The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-14


to pander to popular preiudices, 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 mediocrity against talent learn
ing and genius, is it forgetful of its duties.
Since the days when the great bard OF Greece
had his carping Zolus, down TO those when
Pope embalmed 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 blockheads 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
find an educated man in this republic, gravely
setting forth in print the doctrine that capacity
and signal public services should not be made
tho highest recommendations to preferment,
through the suffrsges of free people.
The argument seems this: that as the apple
Of Paris ito be given to the most beautiful
was an apple of discord, so likewise would be
promotion il submitted to such test Our
neighbor of the Union. in an editorial unforlu-
nately NAL apropos, aud 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 a 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
III part to elevate distinguished statesmen and
soldiers to that exalted station--is an erroneous
aud dangerous one. 1t il 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 it's 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 to the chief
magstracy, total want of high administrative
talent, and other equally essential qualifications
requisite to enable them satisfactorily to fulfil
the duties of that lofty station"
Now, we put in our most solemn protest
against the stultifying and degrading doctrine
which the converse of this proposition would
establish. 1t is false in fact--false in theory
for mind must rule, and public services be paid
by promotion, else would our popular institu
tons prove a signal failure, and the high Offices
of its government be made the premiums of
hloth of fat contented imbecility, or worse STILL
of interruptions demagogusism and low cum
ming.
If even in despotic governments, such as that
of China. merit is made the stepping stone Of
preferment-if even in aristocratic communities
where men are born legislators, learning and
genius force their way through the barriers of
caste, as in Great Britain, and the descendants
of all the HowARDs are forced TO succumb 10
BRouGHAM and a LYEDHURsT, how monstrous
the idea that talent should DO "tabooed in
Republics alone. The same cant--the same
exPostulating cry against the claims of aspiring
genius, whose nature is to soar, has prevailed
elsewhere az we'll as here. The brother SER
geants of Pope, who
s. Had gravity pould make you split
find shook their heads at Murray as ,cif,''
have had their types even in the conductors of
the press. The Edinburg Repie,o once laid
down the paradox which our contemporary re
echoes. and was unsparingly lashed therefor by
ALBANY FoSBLAroUE, the editor of the London
Examiner. From his editorial on this subject
Ito which We especially commend the attention
of our neighbor Of the Union,) we take the fol-
lowing paragraphs, which can find applications
in other bodies than the British House of Par.
lament
Speaking of EDMUND BURKE, and the regrets
expressed by some of the more generous of his
contemporaries for his straitened circumstances,
owing to his neglect Of his own private affairs,
absorbed as he was in public duties, after cen
curing him for "neglecting the ordinary precau
tions or exertions fer securing independence"
the ReuieD goes on to say:
ale was politician by trade---a professional
statesmon. There is no such raft recognized
in this State: all our institutions are ignorant
of tall our habits averse to it; nor is there
one ofo British stdtesmans functions, ,chich may
mon be combined oith the cares of an industri.
oss life. Taking this text FoNBLAxouE thus
tears il into shreds. This last sentence con.
tsins the very essence of quackery. II may be
sold, with the stamp OF the Edinburg Reuiep
on II, rs Ounces Cordial or A Real Comfort to
the Idle and Ignorant of both Houses of Parlia
nent" The corollary is that there is no pot
ical scionce that the conduct of the affairs of
nation il mere elegant Passtme to gentleman
in certain station of life, who has more profit
able or personally agreeable pursuits for the
occupation of his more valued hours. The ider,
after having bent all the powers of his mighty
mind to the reduction of a millinei's citadel of
virtue, may apply with sufficient success the re
siiue IF the day to the tolls of the statesman in
the House Of PEERS The merchant, whose
brain has been added with the business of his
counting hosse, has merely to rise from his
d>ak and pans 10 st. Stephens, au fait of Tho