The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-30
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~ 10 uuNcIsdiiy IeHdIkeu tnal nOW-d-udys
lnere are no great men-no great statesmen,
authors, artists, dramatic writer's, orators,
theologians, or philosophers. Everywhere
We see buta lifeless NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
and sometimes brilliancy of requirements
but no great depth. scarcely any towering
genius. little courage or ability to soar to
commanding heights. Whme is there now
any great scholar; where Shakespeare, Mil.
ton, Scott; where John Kemble: where
Newton; whefe anybody in the supellative!
The days even of Bonapartes are gohe.-
Ample scope is there for usurpation; bat we
look in vain for Usurper! Tie hour is
come; but where is the man?
This is exactly one Of those subjects
which admits Of being treated pro and con.
Much may be said on both sides, without
any decided preponderance one way or an
other. In the first place il will not escape
observation, that the alleged scarcity Of great
men is very much caused by general ad-
vance throughout society. For one great
writer in period Of literary darkness, we
have now a hundred writers of ordinary,
though no mean capacity, all actively exer.
cislng their pens. For one artist Of inap-
Proachable excellence, we have thousands,
who can at least please US with their pro-
auctions. We have, to be sure, no New
ton; but look at the multiplicity Of minds
turned to philosophic pursuits, each porting
on the face Of Nature, and occasionally
disclosing new and interesting features. If
no man towers over his fellows, it may be
because all have to climb higher than the
great men OF former times did, in order to
be conspicuous. Where discovery has been
pushed 10 its limits, we cannot reasonably
expect TO have any more DISCOVERIES. There
are mariners OF as ardent temperament as
Columbus, and as willing to encounter dan.
gers, but in what direction can these longing
geniuses go in quest of new continent?-
In maritime discovery. as in many other
fields. the work is pretty nearly done
America, the solar system. the principle OF
grayitation, the laws of chemical affinity,
the balloon, the steam engine, and a thou
sand other things, can be discovered only
once. If physical science has not got to the
end OF its tether, all within the circuit OF
the tether has been CLEANED so marvellous
ly bare, that in these latter days we are
left comparatively little to pick up. Lucky
fellows, those Newtons. Keplers, Colum-
buses, and Watts.
True in one sense; but let US not be led
away by a prevalent tendency to e1agger.
ate the glories of past times, and despise the
present. After making certain allowances
as to the absence Of such commanding in.
tellects as that Of Shakespeare man not
for day, shut for all time"-it may be
iairly questioned if there ever was any pc
Rod Of the worlds history which so abound
ed in men eminent for their talents, respect
able Tor their aims and requirements. For
anything we can tell, the discoveries to be
made by these men and their SUCCESSORS
may be as grand as those of Newton, as
useful as those Of Watt. Great as has been
our advance, We are to all appearance, only
on the threshold OF knowledge. All things
seem to prosnostioate that in a century
hence, we shall be looked back to as pig
MES IN the "gatherers of pebbles on
The Shore. The discoveries, the inven-
ions, the researches Of the passing hour are
all calculated TO convince us that there
yet remains field Of inquiry, which ap-
pears the more boundless as We advance.
But, setting aside any such hypothesis, and |
aking matters only as they are, we would |
De inclined TO speak Of the present age as
eiaf'vSiy Anything but contemplate, either
n arts or learning. That the individuals
Who excel do not rise into a distinguished
're-emlnence, is accounted for by the fact.
! fact become proverbial-"that the world
Ices not know its great men," at least not
i'll it has lost them. As no man is great to
rs valetde-chambre. so no man is though,
much OF who may be seen any day walking
n the public thoroughfares. Ii is only
Vhen he is dead and buried, and no LONGER
axes a part in common place concerns,
hat MS merits are understood and apprecia-
ed. Washington, in the midst Of his
Mighty struggles. was aggrieved by thou
and detractions. Priestly, whom we are
ow in the habit Of looking back to as a
reat man, was very far from being consid.
red great while he lived. Chased from his
ONE by fanatical mob, and coIdly SYM
athlsed with by men Of learning, he died
n exile from the country which was I'm.
Iorthy Of him. 1t would be telling TWEEN.
'-;imes told tale to go over The histories of
great authors" from Homer downwards.
Tho were treated not in the handsomest
tanner while they were living and pouring
nth their deathless illusions. Unfortunate.
! for men who in some way distinguish
'emselves in literature, arts, philosophy, or
atesmanshiP, they are usually Judged of
lille in life, not exclusively in reference to
eir services or labors. but to large extent
subordination to professional and other
alousles, or in connection with sectarian !.
I'D party views. In Great Britain, ma. !.
We has much less chance of gaining celeb
y for his discoveries in science, or his ex.
'llence in art, than foreigner. Had Lie.
g been professor in London instead of
German University, he would scarcely : :
I'VE been listened to with the patience and =
spect he has been. We should not only :;
I've been too familiar with his name and J
'rson, but have been jealous of his repu-
ton. tits a totally different thing when !,
have to investigate the pretensions of a :
an who lives thousand miles off. He
then, as respects our own affairs, as good
dead, and is not likely 10 trouble u.s.
ne can make nothing by condemnins
m. while it is quite safe to praise him: we :;