Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-03-04
"Ingratitudc--The Blac kest
Crime.',


deprecate, it is selfish, unscrupulous de-
f,mation Of those who are the benefactors
of their country and people; and yet, at
this day, there is nothing more common;
indeed. this saying has originated, THAT
he, who does the world the most good,
generally receives the least pay"
The influence of such an unworthy spir-
it debases every nobler impulse OF tie soul,
and ills society with = class Of narrow
sighted, selfish creatures, who stand in the
way of their own advancement. and the
public prosperity.
Its time people would begin to learn
that there are others who serve their coun-
try-and should ws not say their God--bc-
sides thos, who face death on The battle
field, or make the civic hall resound with
the thunders OF their elequence: and, yet,
OF these the world IS all unmindful, unless
i. be 10 defams their characters with unjust
reproach We mean that class of m sn who
give their enterprise. energy, aud wealth,
even. to develop the resources of our coun'
try. and enrich her products. They fill
the third epoch in the order Of our public
benefactors It was the business of the
first to give birth to. and set the seal OF
perpetuity on those principles. which I'M
derlie our government; the seconl WAS 20
make our nation free, AMI the third is to
develop her boundless resources. These
epochs may he otherwis. designated as the
civic. the warlike. and the commercial.
We are now enjoying the benefit of this
latter class of public benefactors. and shall
we fail to accord to them the need o
praise due their works? or shall we. rs i:
most common. dsnounce them rs specula
tors. schemers, oppressors of the poor, anC
robbers Of the public; and if, in their 81
gantic enterprises. they become embarass
ed, and sacrifice their all, and we perchanct
lose shilling or dollar thereby. shall
we add to their overthrow, and bitterness
of feeling, by henping opprobrium and re
proach upon them? And yet, this is wha
is done every day. and that. too. in on
own county, and among our own citizens
We have an instance ir mind. just now, o
one, who has given his wealth, energy. ant
superior business talent to the accomplish
ment Of an enterprise, in which the citizens
of Marshall county have a special inter
est, which has largely increased the wealth
of their county, and enhanced their person
al and pecuniary interest in thousan,
ways; and. yet, what is the state of feelin
among certain class towards that man
Is il that Of gratitude aad respect, whic
he 50 Justly merits. or is it not rather tia
Of censure, and reproach, that he has nc
done more? 1t would be a remarkable in
stance Of perverss understanding. If me
ment's reflection would not repel at ono
such unworthy feelings. and inculcate thos
rather OF honor and esteem.
VIVA. would our country now have beer
were it not for these enterprising spirits
What respect and character would 81
have had among the countries of Il
Old World? where would have been HI
commerce to whiten every sea on the globe
who would have carried westward the est,
of empire" These are the men, if an,
whom the people ought to delightto homo
they have broken down the bands of O
things. and opened to US. as it were. a ne
existence; they have subdued our forest
built our cities. and tied them together wi
the iron railway; they have cultivated o.
prairies, and covered our lakes and rive
with floating palaces; they have penetrate
the arcana of old earth herself, and to-
from her bosom her hidden treasures
There is nothing too difficult. nothing Il
stupendcus, nothing too vast, that thu
will not undertake and achieve.
In another sense, still, are they wortl
of homo: among men: not only do tn
make the country, in measure. but tn
impress upon it their own spirit and chs
acssr They are. to a great extent. the
ucators Of the people. Men Of ss~o
minds, and great force of character. a
for the most part of marked Intelligent
they are well fitted to be the leaders