The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-02

I tVIlHVIIUCNCts. IT
the people do not sympathizc with nbe and efii-
| cient men, On the contrary mankind are 80 con-
stituted to admire such men, and TO be disposed
to support and encourage theIni this is natural
The great masses OF the community act out their
natural feelings, and give them fair play. II ID q
vice provision Of nature When mankind admire
ability ard efficiency, it encourages minds, giftsa
by nature, to become by industry able and ehi-
clent and thus useful t. the community.
People never object to a man because ne Is great.
Pride, vanity and ostentation constitute opJec-
tions, and they Objectionable to the people
whether they appear in great men or IN pretend
greatness Here s also wise provision, tor
such qualities destroy ali sympathy with the COM
mon Class of Inaukind-all disposition 10 consult
their interests and promote their happiness
Is Mr.. Webster one Of that description? Let the
m' chancs of Boston, the farmers Of New Hamp-
shire, or the farmers and fishermen OF Marshheld,
answer that question. have heard it said that
Mr.. Webster was taken up as candidate In
this city by the rich bankers and merchants Of
| Wall street. Aud this has been said with view
TO blight his prospects with The people. You know
! better; you know very well that where there was
| one of that description there were dozen boss
| mechanics W ho Joined in brine ging him forward.
| The people can distinguish between pride and
ostentation and that kind ofretircd habit which re-
| suits from ditlidence deep reflection. Some OF
the most retiyed men have ever known have been
the irees from vanity and pride Witness the late
DR.. Alexander. OF Princeton, one OF the most mod
es, men that ever lived, and yet no one ever ap'
preached him without the CONVICTION that ne was
| truly great man Why, we have among our own
citizens distinguished merchant whose munfi-
| cent philanthropy has carried an enterprise, SO
honorable TO our whole nation, into the very frozen
seas; and yet this gentleman, from retiring dis
| position. modcsy declines the public testimonials
| laid at his feet Do you think, however. that il
| Mr.. Henry Grinnell should be proposed as candi-
date for an honorable public office, that unp0piariy
could be urged against has availability! lGreat APP
| plausc
Mr. Webster is man of deep reflection, and
therefore often retired bu that profound reflection
has served To impart those qualifications which
ought to be his passport through preliminary po-
!tical conventions to the people, who, II he once
gets fairly before them, will soon show you that be
is he most popular candidate that can be presented
for their suiirages by eny party or any set OF men
| But. from some strange cause or other, the no
ton has within few years pact, among politicians.
become prevalen, in this country that very great
men will not run before the people. They may not
| always run; there are exceptions TO all general
rules. A great man, by his peculiar course of con-
| duct, may have made many warm friends and
| many bitter enemies. He may be violent and ar
biuary in his views, unconciliating and bitter
| in debate when opposed. Mr.. Webster 10 known
| to be exempted from that objection.
| 1t is time this notion should DC discarded thas
no solid foundation 10 rest upon No country ever
sdd or will rise to greatness glory without
| master minds. Look back at Greece or Rome.
Tho London Times has lately broached the idea that
| MIR. Webster could not be made President, be-
cause he is too great man Il Is not surprising
that the editor of that distin guished paper should
| think So because he is prejuoicsd against rcpub-
can institutions and knows but little OF the working
| of ours. In him. 1t Is sneer at us, Tor he knows
very well that England has been distinguished for
| her GALAXY Of great men: that from Cecil under the
lofty and imperial Queen, down TO Lord Derby, in
the reign OF the pure and virucus Victoria, a long
line of statesmen, able, distinguished, Of large
views, have guided and regulated English affairs,
and have raised England to TIE height where she
now stands
What could have given rise TO thi, strange in
fatuaticn in this country? L. there any thing in
| our example different from the example of other
great counrics2 We started into e1 stence but yes
terday speaking in reference TO the age OF nations
| We rose the aBtlngtOn-
the of The largest and most comprehensive
mind Of his nge-and surrounded with men Of great
! aud distinguished ability. We now stretch from
| tho Atlantic TO the shores OF the Pacific. The com
| mcrcc of the world is within our grasp-our mines
nrc observation-disclosures territory, unparalleled in
| extent ard fertility, Is to be filled up. What
! prospect is here presented for future glory and
greatness. Are to risc TO this glory and great
without the lend and guidance Of master mt'.dsi
! If We are, then the laws OF human conduct In our
case TO be reversed. And II not reversed, we
must If we attemptit, dwindle into insignIiicance
| A European philosopher once remarked that every
thing in th!4 country was on great scale, but Its
men IL ia 10 be hoped that the politicians in this
country, under bis strange iniatuatiop, VIII not
verify this remark.
Mankind are often misIcd by the Of terms.
Asort Of hazy idea is often attached TO the epithet
! ola grtat man. II is sometimes said there ia no
| glc in words. II is true, there is no magic in
them TO elicit tfuth-but they are often magical in
! leading US into error. There various kinds of
greatness often referred TO, and In such way as
to cause confusion. The man of wealth. accurnu-
/ lated by great industry, Judgment and attention
to business i sometimes and very properly cnlieu
great man, though il may not be Of the very
highest order. No one accuses Mr.. webster oil
being great man IN that sense.
IN come countries they have body OF great
men, whose main distinction consists in thcir de-
eccnt through lonR line OF distinguished ances-
iors-cnnoblcd by lcs-emblazoned by stars and
ribbons and garters. Mr.. Webster has no such
distinction. lie is the Hapsburgh of his own iami-
/ ly His root is in the earth--amdst the rocks of
/ bis own New Hampshire. tic sprang from the
people. Though bis intellect Is elevated far above
them 10y culture, yet. true to his origin, bis heart
/ i5 n the midst OF them.
/ There ia another kind of greatness TO be coDsd-
/ cred, IL may be called legitimate groatncss-sUch
"a the head Of man approves, and his beart recog-
niscs. IL is in short ability and cIciency Tor great
/ cmploymcuts. To the rcproach Of this kind OF
greatness, If in the eyes Of his countrymcn II be
! reproach, Mr. Webster must bow IN silence BY
natural intellect combined with vast requirements,
long experience With profound reflection, he Is the
greatest ftniesmnn Of bis country. VIII any poll
ticilu 20 before the people aud make ths objection
! 10 him, Yet THE is the objection II there be any
at all. Substitute for the name of grsat man. the
terms an abc and ,Ijieisnt man Tor great employ
mcut, and the objection vanlshss. Every man Lc-
comes ashamed Of II.
Hisn pl1in maxim Of political economy, it is
dictate Of common sense, that If you want an agent
TO transact any business, great or small, select
inqn who ia the ablcst andmost ht TO do 1t. IL this
! dictate OF common sense and sound political econ
/ omy to bo discarded in making a President
| Mankind are constituted rs to admire ability
and ,ficiency fpr the performance of any honest
and prase"orthy employment ! would rather
/ scc a good shoemaker than poor politician
! II iJy come magic power should have the
thority conferred upon ruo TO select public officers,
| / would end,avar TO be guided Ivy this plain maxim
/ | lave stated. n ! wanted a commander 10 lead
! our army to tic field. and 20 iaisc standard
/ upon the lOicst lattlemcnts OF the enemy, would
select General Scott. II wanted naval officer to
| couductOur fleet over the mountain wave, and uu-
! furl ilac to the battle aud the breeze, CUmmo-
/ durc Stuc EtOu should be my mpu. II ] wanted
CHI, Executive otccr Of the Government, TO carry
/ the country safely through all political cumnIO-
I tious and difficulties, at homc and abroad, and ty
! his prof und statcsmauship elevate the glory OF
/ his country among the nations OF the earth, and
/ give them assurance Of man, would present
/ You with Daniel Webster. [lmmcnsc cheering
/ have nov, gentlemen, pointed out the Difficult
ty. The rom,Uy .,il n once sugccst iiscli TO all
/ oi you Iti5 70 remove that dii',rulty. Let tho
notion be- dis,ar,d ulat the people oi this country
/ cannot distinguish and appreciate their greatest