more skill and science in the work of
butchery, the greater the Hero, and the sooner
he arrives at the zenith of glory. Thus General
Zachary Taylor, who twelve months ago, was
not half as celebrated as General Tom Thumb
has become the idol of host of worshipers,
whose name is Legion. The public mind is es-
sentially 1--WE hope not thoroughly debauched
with the doctrines of Hero-W Worship. The Press
lends its aid in the dissemination of these PERM
cious doctrines and the establishment of sys-
tenn of the most abominable despotsm that can
be inflicted on nation Some of the most in
fuential journals have the name of this Hero
in Double Plea capitals at the head of their edi-
tora columns as a candidate for the Presidency
as if success in numbering men, women and chill
dren by hundreds and thousands were all desir-
ed to give him claim to the sufrages Of peo-
pie who boast of their magnanimity and love of
Justice Editors, whose moral scnsblties are
in commissions if they see an advertisement show
ing where wine is for sale, snatch up with eager
ness every paragraph that glorfes the conduct
or character of this military cheftain and pres
ent it as a luscious morsel to their readers. Po-
itica principles, and opinions in regard to sub
ects hitherto thought to be of the utmost impor-
lance to the prosperity of the country, are no
longer thought Of and wings and Democrats
seem to have buried all their ancient animosities
and to vie with each other in a new contest, to
decide whether the Hero is actually wing or
democrat. One journal 1--WE do not recolect
Ohat one, but we have seen it within weck) dis
claims all soliciude in relation to his political
Ipartizanship, and is satisfed-perfccty satisfied
with the conviction that Gen Zachary T'ay-
Tor is GREAT and GOOD man The facts on
which this conviction is founded were not stated,
nor do we recoect that the editor alluded to
any particular acts that constitute the character
of " great and good man." But with the true
hero-worshiper that is of no Importance If the
altar is well furnished with human flesh for the
sacrifice and thousands ofhearts have been pierre
ed to supply a generous libation of human blood,
the adorlng throng require no other stimulant to
their devotion.
To say nothing of the elements of greatness, a
quality which as appropriately belongs to devil
as to saint, and term which may be used to
signify the darkest of crimes as well as the
brightest of virtues have yet to learn where
in consists the goodness of General Taylor and
we sincerely hope that some of his worshipers
WILL ere long, have the goodness to portray those
features in his character, and recite some of
those acts Of his which give him claim to idola-
try. We are the more anxious on this point,
because we should be glad for once in our life,
to be one of political majority, and at the same
time be SIRE that nc are right Only satisfy us
that Gen Taylor is truly deserving of the appro-
baton of the wise, the humane and the patri-
otto, and we will heartily unite in every thing
adapted to do honor to his virtues, although we
will give no pledge to become a worshipcr in the
temple ofhis fame, or
To crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,
Where Thrift may follow fawlng.
We are aware that it is said by the worshipcrs,
that Gen, Taylor does no more than fulfil his du-
ty to his country by prosecuting the war with all
the power of his arm and his intellect. He has
been bred soldier, in the service of his country
and he must not dsobey the orders of the Presi-
!
obey or resign. Miserable apology-contempt
Bile subtertuge Let him resign his commission
! He has, himself, pronounced the war unnecessa-
ny, unjust, and cruel. He used language similar
to this, if we remember rightly, in his letter to
Henry Clay, announcing the loss Of Mr., Clays
son. He there pronounced his own condemna-
ton. If he admits that the war is unnecessary,
unjust, and cruel, he cannot escape from the con-
sequences of the admission, namely, that he who
voluntarily carries it successfully, is guilty OF
gratutous injustice and cruelty. When an Off
Ger is placed in position where he cannot with
out disobedence to his superior, refrain from the
commission of acts which his conscience tells him
arc offences against God aud humanity, there is
one plain, straightforward path for him to pur-
sue If his orders are to ravage neighboring
state, to rob and murder its inhabitants and burn
its cities-acts which he feels to be inconsistent
with Justice and humanity, wherein is he whit
better than the hired bravoes and assassins which
we read of in the Italian history, if he persists
in the obedience of his orders rather than to the
| law which God has written on his heart! The
characters are analogous if not identical Both
rob and murder for hire, and like Falstah, think
it no sin to labor in their vocation. There is,
however, one remarkable difference The Bra
vo, for guinea or two, dsposes of an individual
designated by his employer the Hero does his
work indiscriminately, by wholesale, and for an
annual salary of some thousands of dollars
Which will have the heaviest account to be set
tied hereafter is known only to that Judge who
is subject to none of the imperfections attendant
upon mortality.
In these remarks we have used the word Hero,
with its derivaties according to its present popu-
lar acceptation We are aware that another and
far different idea is connected with the word
Had Gen Taylor felt any partially for the char
acter of hero in that other and nobler sense,
he would have thrown his commission in the race
of the President, the moment he received :, an Or
der to mass over the boundary of the United
States with an invading army. Had he done so,
in all probability there would have been no war
the difficulties with Mexico would have been
amicabv adusted-thousands of innocent lives