The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-09
Word orCantinn.


Success is often more disastrous, both to
individuals and organizations, than defeat
Especially does this hold good if success
has, in a measure, been premature. 1t not
infrequently happens that the man who has
long been struggling to attain a particular
object who has laid his plans with the
shrewdest foresight and executed them
with the most untiring diligence and dis
cretion when he suddenly arrives at the
goal of his ambition, and grasps the object
of his tolls and anxieties, he becomes blinded
by the God Of Success, and falls a victim
where he expected to be recognized only as
q conqueror. The shrewdness that charac-
terized his early efforts gives place to dull
ness of comprehension incomprehensible
the courage and faith with which he strug-
gled gives way to a timidity and hesitancy
that seals his ruin. The correctness of the
maxim that some men cannot bear success
is exemplifed every day, as it were, under
our noses.
This roposition-seemingly paradox
calls as applicable to associations, politi-
cal organizations, and even churches, as to
individuals. With what interest have we
traced the history of various organizations
How absorbed have we been in the plans OF
the leaders; how has our admiration been
excited at the faithfulness of the subordin-
atesl Step by step do we follow them I'M
til at last the principle contended for is al
most within their grasp; the idea for which
they battled is on the point of being recog-
nized as triumphant But, the leaders hest
tate and disagree, the rank and file becomes
disorganized and demoralized-the prize is
lost, and the entire ground must be gone
over again.
1t were well for the Republican leaders to
scan their every move in the light of this
truth. A blunder may defeat their party
and sweep them from their position it may
delay, but it cannot prevent the ultimate tri-
umph OF its principles. The contest of
1860 was fought by the great masses Of the
organization on a distinct, openly-avowed
principle The events of the past few
months have not in the least changed their
convictions. On the contrary, they have
demonstrated the necessity of a firm bear
ing and 4 close adherance to past profess
sions
It was the misfortune of the old Wing
party-and the boast of their opponents
that they could not stand success. The De-
mocracy nave shed many tears over its de-
mise, because, they svowcd, it was an ex-
ceIent party to defeat If by chance, it ever
attained power, its leaders lost their self-pos-
session, hob nobbed and compromised with
their opponents outraged their constituents,
disappeared from the surface, and brought
mp at last III the Democratic ranks. Such
in short is the history of that old party, an
organization that we loved in our boyhood
and will never forget in our maturer years.
It's anuihilation affords many lessons that
Republican leaders may study with profit.
The great bIunder of party leaders is,
that they do not look beneath the surface.
They mistake the movements of skirmishers
and picket guards for the action of the
main army. They judge of the opinions of
the great agricultural mind-in which Re-
publicanism is eRtrenched-by the hastily
formed and shifting ideas of the floating
population of the large cities.
They forget that fear is the worst of all
councillors, and that the sober second
thought, should be looked to as the only
correct exponent OF party action. 81 did
disobey your Instructions, said the great
Burke, in substance, when called to an ac
account by the electors of Bristol-:eI did
so, because I regarded not hat Your opin-
ions are now but that they would be hun
dred years hence" The Republican lead