Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-06-28
Communicated
ss Great Men,,

Such is the title which is frequently applied
to the most celebrated men of all ages who have
in any way greatly distinguished themselves
above the vast majority of mankind and who, on
the page of history, have eclipsed millions of
their fellow-bengs as the sun eclipses the stars.
When we speak Of such renowned conquerors
and scourgers of humanity as Xerxes, Alexan-
der, Caesar, or Napoleon, they are frequently
callel ''great." And why? because there
have been none who have subdued so many
kingdoms, and gained for themselves fame so
universal, and built up empires so apparently
magnificent, upon the bones of slaughtered thou
sands, and the necks of groaning millions. They
were great men, indeed but their greatness was
distinguished by an unusual amount Of the base
and fiendsh passions inherent in the nature of
degenerate men. They were distinguished for
tEeir lawless ambition, their reckless cruelty,
their marciless Indignation at petty offences,
and for their mplacable and relentless tyranny
over all who came within the grasp of their I'M
righteous power. They were great men but
they were at the same time great tyrarts, great
riIiainS, incarnate .fends--spreading havoc and
death in their bloody MISUNDERSTANDING fruit
full fields into wderness-and So criicing the
sacred lives of vast hecatombs of their fellow
men, to gain temporary throne and a worthless
crown Are such the men who are worthy to
be admired and eulogized, and set forth as noble
examples for imitation 2 MOI If we ex-
/ pect that millennium is ever to dawn upon our
benighted world, such men must be branded with
the stigma of DISGRACE and adherence: and
then will he restless spirit of ambition be com
PEELED to seek its qualification in other and better
channels; for ambition can never gain its ends
by pursuing course which most men esteem
dlsgraceful and wicked. Let splendid mausoe-
ums be erected TO perpetuate the bloody names
of martial heroes to unborn generations-lete lo
quent peans of praise ascend like grateful in
cense to their departed shades vet the time is
coming, and now is. when such delusive spirit
of eulogium will be found to be hateful; and the
man who seeks for fame by exterminatng any
part of the human family, will receive the need
of universal adherence, and then be forever
forgotten.
Who, then, can be consistently called truly
great man-worthy of the sacred laurels of an
enduring fame? 1t is he whose heart burns,
and whose hands labor, in the spirit of true
and expansive patriotism, for the permanent
welfare of his own country, and of all others !;
or who performs some extraordinary deed of dis
interested benevoence and usefulness, for the
benefit of his less fortunate fellow-men. 1t is
he who labors, with heroic perseverance,, and at
length accomplishes, the emancipation of thou
sands and millions of oppressed bondmen. tits
he who stands firmly in the faith of true and
holy principle, in spite of ridicule, calumny and
persecution, till the light of truth shall flash ire
sistable conviction upon the consciences of his
maligners. It's he who brings to light some
great scientific discovery, or some useful inven-
ton, calculated to tighten the labors and promote
the happiness of mankind 1t is such men who
deserve to be had in 'severasting remembrance
whose fame shall descend, with undmnshed
luster, to the remotest generations and of whom
it may be said with more truth than of the
ocean WARRIOR
GAS long yon shall look down the wave,
The light of your glory shall shine"
But comparatively few men can accomplish
such uncommon deeds; yet all may have the
spirit TO perform them on small scale. as ability
and circumstances may allow. The poor and
unknown man who. from his stinted means, can
give but dime for the advancement of any USE
iu' cause-if he give it with sincerity and pleas