The Placer herald., 1856-07-26
Tcy- The pen is said to be mghtier than

Iy- The pen is said to be mightier than
the sword, and if we admit the saying as
true in the main, the quill welded by Cax-
ton has the additional quality of being sharp
er than two edged sword. His cuts and
thrusts always seek the vitals; and generally
when his scimitar flashes it not only dazzes
to blindness of his faults, but cuts to the
bone of his adversary, and from each cash
streams of life blood
In illustration of these comments we quote
from the "True Californian" of the 18th inst.
presenting pitable picture of our Governor,
as he now stands before the world at large:
Governor Johnson.
Our governor seems to be born to misfortune,
as the sparks to fly upwards He never
touches any thing that does not sting him.
The world and its concerns are one mighty
nettle, and he never attempts to play with it
that it does nor prick his fingers. He is sous
ed head and ears in trouble. He seems to be
haunted by the Vigilance Committee like the
hypochondriac was in fable, by the figure
of coffin; wherever he turns his eyes, it is
sure to rise up, gloomy and threatning right
before him.
1t mixes itself up with all his duties, en-
ters into his political relations, and forces
itself into a corner of his fireside. He can
90 nowhere that it does not follow him; he
can listen to no conversation that he does not
hear it mentioned; he can read no newspaper
that does not stare him most terrifcally in the
face If he looks into the Bulletin, the Alta
or True Californian. or the American, or the
Marysville Herald it is sure to catch his eye
before the list of births, marriages and deaths;
or if disgusted with the California Press he
ventures to open the New York Herald, or
Courier and Enquirer, or Tribune, or the
Washington City STAR or the New Orleans
Delta, with hope to escape the annoyance, the
same awful hieroglyphics stare him in the
face and assure him that no spot under Heav-
en- is free from invasion. 1t sits by him at the
dinner table, proceeds him to church on the
Sabbath, and haunts his midnight dreams.
1t has corrupted his political adherents, meta
morphised open eneroies, that snickiring
spies and tawning flatterers, fallen like black
cloud over his aspirations after fame, blasted
all the reputation he ever acquired, destroyed
his future usefulness, and nailed down the lid
of his political coffin. 1t has been peg in
his shoe, a sand grain in his eye, corn on
his toe, a tetter in his head. In short it has
undermined his power as a Governor, and
covered him with ridicule as a man.
Finally, as if to crown all his misfortunes
with perfect climax Of i'll, his own father-in-
law showers upon him flood of bitter invec-
tive and sternly reads him a lecture Of We
racity.
Such are some of the evils that result from
hosting very small men into very high places,
and attempting to manufacture live lion out
of petrifed mummy Such is the lesson
taught to the ambitious, who would aspire to
SUBMITS that make them dizzy when they
reach them, and at the same time demonstrate
their pigmy size to those who gaze upward
from beneath.
Such is the fate of the mere politician whose
vanity hatters him into the belief that he is a
statesman, capable Of graphing with great
question. and controlling popular masses in
commotion.
Such is the figure at present cut by Mr..
John n. Johnson-Gcvernor Of the State, by
virtue Of an accidental nomination at an ac
cidental election.
Let no man in future aspire to be great,
whose shallow brain tried by the actualities
Of life subjects him to pity, and whose falter-
ing soul shrinks responsibilities that it ought
to assume or vanquish. Let such 60 back
into the oblivion in which nature intended
they should mouder and learn to be modest,
after having failed to be wise.