The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-06-29
OuFlosltles - Democratic Lleernanr.
I'VE ARE ALL DEMOCRATSr

| from the National Union June Is.
SENATOR DousLAs-Pops said of Lord IA
son that DC was the "wisest and meauest Of
mankind. We are glad to say We know Of but
one modern character that approaches rsali
zation Of this celebrated paradox. He i .
pu'ssant and prominent politician, whose ac-
, kno~lsdged tact aud talent, though far too
limited 70 constitute him the /" wisest Of man.
khd are united to certain moral qualities
which have already achieved for him = dis,n.
Gaisned pre- emlnence as one of the meauest. .
WINE MS aolhties We are free to confess have
oesn some what over.rated by foolish followers.
We must insist ~ an impartial tribute to the
n.us'sous man, that his bitterest enemies have
n"nerto ia'ed TO do justice 10 his extraordina-
h'uensss OF spirit. The neglect with which
rms distinguishing trait in his character has
been treated seems to have seriously offended
MN, u we may judge from his recent strenuous
e"orts 20 bring that trait in all lis natural exu-
oerance prominently before the public. Great
men generally have great faults, often great
toioles, but seldom any low, petty or mean in
stncts. Such unique foils to brilliant talent
are reserved for the favored few. Our Senator
70 one OF these rare and refreshing phenomena,
PROUD OF being leader, he has not pride
| enough to be honest. Ambitious of being
President, he has not ambition enough to be
honorable. Arrogant As Pharisee, he will
stoop to the humiliation of an untruth. a..
tinguished Senator, he has not the dignity Of
an ordinary Alderman. Generous to promise
hrm never to perform he d mands more from
and does less Tor, his friends than any man
nving. With a will that knows no sincerity
the hypocrisy with which he will win man he
would use, is only equaled by the GOODNESS with
useful ee'
hls lust of power, his hunger and thirst after |
unrighieous preierment, his tyranny OF ambi- |
tion, unhailowed save by its own energies. dis |
close IN habitual acls of ngrati,ude, insinceritv.
iaisehoou, the moral meanness OF the man in |
meianchiy contrast with his intellectual calibre.
But the saddest and most repulsiye feature in
Judge Douglas character is his utter want az
truth. lie Will pledge his word of honor with
the iervor OF Roman patriot, and break il
win the camness OF a French philosopher
truth tor the good that is in itself a truth he
never knew. When truth will serve him bet
ter than lie, he will tell it, when it won't he
won't ~
dis bravery Of denial, his daring of assertion.
When knowing both are false, are admirable as
'pecimens OF mendt0 Gus courage, though mel
Ancholy as efforts of an American SENATOR
lie isaudacions arrogant, naughty and triumph.
mt IN MS manner of telling lies. He does it
WITH the air of monarch. He tells them as
hough he were counting over his royal prerog-
wifi stesd and his good sword lie copuuers I
y them. They are not silken, soft, fet.tooted /
les, insiruating and genteel They are solid. Z
,raye and formidable lies, full of all the strength
md iustness OF their sin-the sturdy truculent. {
'ouble listed yeomen of mendacity. a
Iacaulay says in his review of Bareer's Me n
noits; "A man who has never been within the !
ropics, does not know what thunder storm Il
means; man who has never looked on Niagara, a
las but liant idea OF cataract; and he who D
las not read Bareers Memoirs may be said rot 81
20 know what it is to lie" This, however. was
written before Judge Douglas acquired any
,rea. public prominence in this line of litera- G
ure. And We beg leave to refer to his late ii
peech upon Illinois politics as peculiarly cir II
umstantial AID peculiarly mpudent specimen a
the Mendaslum Barerianum. We think il b
ne OF the most superb publications of this ex. 2
tied class of fctious 81
At a late hour in the session, during the de- b
ate OF all important question of foreign policy. II
distinguished Senator rises in the Senate, and 81
ntertains that National Council with a petulant
niiipe upon an obscure Mail Agent and the ia
atire speech contained scarcely one word. ~
'atceiy one letter, of truth, from beginning to II
nd. This is genius. 1t shows not only great al
sperence and practice, but the real dRatus ca
ft'aas. An ordinary man with less discern al
eft anu originality in such matters, would in U
:verientiy have told at least one truth before
osing, but the honorable Senator, with marked sc
,ility, never once devates hairs breadth
ON the true inverted line of descending false. \
bod. With few elaborate lies from the pen
that poor scroiulous dyspeptic of the Times, pr
unk with bile and insane with indigestion he
I'd all the data his fertile Imagination required 10
the balance is of the pure original mendacum oe
onglasium. We have already in yesterdays VI
sue noticed few of the specific lies in the lie
asteFy effort, and have only now to call at "a
ntion to the exquisite harmony maintained OF
tween the style and the matter. Unencum- pa
red by any decency Of language-unham-
red 10y any dignity OF manner-unnured by
y Senatorial eourtesies-they stand forth in III
the primitive nudity Of original sin. The sta
rest and most fragrant flowers of Billings we we
tie, have been APPLY selected as the appropriate nv
rlands for these fish market SANDERS
Philosophers will do well to read this speech On
matter OF speculation. VI