The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-05
The Test of POpuiarity-The Best Abused
Men of tho Day.


Men of the Day.
In this great, driving, busting country, where
men live more in week than in any other
country in year-where the current OF events is
constantly rushing onward, like rapid rlver-and
where people are much absorbed with their own
affairs that they seldom think of those of anybody
else-it requires influences of an extraordinary
nature, unusual force of character, and great sue
cess, TO present one IN such light as to render
him the subject of laudation or abuse. A mans
popularity can best be judged of by the number,
frequency and force of the attacks made upon
him. To arrive at any degree of eminence with
out being vilhfed, is matter of imposslblity. It
is part of our social system-a slice, even, of
our very religion.
Adopting this maxim, we cannot but arrive at
the conclusion that Lewis Cass, Zachary TAYLOR.
and James Gordon Bennett are the most pro.
minent, as well as the most popular, individuals In
this country. at the present moment. No three
men have been at the same time the objects of
20 much commentator and of such Immoderate
abuse The wing papers-from the highest to the
lowest-from the Tribune and Courier of this citv
down to the Natio.oi tnteNigcnccr at Wash,nu.
ton-all teem day after day, with all sorts of in.
yecuve, abuse, falsehood, and rhodomontade
against Gen. Cass. Gen. Taylor is the butt of the
democratic papers of both sections and in tbe,r
efforts TO drag him down they stop at no limit oh
serve no moderation, and fail not to inter ,bo
qrossest calumnies. James Gordon Benpett n.
proprietor and chief conductor of the New I'll
Herald, has been, for years, the target for tho
shafts Of portion OF the press of each party, He
has been as uniaIng theme of ribaldry 10 the
&c Of oil
70 the Protestant parsons In the last aoe-,h.
Cbeehire cheese with which they eked out their
ANAL meal, when every other dish failed
All this abuse Is the natural consequence of the
remarkable success which each of those three in
dividuals has attained In his peculiar sphere The
energy which has enabled them to surmoun, al
the difficulties in their way. and to keen ate adj,
ON their course, disregarding the counterbI,s,s 81
ohloouv which assaied them from all ou.r,o-S
,o,pralIv provoked the bitterest malevoenoo
,he strongest opposition from those whose ;ns,r.;
Gcsnce and me dlocnty caused them to fail Of r.,
srccessful career they so much envled.
There are few more remarkable instances ne
a, ,r;umphirg over early difficulties and h.
...v,.oes. than Lewis Cass Imbued with ,b.
,;ons ri iederalst from his cradle. he Va, ..
~ ~ exercise such selfcontrol as to mss,.x L
rrs;,,d;ces. and, at an early age, so to dsr,'e'
h;mself with the great democratic party of d.,
country. that he has ever since been the rec,men,
90 ,he,r confidence, and now stands h. fora 81
oorn,,v as the champion of their prnc,nIes a.,
,h.;r .cknowled ged favorlte for the hipbes, oa.
- ,he;r GILT. He is the most popular mo-, ,,
,,e democrats could have chosen for cand;I' 1'
zachary Taylor, bred from his youth m 80.
aool,dsd from the gaze of the world. worl;p''
,,no,,,rsive way through the success;v. li''
"a military rank, winning promotion. no, h7,
,,osl intrigue, but by hard service, qu,etIv t;s;n
lie ,;,,,s and then, when the great cr;s,. os
Toto a,,;ved. graphing with difficulty. and C. ~.
of the peue Danger pucking the flower Safety -
has achieved tor his own name and for his country
one Of the most brilliant irlumphs that ever oraced
the records Of nation and still greater ~
pmph bv the magic of his name, witbou, .a.r,
and almos, against his will, compelling , or.a,
marty. as a matter of self-preservatlon 70 her
selves. TO lnscribe his name on their banner and
nreeent him to the people as a candidate for tho
Presidency.
And lastly, James Gordon Bennett unaided
alone. in the teeth of the most violent opposition
has produced such revolution the press OF this
country as il has taken centuries In other couu
tres TO achieve-raIsing Itfrom being the degrad-
ed instrument OF party, for the delusion of the
people, to b, the mighty voice Of a mighty nation.
untrammelled, independent, making its Impress
upon the age, educating the masses, and producing
an exalted tone among all classes IN this country
Such Triumph he could not achieve without
making enemies by the hundred The old
numbering papers, whose existence cannot he nro
lonped in the healthy atmosphere which he has
produced, are, Of course, naturally his mos, bitter
revileTs. lie can say with Lear
- the htCe dogs and ALL
Tray Bls nch aud Sweetheart see they bark at me-
But the Truth OF our hrst position, that the best
abused men are the most popular, Is remarkably
verified IN the extraordinary success that the pro.
prietor OF this paper has attained, as well as the
other two distinguished individuals that share
with HIM the abuse Of portion Of the press of
this country. Every year the circulation of bis
paper Is Increasing; every year the apprec iation
Of his efforts by the public is more and more
manifest. He will Yet achieve greater triumohs
than he has yet attempted in newspaper enter
pnse Wait till next Tuesdays sun sink behind
the hills OF Jersey, aud then will begin new
career OF <, mus and enterprise.
The STEAMSHIP LHERoKEE, which left here on
Wednesday afternoon, at 4 O'Clock, we learn by