Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-02-23
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINaToN. N. O., MONDAY, FEB. 10, 1855.

Hon. Kenneth Rayner, of this State, has been wri-
ting "repIy" to Mr.. Wises letter upon Know
Moth lgsm which said reply, if not destined to I'M
mortality, at least babe fair to be everlasting 1t
came out in numbers, like the "Newcomes," by
Thackarey, or one of Dickens serial Tales. 1t OBJ
scured the twinking of the Raleigh Star and kim
dred lumnaries, for some time pas: II not longer anu
occupied the columns OF several other publications OF
the same character. It has been quite literary curl
osity-evincng great adaptation, on the part Oh
Mr. Rayner, 10 polemical divinity. although we nave
not heard that that gentleman contempates 'ne as
sumption of any other vows than those "hlcn Olnu
him in the bonds of secret brotherhood with the eec
tors of Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, ana Inc
traitors who triumphantly returned Seward to the
limited States Senate, from New York. Mr Ray
ner's "reply,n and Abbots Napoleon" are both
said to be finished, though it was at one time doubt
full whether either of them ever would be- VERIFY
this is an age of words, small stock OF loeas'
and of great men manufactured on simmer louh-
daton than the issues of wildcat or reddog DanK'
Office, or even the hope Office must have charm De-
yond the comprehension of plain men. vi all the
mserable piliabIe end unfortunate persons IN the
round world we do sincerely believe that the seihsh
political schemer, eaten up by ambition, not to be
great at to seem So not to deserve high station but
to obtain ii by hook or by crook the most misera-
ble pitiable and unfortunate; and how much OF this
sort of thing do we see every day 1t may be that
we are more alive to this than most people The ma
ture Of our avocations, as political editors necessa
riIv leads US to observo things of this kind more
closely while it affords more extended facilities for
making such observations. Every day, and every
hour but adds TO respect for and appreciation OF
the public man whose bears the evidences OF
natrioc motive and coasisen: adherence TO PrDcpe;
and OF dstrust, if not absolute contempt, Tor the
mere trader in politics, ready TO identity himself
with every new ism, to every changing breath
which may ruf1e The surface, like shipwrecked mar.
ner careless of what land he makes so he gets wal
ted into some port of-ofice.
Oh, there is something inspiring in a noble ambl-
tion--it prompts men to do and to be-to think and
to act nobly for their country and for their fellow
men, and 10 deserve their esteem and merit their
rewards and these rewards glorious and honora-
Bile when so earned, not their own account but
from the consciousness of their having been honora
bly, earned and freely besowed-a public verdict, the
Justice Of which is confirmed by an inward con-
seriousness of duty faithfully discharged. But how
different is the ambition to obtain notOrety through
indirect means-to hunt for office for Office sake-to
smuggle into station through secret combinations-to
ride into power on hobbies or excitementS-to obtain
rewards unearned and unmerited To know every
thing or to know nothing-to league with every
temporary ism that the cold breath Of winter watts
from the SHOWS of Boston, or that loaded with
the moral pollution of New York politics. Men by
such means may become prominent-they may even
attain their temporary ends, but like pigmes set on
mountains, they will be but pigmies STILL There be
in this world twisting and wiring politicians of the
kind we speak of-there always have been, and the
present state of affairs opens for them Jublee-a
perfect squirting saturnalia with the prospect
dear to their SOULS wriggng into success, but
success cannot change their nature, obliterate
one fact nor add one cubt to their moral stature,
nor make them less wriggng and twisting dema-
gogues. For the open and manly opponent we have
all of US proper respect, and when we feel that he
acts upon fair and open grounds, our respect and
esteem is certainly the less on account OF such
opposition But for the tickle asprant true to no
principle but his aggrandisement now fighting
for one thing and then for another-whose course
leaves no ground for even charity to entertain a
lingering hope of his sincerity who can pretend to
any such emotion?
To Mr. Rayner and the sundry lesser darknesses
of secrecy and pillars of iSmsm ii would be indeed
difficult to accord the merit of sincerity in view o
their position and their antecedents. The people
whom they are seeking to draw with them viii
sooner or later know what other merits to accord t.
them. any their cabre is too small It
immortality even of Odium lasting
prominence in shame The world will be alltog ethe
too busy to recall to such minor affairs.
How men dread being caught in minority
that promises to them from such a terrible fate
How often, even in restricted sphere, has it bee
urged upon an nducement 10 change our cours
upon subjects upon which differences of opinion ma
Of party, that would find ourselves on the ur
popular side. We do sincerely believe that nine
tenths OF the boasngs of their strength made by tn
Know Nothngs is founded upon knowledge of th
characteristic of human nature and nine tenhs of III
persons who join the order roped in because the
want 10 be on the popular side.
Railroad Jubilee.
The people of our sister town of Newberne ar
of Craven county generally held an enthusiastic NEE
ing in the Court House of that ancient burg on tt
evening OF the 18th INST, receiving intelli gence
the passage through both Houses of the Legislator
of the {" Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad Bill
Judge Manly presided and wildly pictured the GLOW
ing anticipa;ons 10 which the building Cf the AHA