The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-04-05
lsom the Springfield. tuass Republican
The Common Scolds.

have acquired such skill by practice that
they may be said to scold and lie with
equal facility. 1t affords one an opporta-
nifty to be very smart. to exhibit az unusual
degree of wisdom and ssgacity-.o have a
criticism for every act. suspicion for every
motive, and an offset Of censure for every
word Of extorted praise. 1t is very pretty
thing for some people to believe. or effect
to believe. that public virtue IS dead. that
selfishness is the rule of life IN every re-
sponsible station, that patriotism is scarcer
than diamonds. and that the country gener-
aly i, only fit to go to the devil and is well
advanced in the journey. This sort OF
thing gives The self appointed censor promi-
nence. as the office which he assumes TO fill
one that presupposes eminent purity. pa
trio,isrn. valor, prudence and all unsclfish
ness, and all excellence as its qualification
and credentials.
Since the commencement Of the present
war there have been men, nominally sup
porters Of the government and the Admin.
istratiop-nay, men who are the recipients
of the favors of the Administration-wh whose
words and whose influenc &c have not been
such as to strengthen either the hands oil
the Government or the hearts OF the people.
If men have gone to them for strength or
comfort, they have not found il. They
have. instead, received the impression that
the Government either does not know what
it is about, or is in the hands Of sharpers;
that military men care more for themselves,
thousand times, than they do for their
country; that the government has policy
and the army no plan. aud that the rebels
really monopolzs all the military genius Of
the country. The President. according to
al = , 4
is weak; every member of the Cabinet is
"well enough" but there is something radi-
cally wrong about him; ard military men
are "well enough" perhaps. but military
men are military men. and much in the way
OF public virtue is not to be expected of
them. Ii mistake is made it is always
''inexcusable." If any possible emergency
proves to be unprovided for, somebody's
neck should be stretched for it. Every
success is only a lucky chance. which in.
mon scolds even go SO far. not unfrequently,
as to say that the happening is contrary TO
The will Of the superiors in military com.
mand. and that all successful subordinates
would be punished if the operation were a
safe one.
IL was a remark Of Mr.. Beecher, we be- I
lieve. that the strongest encouragement he
over obtained to his Christian life was de-
rived from the weakness Of the apostles
II they, in intimate contact with the great
were so much like him. then there
was hope for him. We feel very much
like this on looking back to Revolutionary
times. Let a person take up and read
through Irvings Life of Washington, and
get his glimpses Of the Revolution through
that life. and it will certainly give him cour-
age and strength. He will find that no
man connected with the Government to day 1
is half SO much maligned and abused as
was by the men OF his time
hat rancor and hatred. such as were leveled
1t him. are to-day unknown out Of the
precincts of treason. He will find preva-
lent every where the same Impotence. the
same caviling spirit, the same cursing and
scoldiug. There were men then as now,
who could see nothing good in public men
and nothing laudsbe in public policy
There were men then, as now, who assumed
The censorship of all movements. and could
ind nothing good in any. Yet Washington
md his associates, stand to day the gIorified
objects Of our reverent love; and we have
no doubt that the men who are at the head
of affairs to-day are to take their place
among the canopized immortals. whom
grateful patriotism will never permit to die.
We say this none the less heartily because
the common scolds will turn up their noses
1t the bare suggestion. :
1t is easy to sit at home and scold. 1t is
,asy to do nothing while others are crushed
Town by cares of state, or are sacrificing
'ase and comfort in the camp, and perilling
life and limb in deadly conflict. We say
( is easy to sit at home-nay, it may be
,asier still to sit in the editors chair--and
cold; but il is meaner than any other thing
nentio nable. If there ever lived set of
men who deserved the sympathy and moral
support Of their fellow countrymen, then
hose who ar3 engaged in putting down this
great rebellion deserve them The largest
charity should be extended to them. and
he tirmest trust reposed in them. Our
nope under God must be in them; and even
{ they should rot all be what they ought TO
be, they are the best we have. aud it is i'm
possible 10 decide impartally upon their
i,ness for their posts to day. No man TO
Law is in possession of the facts that will
,nable him to decide fully as to the merits
If those who are a, the head Of the civil
md military affairs Of the country.
In view of the late advances and successes
{ our army. it would seem as if the com
non scolds would perceive that their voca-
ion is gone; but we presume they are all
n full blast yet. In their opinion, the
evacuation Of Columbus and Manassas is
lot attributable 10 any stra'egetic plan, de-
Used in Washington: but it happened so.
indeed. We presume it will be represented
10 have occurred ngains, the will of those
n power. and 10 have subjected sli vino
we're active in procuring it, TO degradation
al. Il 10
slapped across tbs mouth. and to receive an
emphatic injunction to "dry up" If man
snuot be sharp and witty and impressive.
It time like this. without sowing the
seeds of discon,en, and dissatisfaction, and
iistrust in every mind with which he comes
n contact. let us have his right hand in
swing \ "frieud of the Government" who ,
believes in the general rascaity of all who /
are in it. is nothing better than pimp OF
treason.