New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-27
THOUGHTS ABOUT GREATNESS.

What do We mean by greatness, as distin-
gushing men. Greatness is rather tha ele-
rnent in the MAJ than the expression Of that
element in this or that or the other form Ger
tain works reveal greatness, but do not make
It.. Great works are the outgoings of an inward
being they are the embodiments of the ideal
man; they are the expression to others eyes or
ears, Of the interior, refined, ever active con-
sciousness of the worker. But behind all these,
and above all these, in the secret mould and
fashion Of the man. lies the greatness itself He
is not made great in the course of life and
things; he is born great. Greatness is an at
tribute Of the great mans being it is not some
thing which he had not once, and which was
brought to him fortuitously and by circum-
stance. s=sF
The mothers teaching may introduce some.
what prepared child to the primary school; and
that may prove stepping stone to the gram
mar school; and that may lead to the academy;
through that to the college and the university
But this course never made great man. Ra-
ther it too frequently trammels and mars the
ample and free expression of greatness. We do
NOT disparage education but that Of itself will
make no man great. Education gives no man
intellect; it may discipline and direct it ac-
cording to the modes and the rules This is it's
chief work
Neither is it true that great occasions make
great men. That is false maxim. Great occa-
sions are the necessities for which great men
are the supplies There Is some-
thing which the world dignifes with the name
Of greatness, which is made up of circumstances;
a greatness of " shreds and patchessp That
kind Of greatness, an altogether unenyiable
distinction, mans lot in life may deprive him
of; and those who have attained it. let them be
wary the next wave or two of circumstances
will wash it away. Circumstances are fckle,
very capricious.,
Of this type of greatness is scealth. The
world says: g Thou art rich; therefore, thou
art very great" Wealth, greatness OF all
the things called by the world, greatness,
great He was wealthy but was he great !,
who calls him greati Do not disparage him /;
but things should be called by their right
names Wealth is not greatness. Wealth may
build large monuments, and costly ones, too,
and enduring ones; but not being monuments Of
greatness, their value is intrinsical only. We
would rather be the dead Poet whose brain and
soul wove out the /" Elegy in q Country Church.
builds a college,
Power is an estate which men call greatness.
But power worships and fears wealth The
Jew-bankers Of Europe, one Of whom was, the
other day, berated by ab-driver, his personal
appearance in no way indicating his immense
wealth; these have more power than kings
klngs RUE tnelr SupJects; Dut the Jew bankers
bind and loose kings at their will And theirs
is an iron rule. 1t is the rule Of tcealth II is
the rule Of four per cent, and immense national
securities. Kings pledge to them their crowns
and sceptres, jewels and all They mortgage TO
them their subjects as we'll q their palaces and
themselves. The world is mistaken when II calls
either power or wealth greatness. Louis Ma
poleon, the Third Emperor, Is not great Cir
cumstances took him from street vagrancy in
NewYork, and from the old vagrant cells Of
City Hall, NewYork, to call him Emperor Of
France, and circumstances viii uncover him in
due season. Power makes no man great. Po-
sition may give him power, but greatness
never. The intelligent. unfaltering republican
Of France Il grester thsn Louis Napoleon.
Koseuth is greater than Francis Joseph. Max
zini is greater than Pio Nono Nicholas hashis
peers. Cassips was greater than Cesar.
Why should the world be attracted to wor-
ship wealth, and be overavsd By power.
We pesk therefore Of grsafress a. an attri-
butte. And a. such, Ne speak Of It ~ sonethinc
that comes mot to the man, but comes scjfh tke
man. It is not an adjunct, but an elenens; noi
q part Of the man, but the whole, the INSOFAR,
able, the indsstruotible man. It y Ike th,