The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-14

IN life. Nor does this praise belong 10 the mel
alone; their wives and daughters are fully wor
thy Of them.
Our statesmen, and the thousands who come 70
gaze upon them, know little of our people; and we
believe correct in saying the latter care al
little about them. emo man is a hero TO his own
valet" BY this saying VIC believe il meant. that
great men, like objects seen through IA convex lens,
diminish come near them. Great men are
not subjects of wonder and amazement with US;
audi with all their greatness unless they enti-
tied to respect, they seldom receive it.. Titles OF
distinction only indicate mems pursuits; and
Honorable" and General" are by no means ade-
quate assurance TO the shopkeepcr who is asked To
give credit for pair Of boots howbeit Jack Rob-
inson, with an honest name, is seldom denied.
Quiet, patient merit is in its progress. and
we look for the day when, by new impetus in the
pursuits Of manufactures, and the consequent i'm
provement in the agriculture of the country around
us, Washington will become one of the most pros
porous and fourshing, il is now one Of the most
orderly and agreeable cities in the Union.
Here, as elsewhere, thrift plies its busy means,
and men yearn for the acquisition of wealth; and
yet is wealth little considered in our estimate of
men as in any portion of the globe upon which the
shines.
II ID said by Europeans, that in no other country
do men struggle harder to obtain riches, and this
Is imputed TO our greatest national sin. The
aristocrats who deign to descant upon our condi-
ton grieve that such is the tendency Of republican
institutions-that wealth is made the standard OF
responsibility and is therefore sought for the dis
tncton it confers.
We admit the love Of Americans for acquiring
wealth; but not the differences deduced thcrefrom.
Wealth ia sought for all the advani ages il confers;
it is sought for the qualifications derivabe from the
pursuits it is sought for the public benefits impaired
by the labor that procures it; and it ia sought by
all because, under the benefcent influence of our
laws the field of honorable toll and competition pre-
sents its rich rewards TO ALL
But 1t is in the pursuit, not in the possession of
wealth, that our people are most blessed. Though
our love OF this pursuit is imputed us as an i'm
perfection In our character, there is more virtue to
be found amongst those who engaged therein,
than amongst such as in the possession of ac.
cumulated fortunes Here, as elsewhere, ease and
voluptuousness lead to ruin; and in the absence of
a law of primogeniture, it is impossible for great
wealth to continue long in any family II is in
general misfortune to be the grandson ola wealthy
man. In our agricultural communities the great
est degree of stability and permanence exists; but
even here the overseer of ten years ago very often
occupies the farm of his former employer, and the
sons of the wealthy become drones in society, or
leave the scenes of their early homes labor in dis
tant regions, where their pride will not be hum
bled by the acknowledgment of the hard neces
sity
1t is dubious blessing, that Of inheriling for
tune but 1t is Infinitely worse to live from child
hood to maturity in the expectation ofsuch boon,
and then to find as is too often the case that power
ty is after all our portion.
The only possible safeguard in this country is
the practical education of youth. Every man aud
ioonian in our land should be capable of earning
independent livelihood; and where this rule is disre
garded. condemnation and contempt should be
visited
IL should be deemed disgrace to any one TO
claim exemption from useful industry by virtue
OF the pecuniary ability TO live in idleness When
wealth has fled from such people, they usually
have plea for beggary and dishonesty-they
have not been used to labor! But this plea is sell
dom recognised valid; and pity alone bestows
the boon such claims could never win.
The extract we have quoted from New York
journal presents to US the names of a number of
citizens who have become wealthy in that city,
with no other aid than their own industry; but il
Is, no doubt, meagre list compared to such as
might be made OF the inmates Of the prisons and
asylums, whose earlier years were passed in wealth
and luxury.
Life is, with most men in this country, a down
ward 90 an upward journey. Few remain on a
level with the starting point; and they are unques
tionably the most happy whose industry, enter
prise, intelligence and virtue constitute the guar
antec of success. In our city this is eminently
true. The people who have come here have,
in general, come because they were poor and wor
thy. We have had no great projects to allure cap
itslists, but the inducements to patient, unobtru
siye industry have been many, and by the gradual
increase Of such people has our city become pop
ulAted. While wish for its contipped pros
perty, We alec earnestly hope that even labor IT,
self may not be capable Of amassing such fortunes
as would convert our little pedlars into "stars at
the OPERA" or our worthy journeymen into
'millionaires"-lest we may be full, and deny the
Lord. and say, Who is hel
"a woSDERFUL TREE.-There is 10 be seen near
the navy yard Of Washington a remarkable tree.
now laden with all manner OF fruit fo,oers ices and
even doA-babtss, and many other strange things :
And all around and about ii are smiling faces
ice creams, sfrasndoriss, knonads, &C. with the
Marine Band in the background, pouring forth
their melodious strains on the Of cnraptured
listeners"
''All this can be seen by pleasant walk or drive
70 our navy yard on the afternoons Of Thursday,
Friday and Saturday Of the present week"
o. The foregoing has been communicated TO us
no doubt by a good friend Of the folks who arc
holding their delightful festival over the Anacostia
engine-housej bot he forgot one important item,
or he wanted appreciation Of the most attract
i've feature Of the scene Why did he omit alu.
sion TO the bright-eyed and beautiful entertainers
Perhaps he thought forgctfulness Of them would be
impossible; and IL s to those who once have
seen thcmso IL IL 10 ne. Let others 90 and see Tor