The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-15
Tho New DunsIad, or the Merit Of
MedlOerity. ..

press to combat vulgar errors. When it stooFs
to pander to popular prejudices, and turns the
slang of the day to its own purposes, it not
alone lowers the tone of the public mind, but is
false to its own high vocation as an instructor
and guide. More especially when it echoes
the protest of mealocrty against talent learn
ing and genius, is it forgetful of its duties,
Since the days when the great bard Of Greece
had his carping Zoilus, down TO those when
Pope smbamed in the amber of his verse the
aspiring ounces of his era, and even down to
this age of progress, the conspiracy Of dullness
against genius has been carried on, and relent,
less war waged by the bockheads in every sta.
ton, public and private, against those whom
they felt to be their superiors in that greatest
Of all gifts intellect. But it is rare indeed to
ind an educated man in this republic, gravely
setting forth in print the doctrine that capacity
and signal public services should not be made
the highest recommendations to preferment,
through the SURFACES of free people
The argument seems this that as the apple
OF Paris to be given to the most beautiful
was an apple of discord, so likewise would be
promotion If submitted to such a test Our
Deighbor of the Union, in an editorial unfortu.
nately NAL dpropos, and which we do not intend
to couple with these comments, further than the
quotation which We shall make, puts in this plea
for incompetents:
= The idea that the Presidency is reward
due for eminent or brilliant services in the coun
Gil or the field-though it has at times obtained
extensively, and often served either wholly or
in part to elevate distinguished statesmen aud
soldiers to that exalted staton-is an erroneous
and dangerous one. 1t is true that we have
seen the presidential chair filled with marked
ability and universal acceptation by men to
whose patriotic and profound craftsmanship or
gallant achievements in arms the country was
indebted for the acquisition, the consolidation,
and the preservation Of its liberties but it is
also true that We have had occasion to observe
with deep regret in other instances, when the
successful warrior, the cunning diplomat, or the
willy minister, have been elevated 10 the chief
magistracy total want Of high administrative
talent, and other equally essential qualifications
requisite TO enable them satisfactorily to fuf
the duties Of that LOFTY station"
Now, we put in our most solemn protest
against the stuitifying and degrading doctrin,
establish. 1t is false in faet-fase in theory
FOR mind must rule, and public services be paic
by promotion, else would our popular ins,,u
lions prove signal failure, and the high Offices
Of its government be made the premiums O
sloth, of fat contented mbecility. or worse still
Of unscruPulous demagogueism aad low Gun
ming. "
IL even in despotic governments, such as tina
OF China, merit is made the stepping stone d
Preferment-if even in aristocratc communities
where men are born legislators, learning and
genius force their way through the barriers OF
caste, &c In Great Britain, aud the descendants
Of all the HowARDs are forced TO succumb to
BRouGHAn and q LYsDHuRsT, how monstrous
the idea that talent should be "tabooedr in
Republics alone. The same can.-the ZANE
expostulsting cry against the claims Of aspiring
genius, whose nature is 20 soar, has prevailed
elsewhere as we'll as here. The brother SER
geants Of Pope, who
" Had grarify vouLd MAKE YOU spll
Ind shook lteir heads at Murray az a irii''
have had their types even In the conductors Of
the press. The Edin6Vrg Reri.,o once LAID
down the paradox which our contemporary re
echoes. and wasenspsringIy dashed therefor b.
ALBANY FosBLsouE, the editor Of the London
Eramin~. From his editorial on this subject
TO which we especially commend the attention
Of our Deighbor Of the Uaion,) we take the fol.
lowing paragraphs, which can find applications
in other bodies than the British House Of Par.
lament
Speaking Of EDsusD BURzE, and the regrets
expressed BY some Of tire more generous of hi.
contemporaries for his straiiened circumstances
owing to his neglect Of his own private affairs
absorbed as he was 10 public duties, after cen.
suring him for "neglec,ing the ordinary 'precau
tions or erertons fer securing independence"
the RerieiO goes on 10 say:
"He was politician by trade--a professional
stafesran There is no such craft recognized
10 this State: oil our institutions are ipnorsn,
Of tall our habits averse 10 Il; nor /, the-,
up, ola British statesmon's functioni, ,Lich mn,
NOT be combined Nth hs cares Of an indust,i
ous Ef.r Taking this text FosBLAsQUE thu
tears il into shreds. This last sentence con
tsins the very essence Of quackery. II may b,
sold, with the stamp OF the EdinJu-g Reuieu
on il, as "Dunces Cordial or A Real Comfort L
the Idle and Ignorant Of both Houses Of Parlia
meutr The corollary is that there is no poit
icsl science that the conduct Of the affairs of I
nation is mere elegant passtime TO gentleman
in acertsin station Of life, who has more profit
able or personally agreeable pursuits for the
occupation Of his more valued hours. The idler
after having bent all the powers Of his mighty
mind To the reduction Of milline's citadel o.
virtue, may spply with sufficient success the re
sidue Of the day TO the tolls Of the statesman ID
the House Of Peers. The merchant, whose
bsaip hes been added with the business Of his