The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-10-31
MiarRllanrullH.
MORALITY of Public Men.

Htical Morality OF British Statesmen, IN ~nicn
it is argued there has been q gradual, bnt de
cided Improvement IN thes character of those
who have ruled the British nation, and from
the history given of the various administrations
since the Restoration, it seems difficult to dis.
sent from this conclusion. A similar article
on the past and present history of the states
men of our own country, prepared by a com.
petent and impartial hand.would be read with
deep interest, though we fear truth would not
conduct us to similar result. Still We think
it is subject to which the thoughts Of many
have for q considerable time been Turned with
increased earnestness. Not a few are more in.
fiuenced in their exercise of the rights, of suf.
frape by the character of those who are cam
didates for Office than in former times, and the
subject deserves far more Of the attention of
good men than it has hitherto received. The
article above referred to, opens with the fol-
lowing Suggestive remarks:
Probably few great philosophic statesmen
few men, that Is, who had acted intimately in
public affairs as well as contemplated them
from the closet, ever Quilted the stage without
a feeling Of profound discourageuent Wheth ]
er successful or unsuccessful, as the world
would deem them, a sense of sadness and dis
appointment seems to prevail over every other
sentiment They have attained ST. few Oh their
objects,-they have fallen 80 far short. of their
ideal,-they have seen so much more than or
dnary men of the dangers and difficulties of
nations, and of the vices and mcanness of pub
lie men. The work to be accomplished is so
great, and the workmen are so weak and so
unworthy,- the roads are so many, and the
finger.posts SO few. Not many Englishmen
governed so long or SO successfully sSir
Robert Peel, or set in such halo of blessings
and esteem; yet, shortly before his death, he
confessed that what he had seen and heard in
public life had left upon his mind prevalent
impression of gloom and grief. Who ever
succeeded so spleudidly as Washington Who
ever enjoyed to such degree, and to, the end,
the confidence and gratitude of his country
"Yet," says Guizot. towards the close of his
life, in the sweet and digniGed retirement of
Mount Vernon. something of lassitude and sad
ness hung about the mind of man so serene
ly great,-a feeling, indeed, most natur at
the termination Of long life spent in mems
concerns. Power il heavy burden, and man
kind a hard taskmaster TO him who struggles
virtucusy against their passions and their er.
rors. Success itself cannot wipe out the sor
rowful impressions which originate in the con
flct, and the WEAKNESS contracted on the scene
of action is prolonged even in the bosom OF
repose."
With these passages fresh in our recollection,
we veniured, at the close OF some long con.
versations with retired philosopher and states
o,an, who, for many years, was the first minis
ter of great Kingdom, to ask him the follow
ing question: "You have lived through some
of the most interesting and troubled times of
haman history !; you have studied encon'em
platively, as well as acted with them aud gov,
erned them; you have loug had the fate of
your own country, and purtion o. that OF
Europe, in your hands. What feelingiS strong
est in your mind AS yuuook back anil forward
hope or dependency foryour country and
the world contempt and disgust or affection
and esteem, for your fellow-men2" His reply
was, as nearly as we eau recall it,, this -
do not feel that my experience of men has
either disposed me to think w"ts. IF them. O. j.
;ndisoosed me to serve them, nor in spite of
failures which lament, Of errors which now
see and acknowledge, aud Of the pr"sen gloomy
aspect of affairs, do despair of the future
On the contrary. hope: | see glimpses of
daylight see elements OF rescue: see even
now faint -dawnings of a better day. The
truth take to be this The march of Provi
dence is so slow, and our desires are SO impa.
tient,-the work. of progress is so immense,
and our means of aiding it so leeble,-the life
of humanity is so long, aud the life OF indi'id
nal men so brief, that what we,see is often
only The web of the, advancing s0aue J; and thus
disconragement is our inevitable-lot 1t is on
" History that teaches US to hope, No!Itee4
no disgust, nosdespair: my paramount feeling
is simply sense of personal fatigue. i a."
weary of the journey and heSstrife. Ego
Hannibal, peto pacens
Yet the statesman who spoke thus had wit.
messed strange catastrophes, had encountered
deeper dscomfitures, had steered through mi.
rier ways, had witnessed more cruelty, more
cowardice, more tergiversaton,more corruption,
had seen more splendid glory aarnshed,
more gorgeous hopes frustrated, more brilliant
promises belied, than any previous period Of
modern history could have displayed, but he
was profoundly acquainted with the past an
nails of other countries as well as of his own
and one OF the most UNREASONABLE and en-
couraging facts which these annals bring out
into day, is full of promise and Of consolation,
viz. the gradual Improvement in, the character
of public men.-thes higher standard of morali
ty theY set before themselves, ,--and the far
greater purity which the world exac.s from
Them now than formerly. This is seldom
perceiyable from year to year not alwsys even
from eeneration-not always and at oil times