Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-10
ID out and distinguished from the mas. Of


sublime attribute Of powerful will, Of o
fervid enthusiasm as the impersohation
of energy and power; as the genius Of
the practical and his character, other
wise severe and repelIant, was so(tened
and endeared 10 tho people by warm pas.
sions and affections, and genuine love
OF his race and his country.
The HEROIC ELEMENT impressed him
strongly upon the mind Of the nation.
1t is OF tbs nature Of man 10 side with
the strong. The influences which draw
men are not the genllcr or moro loving
qualities. Whoever has observed much
of the conduct Of tho masses, knows
that the hero Of the crowd is represen.
tative Of the sterner qualities, rather
than Of the softer and moro amiable.-
A daring robber on tho gibbet excitcs
more Of vulgar sympathy than a suffer.
ing martyr at the stake. The bully OF a
musterield always takes the shouts and
attracts the homage even Of those Of the
rabble, who are only spectators. from
the man whom hs has imposed upon or
insulled, without provocalion or mercy.
The crowd must look up to man before
they will applaud him, much more be.
fore they will be governed by him; and
they will look up only 10 those whom
they fear, or, at least, whose qualities
they fear. They only regard with rev.
erence men who possess those properties
which conquer or inspire men with awe.
Courage is one Of the most vul gar OF
virtues, vet the Romans priced it so high.
ly that they gave il the name Of Uirtue,
as if it comprehendel all virtue and
even now, in more cultivated times, and
in the prevalence Of gen,ler manners, il
is that quality which is most respected
among men. There is mesmerism ol
will which works more powerfully upon
men than virtue or intellect; a fascina'
} ton Of the eye which charms like the
serpent.
! Love wios. Power commands. But
love is inspired for the most part only by
personal relation. or in close proximity
. 10 the object Of it. The man Of ma
ton is but an Ideal /; and we do not love
the ideal. We can admire, we can rev
erence, we may have the image stamped
. upon our maginatons, and thus grow
familiar with it. 1t may thus excite ou
enthusiasm. We thus become acquaint
ed, SO to speak, with great men; an'
thus honor, support, uphold them. Blu
: the merely amiable and quiet virtue
: will not impress them upon US. The,
9 must be painted in some stronger hue
j, than wa,er.colors. The vermilion tint
g and the great lines Of the GsAND and tn
Heroic are necessary to imprint the i'm
; agination with their characters. Men
: to be popular, must be known; and
g character like Jackson's could not bu
s be known and felt.
y We doubt if Millions Satan woul
'l not be more popular man, if he too
IS the human form, than Fenelon and, {
'r least, in France, would not carry tn
e sufferages Of the masses in popult
e election.
i Take the case Of Napoleon Bonapar
t. He is the ideal Of energy-energy inca
: nate. Did any name ever so impress II
o' human imaginationa Was human syn
I. pathy ever SO drawn forth before as II
l. him, when in his lslanJ.prison Mo
OIL sympathy has been expended upon hi
IN than upon the whole martyroiogy. d
III any man ever leave so vivid sense
II, his being and personality upon the mir
ID of the world Why, his very name, IL
10 faintest shadow and momento OF hlmse
Or turned French politics inside out, al
established its representative as an ms
a. tuition Of France. Sultan's cimeter
&c the Eastern story, the shadow Of whlc
ss at twenty PAGES, cut off an enemy's hea
he was nothing 10 the shade oil the gre
ce Emperor, that, at a distance Of gem
alton, cut down q kingdom, Ii
ia of kings, and a republic, and blazed
the way to new empire and new
nasty.
a What hold the great Marlborou
Tic had upon the admiration Of the wo'
I'VE in his day is we'll known; and yet If
Use half Of what Thackeray says Of him
'u, true, Falstaf might have set 10 him
!, OF a model and prodigy, honor, and
ie' tue.
ing We believe General Jackson to hs
been much misunderstood. He was
e!' ,her god nor devil, He was wor
MS Reither of alteration nor detestation
hls Like every other man Of strong
nat marked character and Of positive fore
tn he had the centrifugal and the centri
es' tai tendencies in proportionate deg
,a'' He drew and he repelled according
no' the object was Of like or contrary ct
! is acter, or as he conciliated or oppo
MS the interests, purposes, or sentiment
I'M others. 1t is the law Of soul hig
{! charged with the electricity Of pass
ION and sensibility, to work in this mani
lere Combativeness exists combativenes
not others /; plide, pride ; as deep calls
ma to deep. No man had moro devt
lus' friends, and no man had more bitter
!he emies. He was good haIer.
ing Johnson could not have had q
ca more to his mind in this respect
ana he had rather conquer one enemy
lon' conciIiate two. He could forgive IN
,wl. emy, but the enemy must first surre'
d Of at discretion. Like Tecumseh, he
At q no quarter while the battle VAS rag
llres like Tecumseh, he never asked it !;
'sia' fortunately for his enemies. he never
l.