Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-12-04
Criminal Communications.
For the Republican.
Ambition.

The mind of man seems to be so constituted
as to require some great end or aim, upon which
to be directed in, or TO become active and ener,
getic, and capable of those bold and brilliant
flights, those long ng-eontinued and almost super
human exertions, SO common to certain charac-
ters. Each mind being differently constituted
has, of course, different shades of desires and
these desires of different degrees of intensity;
still they all have the one common object in
view-happiness, temporal and spiritual-and
labor directly for its acquisition, however differ
emily they may direct their efforts.
That degree of ambition is necessary in order
TO render the mind capable of steady and con-
tinued effert; that the mind would drop and re-
pine under any great task, if it were not for
food received from ambition: that st is a noble
quality in man when directed to laudable ends,
no one will have the presumption to deny. But
en- the other hand, that it is often ruinous from
its absolute corruption; that it frequently usurps
the minae the possessor but to drag it to the
most inhuman means in order to pamper TO its
ignoble pUrposes.is not 20 be controverted Thus
in Tie ease of JOHN Howard, we find fit exam
pies OF noble and exalting ambition. Sacri-
tic;ng wealth and prelerment for his fellow
man, he devoted his Life and effects to relieving
the wants of his unfortunate brethren. In
HENRY MARTYR. the noble young missionary, in
WASHINGTON and many of his compatriots, who,
laboring for the common cause, the installation
of a new abode for liberty, neglected their own
personal affairs that their posteriiy might enjoy
boon that all could call blessing. And a
noble ambition must have ruled that Spartan
King, who, when told that the King of Asia
was greater than he, replied "that he could not
conceive in what respect, unless he was more
virtuous." But can we say so much of the am
bition of such characters as NAPOLEON. ALEX
ANDER or CESAR? men who could sacrifice the
lives of thousands of their fellow men, could
drench great battle-felds with human blood,
could place every principle of honor at the dis
posal Of their vaulting ambitions, that they
might gain the superiority coveted so much.
Was the ambition of ALc1BIADEs proper one,
who cuuld place the liberties and the glorious
institutions of such government as Athens in
jeopardy that he might have honor and power?
The heart, at least, is not right that will pamper
to such ambition
But is such ambition likely to yield true hap
piness? ALExNDER died victim of a beas.ly
outrage upon virtue, that the world might think
he was God; NAPOLEON ended his days mis-
cradle exile on lonely shore; CESAR was as
that he might not subvert the liber-
ties of his country; and ALcIBIADEs was banish-
from the land Of his birth, aud was only recalled
to witness the ruins of its former greatness
Such, no doubt, is the lot of such men, who !
trample upon the dearest rights of humanity in |
their headlong efforts. Diamonds may glitter |
on the vicious breast, but the souls calm sun |
shine and heartfelt joy is virtues prize
The characters cited are striking examples |
If the nature of ambition. II will lead one |
onward to the performance of great deeds, and |
# not misdirected is of sterling worth to every
Derson. In the young it excites noble EMU
ation, and its footprints may be traced in all
after life buoying the possessor on over every
obstacle and causing him TO smile at every Op-
position. On the other hand, a languid inac-
i've ambition. usually leaves the possessor 10
lrag out miserable existence some low and
position, and if honorable in
,oor and proftless manner.
Humanity has 4 claim upon the talents of ev-
Try one, and he is trampling upon such claims
hat yields to the impetuous plunges of cor
upt ambition. Had the genius of such men
s NAPOLEON and ALEXANDER been excrted in 4
iifferent channel, how vast might have been the
,eneft TO the human family. If the great
of talent now engaged in servile dema-
,oguery, was but exerted for real good. how
,reat would be the reformation, and how our
ountry might rejoice. XENOPHON.