Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-25
The Influence of our Great Men.

There is a fearful weight of responsibility
connected with any kind of eminence. To
be the observed of all observers, the exem-
plar by whom men shall shape their conduct,
and the pattern by which the yonng shall
mould themselves, isl position to be o%ccupi-
ed with fear and trembling. One who thus
stands aloft, should be very circumspect, lest
his tong lie should teach error, and his ex-
ample encourage vice. He should let it be
| clearly seen of all men that his influence
was in faver of the truth and right. Such -
great man would be a blessing to the com
munity and country in which he lived, and
would do more than a thousand sermons and
ten thousands homilies towards the moral
elevation of his race.
But alas we have few such. 1t is sad to
look over our country, and contemplate the
characters of our eminent men. So far are
many of them from a~ffording examples wor-
thy Of imitation, that we blush to own them
as eountrymen. What are our national leg
islatures but assemblages of rowdIes, who
meet and exchange billinsgate for a few hours
! each day, and drink and gamble all the rest
D Of their time What are our politicians but
p~rofessed DULLES, who go about calling eve
{ rybody liars, scoundrels and poltroons who
e differ With them in opinion, aud threatening
to shoot any one who resents these opprO-
brious epithets? Where are our Judges who
do not practice in the bar-loom the vices
lie which they punish on the bench Where
+, are our lawyers who will not defend scampS,
tie the most lawless and degraded, for the sake
It. Of a fee? Where are our ministers of the
en- Gospel, who never abuse each other in their
on pulpitS or in their denominational papers p
ely 1t is a melancholy truth, but none the less a
ng truth, because a sad and shameful one, that
the Influence of nearly all our great men is
m thrown aginst the cause of Sohriety, good
Our order, and sound morality.
'os- How can we expect a country to be quie
and its people happy, whenit is cursed with
au- such leaders? How can We expect the gov
eminent to be well administered when pub
pom lie men openly set the laws at defiance, an,
90 encourage others TO follow their example ?
oy Il has long been an acknowledged fact, tina
JUS the great dangers by which our country
olhe now threatened are, in a great measure, oN
MN ing to the selfish ambition Of the crowd {
MI ~demagogues to whom the direction of her a
sion fairs has been entrusted. We might, to-
veil. with equal justice, attribute much of I'll
ndo immortality that is SO wide spread throug
Inc all ranks Of our people. 10 the shameful il
re- regularities which mark the lives Of thet
lou. same leaders. In very truth, their light n
and become darkness. Better far could we
er We without their genius and eloquence, than
h the have these splendid ~endowlnents to gid a
Yough render attractive vices which would 9th
wise be hated as soon as SEEN. We NO
prefer men of moderate abilities, who
sincerely conscientious in their desire to
nifty right, to dissolute, drunken rowdies who
Con. their 6 unclouded' movements, possess
ms in eloquence of Pitt and the craftsmanship
TN Walpole. >