Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-22
From til. Knickeybocfer.,

When General Scott was selected as a whig can
didate for the Presidency, the impression very
generally prevailed, we believe, that NJ other man
in the party would prove so available candidate.
The failure to elect him has had the effect TO
create in the minds of men some distrust as to the
policy Of relying too much upon what many have
considered availability, and now it is said -
s. Let us present our candidates to the people
solely on their merits, without any reference to
their particular qualifications for popularity let
us trust to the good sense and dscernment of the
people: they are too wise to be wrought upon
again by empty cider-barrels, coon-skins, and
such fooleries. Without doubt, they are too
wise to be influenced by any such nonsense; and
they were also too wise in 1850. The cider bar
rcls and the coon-skins did nothing of themselves
alone to elect Harrison President: it was only as
they served as emblems of the simple tastes and
habits of that good-natured, kind-hcartcd, and
hospitable old man. And the people cannot be
misled as to what emblematic Of the character of
the men they are solicited to vote for. Every one
knows that it would have been impossible to have
made the same commotion with cider barrels and
coon skins, if the object of such commotion had
been to elect Webster or Cass instead of Harrison.
The people are not apt long to run after cider
barrels and coon-skins when the cider and the
coons are gone. When there is one link in the
chain uniting candidate for the presidency to
the human race that is almost non-conductor-
a link over which deep and fervid sympathies
cannot well pass from one to the other-he has
but small chance of being elected. Glove thy
self last" was one part of Wolsey's advice to
Cromwell. These three words form the broad
foundation of all popularity.
/ 1t is generally thought in this country at least,
we believe, that "we are good looking people 5"
and it is a fact much more easily susceptible Of
proof, that we are a somewhat peculiar people,.
BY glancing hastily at some Of the prominent Pc
culiarties, we shall be much better able to form
clear idea of what sort Of qualities are likely to
prove available in candidates for the presidency,
and in Office seekers generally.
The wonderful elasticity Of the Americans is
one or their prominent traits that is much dwet
upon. There is gutta-percha plabiity of dis
position and temper, which prevents them from
being cast down and discouraged, however great
may be the misfortunes and reyerscs to which
they are subjected. They never make great loss
without considerable gain: they seldom fall a
great distance without bouncing up in a correspon-
ding proportion. Like Butcher, they never knew
they were beaten, but rise after every defeat,
| however hopeless it may seem to others, and fight
on as if nothing had happened. Read the lives
of our prominent men, and observe how great a
variety of fortune many of them have experienced.
If Patrick Henry had been able or willing to pay
a little more attention to his business when he
kept small grocery, his shop might have sup
ported him, and his name have remained unknown
| TO fame. Gen. Greene could not reconcile his
taste for books and his military ardor with his
labors at the forge: so he dotted his leathern
apron and quaker's coat, babe adieu to his young
wife and enlisted as private soldier. A bung-
| ling use of the lap-stone and awl made Roger
Sherman signer Of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence. Elihu Burritt threw down his blacksmith
hammer, and a short time after was astonishing
tn, great and learned of the old world by his DOW
e.s as linguist, and the extent of his learning.
John Neal and John Pierpont, so distinguished as
poets and prose writer's, were once together in the
dry-goods business. After two failures, one was
driven to the magazine and newspaper, and the
other went to the pulpit. They soon achieved
| great eminence in their new avocations. Even
| two or three reverses in business were necessary
to develope the peculiar but world-renowned tai
ents of Barnum. Some distinguished preachers
have run the gauntlet of occupations before they
became ministers of the gospel. They have been
perhaps, shoe-makers, peddlers, school-teachers,
horse jockies, and what not before they reached
the pulpit. Their varied experience has enabled
them to carry to the profession OF the ministry a
practical knowledge Of human nature, which makes
their preaching, if they have talent, very effective.
Coarse tastes and habits, too, a ready adaptation
of disposition to circumstances, almost enables
them to leave of with their own clothes.
The great literary requirements of Story, Le-
gare, Choate, and others, did not prevent them
! from being profoundedly versed in the law. Ca-
sar was none the worse General because he excel
led as q statesman, writer, and orator. Alex
ander Hamilton and John Hancock were none the
worse statesmen for being good accountants, and
! the former for being beside good general. We