The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-04-25
STATESMANSHIP.

The following suggestive article, from the
Augusta Chronicle and Seminal, merits an
attentive perush:
There is an impression in tho minds OF
many that the race of great statesmen, in this
and other countries, has become extinct, and
that one of the tendencies of the age is TO
bring the world TO dull level. Equality, it
is supposed, may be more fully secured by
this result The stump speech or the public
platform, has far mOre attraction than the
proceedings of Congress or Parliament. Al
the former, bold attacks are made on exist
ing Institutions; at the latter, we hear of little
but gross personal or party strife, and see
men recklessly casting aside all thought Of
the solemn trust confded to them, in order
to gain share of the spells of Office. In
stead of being the assembled wisdom Of
country, they appear to strive TO become the
representatives of all the most piiiiul lnhrmi.
ties of human nature. However careless
some may be about this matter, il behooves
us TO look to the dangers resulting from II,
and to give Il warning 10 those who tribe
with their dearest rights.
Anarchy, civil broil and dlsunion, nre pop
uar cries in different sections OF the land,
and their origin can be traced to the ill-ad-
vised acts Of men of party spirit, who only
ape statesmen. The mischief that has ac-
crued to the country from the present admin
isiration of dwnrfisl minds is almost incaIcu-
liable. To choose for the office OF first mag
istrate the most commonplace person in the
land, is folly that should never be repeated.
1t is not too much TO say that more sights
and indigniies have been offered to Amer
lea during the last three years, than in the
previous half century. Menaces have fallen
from the lips of LoUIs NAPOLEON and LORD
CLARENDON; the international laws have been
violated with impunily; the prosy dispatches
Of Mr.. MARCY have been cast aside by the
British Government MS though they were
waste paper; Spanish shps.of.war have fired
into our merchant ships, and our citizens
have been treated in Cuba and elsewhere,
with contunely and insult. All these indig-
mites have fallen upon us through the want
Of craftsmanship
The evil must be remcdied in the future
To arrive at n true conception of the great
want from which We suffer, we must rrcog-
nize the importance of craftsmanship. ii de-
nands the very highest order of intellect,
combined with the noblest patriotism. A
profound knowledge of the requirements of
the age; and resolution to develope the re-
sources of the country, must be added to a
sublime faith in the proud destinies Of our
race. No mean trucking TO the servile hour;
no miserable expectancy to hide coming
evil from the gaze; no bold dexterity in shift
ing with the daily tide would be witnessed if
craftsmanship prevailed. The honor of the
country would be in safe keeping, and wretch.
ed fanatics, place-mongers, and trlcksters,
would have to give their death-h0wl.
When we consider how dependent all ranks
and conditions of life are upon statesman.
ship, we should resolve to have none but
men of the purest heart and grandest intel
lect as our law makers. To them more than
to all others are confded our rights and lib
critics, the power to gain esteem from sur
rounding nations, and the perpetuity of our
glorious Union. 1t will not avail us in the
hour Of peril to fall back upon the memories
of the great men we have passed away; we
must have the living greatness always among
us or we are lost. AS laws react upon the
community, so is it true that to statesmen is
conlided the power to mould future circum-
stances into good or i'll. No untried man
should be drseyged from his native obscurty
again; no blusterous dwarf should harliqui-
made himself before the South to-day and
the North to morrow; and thus win our IA
vor; but sterling worth and patriotic services
should be rewarded.