San Andreas independent., 1858-09-11
The Fate of Notable Politicians.

ioii'iCS Is d game OF cnance In which great
men are the chief players, but fools and rogues
often win the stakes. Let us begin with De-
mosthenes, who, after all, was the most elo-
quent and active Of them all. For years he
stood alone, combating the immense power
OF Phillip of Macedon, abroad and the insidi-
Gus wlles of countless demagogues at home.
lie batted for the right, and with resistless
eloquence convinced the Athenians of the
tyranny that the King of Macedon medtated
against them. He was perfect master of all
the knowledge which statesman should pos
sess, and in a single hour could impart more
public practical information than all his COM
petitors could'in whole day. His life was
constant storm of fierce and terrible passions:
and at last, when Alexander succeeded to the
throne and overwhelmed all Greece, he sunk
into insignifcance and neglect-leavinp only
name-a name SO illustrious, however, that
it claims immortality.
Cicero was of the same stamp of mind, mod
lied only by the difference of his nationality,
and his fate was the same.
Bellsarius, for years the leading star in the
Imperial court of Justinian, and the conoueror
OF Africa, after being displaced in the army by
the Eunuch Marcos, and disgraced at Court
dishonored in his wife, and finally, having his
eyes put out at the instance of the infamous
Theodocia, ended his career as street beg
gar. "a penny for poor old Belisarius," has
passed into proverb.
Colbert the indefatigable servant of Louis
XIV, conceives and executes the most magnifi-
cent projects for the restoration of order and
credit in France, and lays the groundwork
for National glory which was soon to become
sublime he is disgraced by his master whom
he saved and dies in obscurity
Mirabeau, gifted with courage and eloouence
of the highest order, sets the springs of the
Revolution of 1898 at work; overawes the
naughty aristocracy, frightens the King out of
his wits, infuses confidence and hope into the
breasts OF the people-stand sready to mediate
between the two colossal powers he has con-
jured into hostility, and receive any award
he may be pleased to demand for his services :;
but dies ere he could raise the tempting
draught to his lips. Lafayette, the patriot,
the moderate, the friend of order and the
friend of the people, is driven into banishment
by one party and is thrown into a dungeon by
order of the other. Danton the chief of DEM
ocrats is guillotined by Democracy Robes
pierre and st. Just, who slew the nobility to
please the rabble, are in turn, slain by the
rabble to satisfy revenge. Napoleon lifts Tall
leyrand from the ashes of his misfortune and
through the aid of his diplomacy dictates the
policy of Europe. The Emperor falls from the
pride of dominion, and is humbled in his fall
through the agency of the protege.
Pitt (the youngerD the most comprehensive
genius of modern times, unless we except his
arch-cnemy, Napoleon, conceives the sublime
project of setting up the Treasury of England
as barrier against the strides of Bonaparte
towards universal dominion-e490. 900, 900 is
added to the debt of England. He dies before
the realization of his plans; but they are real
lied at Waterloo-and forty years later the
"Nephew of my Uncle" is recognized at the
Court OF st. James as the legitimate sovereign
of France. Sheridan's fame rests chiefly on
his Parliamentary efforts, (though his literary
attalnments were not stupid.) Behold him
electrifying the highest court known to Eng
lish jurisprudence, in the great political cru
SADIE against Warren Hastings, startling min
listers by his eloquence, convulsing the House
of Commons with his wit, and attracting the
admiration of his countrymen of all parties by
the universally of his accomplishments s.
through life down to the period of decrepitude
and the decay of his faculties, the " admired of
all admirers"-see him, at last on his death
bed-the sheriff ruthlessly tearing away the
very couch upon which he was expiring, and
not one friend to come to his relief. After
death had kindly closed the disgusting scene,
came the great pageant of his lordly funeral
This was his reward.
Hamilton astonished the people of the Uni
ted States by his extraordinary administrative
powers before he was thirty-fve years of age,
and perished in duel before he was forty
five. Burr won his way, by talent, intrigue
and an indomitable WILL to the Vice Presiden-
cy before ordinary men think of becoming
State Senators, and finished his political ex-
istence in utter disgrace before the period of
mans maturity. Clay, Webster, Calhoun,
Benton-all men of the most towering intel
lects, and for years party leaders, aspired to a
point they never could reach, and died with
the debt of their country unpaid. The prize
was always passed into weaker hands.
Yet it must in justice be said that these
men have, for the most part, left behind them
names resplendent as that halo which fingers
behind a mountain sunset. Their memories
yet stir our souls and will inspire our children
and our children's children to great and hon.
orable deeds. Their very dust is sublime.
But of the thousands that are at this mo-
ment cherishing the sacred but destroying fire
of political ambition, how few will ever reach
their goal? Alas their chances are scarcely
equal to his who stakes his fortunes on the
Eagle bird,' with the game stocked against
him. After all, happiest is he whose ambition
hath never led him " out of sight of the smoke
which curls from the chimney of the cot in
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