The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-07-21


J forth historians, unless they are fools, must
write not to Bourbon dynasties, and Tudon,
J and Harpsburghs; but of broad-lettered,
according as this or that editor gains the
worlds ear. There have been many ways
used in different periods of the worlds histo.
ry for influencing public opinion and giving
direction to public affairs. But never has
there been any equal to printing-the great
preserving art Of arts. 1t fully realizes the
boast of Archimedes that give him a pivot
for his lever, and he would turn the world
Surely the press is that great lever. 1t is
impossible to form true estimate Of the val
ue, efficiency and influence il possessed. The
celebrated Lord Somers said he knew of no
law proposed and passed in his time, to which
the public papers had not first directed bis
attention. 81 would sather,' said Jefferson,
'havc newspapers without government, than
government without newspapers"
Horace Greeley as editor of the New York
2Ts6aoe stands at the head Of his profession
in this country. There are Others who in any
ono department will be found superior to him;
there are Others who are better suited to in.
dividual taste: but there is no other man
who has the happy faculty of making pa
Ter interesting 10 both friend and foes. The
most successful editor is he who tells the pub
lie all it wants to know; and whose com
ments on passing events best express the feel.
ings Of the country with regard to them
Now ernpose it ia a fact that not one half
the readers Of tho Tribune agree with the
opinions it expresses; and it is admitted a
very large portion Of its subscribers are of po.
litcal parties opposed to tho views it advo-
Gates. This is owing wholly TO the perfect
independence with which its opinions are ex-
pressed 1t makes no half way work Of the
matter; when it praises ts terms are of the
highest laudation, and when it condemns il
is with cutting yituperation that scathes and
burns while it cuts. Next to being we'll fiat.
tored men glory in being we'll abused, for in
euch cases, believing their opinions to be
right, they look upon themselves as martyrs
in the cause.
Somebody has said that in modern times
the difference between distinguished aud
common man lies in this, that the name Of
distinguished man is often printed in the
newspapers while the namo of a common
man never or seldom. IF this be true Hor
ace Greeley is the most distinguished man in
the country, somo few politicians excepted
The English have saying that no public
man succeeds until he has been caricatured.
IF so then what successful is Greeley. Tho
great white-coated, frizzle-headed, sandy
whiskered, dirty-faced philosopher has been
faithfully paraded before the country for the
last ten years. That white coat has grown
into history MS much ms the armor of Achil.
les or the shirt of Ncssus. All men who ar
rive at cminence arc exposed to fattery on
y ed sses ana #bch Hey do To- not de-
seiTe. and reproaches which are not due
Aswe derive most of our conservatism from |
the English, 60 do we obtain most of our rad
icalism from the Scotch. irish. The one is
the Saxon part Of our nature; the other, the
Celtic From tho Irish we get vivacity, |
generosity and daring; from the Scotch, fru-
gality, industry and resolution; compost
tion that gives us that resolute perseverance,
indornitable energy, and driving goaheada-
tivencss VIC SO bountifuly possess and rs every
one who has got in our way for the last half /
century has found out to their sorrow. Take
the Scotch or tho Irish alone and they pre-
sent very different characteristics from what
they do when blended together. They are
athletic, active, indomtablc, wide-awake, and
long-livcd unless killed Off in some Of their
hocus. pocus operations. With this energy of
character they have readiness of speech fit-
ted for any occasion. They are decided men
Of parts, quick and ready. A love Of fun,
certain grotcsque humor, quickness at re-
partce distinguished them from all others
1t was Pat. O'Fiinnigan, Il regular Scotch
Irishman, who when accused Of being
Catholic because his parents were Catholic,
replied, ali man happens to be born in q
stable does that make him n horsep But
this mother wit which belongs especially to
the Irish character is in great measure lost
in the American.
Mr. Greeley, who is himself descendant
of the Scotch-Irish who came over from the
northern part of Ireland is ono Of the very
best representatives We have of this class
lie is active, indomitable, energetic, wide-a-
wake, and drive ahead. He pushes on with
vigor and instead Of waiting for circumstan-
ces he makes them. In this respect be Is
unlike the uxorious and polite Mr. Micawber
we read of in David Copperfeld who waited
all his life for something to "turn up" He
takes time by the foretop and has finish
ed acting while Others are yet thinking what
it. is best to do. He forms his opinion in a
hurry and then drives on to its attainment,
irrespective of the fears OF friends or fsowns
of foes. His opinions are sometimes right,
sometimes wrong, but whatever they may
be no one can charge him with dishonesty in
them. He firmly believes what he says
His honesty is one of the most prominent
features of the man. In whatever he is
wrong the error always proceeds from the
head and not from the heart. He most earn
estly desires and works to better the condi-
ton Of his country, but he adopts certainly
some very queer means for the attainment Of
his object. The purposes which he has in
view, visionary and impracticable as many Of
them are, he best expresses in a line or two
which is quoted for motto to one Of bis
books;
"Hssten the day Just Heaven
Accomplish thy design,
And lot the blessings thou has freely siven,
Freely on all mon shine;