The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-05

THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF TnECouNmY

A distinguished gentleman of Mississippi, pro
foundly versed in the politics of the country,
remarked to us the other day that old political
lines were entirely obliterated, and that political
division of the United States would represent the
Wings, Americans and conversative Democrmt Is
on the one side, and radical Young America and
bogus black Democrats on the other. Such
seems to be the opinion entertained by calm.
considerate men throughout the nation
The above extract from thsMemphis Eagle and
Enquirer, of February 20th, clearly proves the
subterfuges the opposition are compelled to resort
to, to sustain a position which has, time and
again, received an emphatic condemnation at the
hands of the sudragans Of this country. Every
political scheme, the offspring of an idle hour is
gravely charged to the credit of some distin-
guished gentleman" profoundly vcrsed in the
politics of the country"
While we feel no disposition to question the
gentlemans claims to that Distinction which the
columns Of the Eagle and Enquirer have kindly
consigned him to, yet find it difficult to repress
an instructive inclination to inquire, what public
service the distinguished gentleman has rem
dered his country, to entite him to this dtstin-
Z
waited themselves by important services or great
talent or both, we are Wiling, at all times to-
extend that Difference to their opinions which
courtesy demands However, we are far from
attaching any particular Importance to the opin
ions of genius in masquerade
Every individual, now a days, whose frantic
struggles against oblivion have excited faint
smile of derision on the countenances of his
associates, sud, enly energies from obscurity by
giving expression to some random opinion, for
which he is kindly rewarded with the appeaton
of " distinguished gentleman" whose views
on grave political affairs, are by no means to be
disregarded. Surely, an epoch has arrived in our
country, when " great men in little things" are
unceremoniOusy held up to public derision as
"little men in great things" He who has lin
gered on the outer circle of the political world,
with an inordinate ambition to do something by
which he may momentariy attract the attention
Of his own immediate vicinity, at last, under the
impetus Of modern patriotism, finGs himself en-
joying the much coveted morsel of a " distn-
gushed gentleman" profoundly vcrscd in. the
politics Of the country
We recOlect when Mr. Clinton was playing his
role in the political campaign of 1861 as Prentiss
the Second he dated with self-consttuted i'm
portance, when he gravely detailed some private
or casual conversation he had with some distin-
Gushcd gentleman v bose fears oyerpowi red his
patriotism, and induced him to believe that the
overthrow Of the democracy was inevitable, and
that it WIS his private opinion that it would result
to the benefit of the country. Certainly the old
farce is not to be attempted second time, in al
political division Of the United States, to "Iepre-
sent Wings, Americans, and conservative Demo
Gratis" We sincerely believe that prudence will
spare the country an nfction of the second
attempt and not subject us to the humiliation of
seeing any more Prentss Second receiving 90 the
admiration of enraptured thousands =" Never
theless, it is not impossible, in this progressive
age, to victimize to the future of verdant middle.
aged men, with tire plausible theory, that the
Democracy from its own magnitude, will dismem-
Der itself, and that aspiring men of the amalgam
alton school will rise into conspicuous position on
some shattered fragment of its dismembered
proportions.
We fear the day has passed when til csc "distin-
gushed men" of speculative proclivities can
disturb the calm which preccdes the storm. The
credulity of the people in certain localities has
been sported with SO often, that distinguished
men" must not become dispirited il their predic
tons should be treated with Indifference Sub
stantial men have become surfeited with this
moekery of patriotism, and very properly regard
1t as reckless attempt to inaugurate an era of
Political harlequinade The success which has1
attended these attempts, and splendid failures
which necessarily followed, have, in great
measure precluded the possibility of any
political adventurer, hereafter to be greeted with
the presence of admiring thousands.
The political STATUE of g distinguished gentle
men, can easily be ascertained, if they could
be prevailed upon to pay some slight regard to
an adage which has descended to us radiant with
he wisdom Of the Roman Golden Age, "To prefer
ilent prudence to lcquacious folly"
HON A. IT, STEPHENS