Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-21
NATURAL LEADERSHIP.

! NATURAL LEADERSHIP.
Under this head the New York Commercial Ad-
vertiser expresses the opinion that in conducting
the present war there has been one lack which is
generally recognised" that of competent leaders,
possessing the confidence of the community, and
able to WELD its entire strength in such manner
as to keep in unison and deal the heaviest blows
upon the common enemy"
In 50 speaking our contemporary does not have
exclusive reference to want of Generals possess
ing commanding and universally conceded talents
The trouble which it sgnalizes goes back of shout
derstraps and trappings. 1t is found to prevail
even more in civil than in military affairs, for if
our armies have not always been conducted with
skill it is equally true, in the opinion of our con-
temporary, that as rule the men whose minds are
the strongest, whose culture is the most thorough
whose material interests in the common veal are
the greatest, seldom form the largest part Of our
Legislatures, either State or National In word
civilians to whom leadership is entrusted by the
multitude are not natural leaders, who vindicate
sher claim by other titles than that of majority
obtained under universal suffrage. Reasoning on
this text, the Advertiser proceeds as follows:
The evil is not of yesterday it has existed aud has
been growing since the establishment Of Govern
nent At that time great emergency called out the class
of men to whom Leadership by true divine right belonged
the Of genius OF culture of heightened principle of
property Perhaps it has been that in the lack Of some
great emergency such then existed the citizens
content put up with second ard third rates. until native
Ia felt ashamed and disguised being placed among
the horde Of baser fellows who had been eles ated To
Office By intrigue and audacty If So that cause can no
Aaa f.aN IF .lank -;
tude upon and if there time when every
good citizen h2ud cast his eyes in every direction to get
the best public servants, that time is to-day.
The social condition of The South has given the slave.
hold ng interest decided advantage in this respect over
any class interest existing at the North From infancy
slayeh holders trained to rule Que element Of the
% pnaion hss been kept in the most complete subj
ade the hewers Of wood and drawers OF water
to a Superior race who held the rens Of Government
firmly. muca from a love Of ruling the exemption
from drudgery which the system afforded This rot
all Above that class Of helots existed second Of IN
cultured whites possessed Of little property of rowing
habits, but devouty following the leadership of their
richer and more intelligent neghbors. Individually the
ciphers, they yet became formidable placed
behind the planters, who constituted the nine dieits
and profess TO think for himself, it is almost impossible
10 form conception OF The utter passvity of the poor
| " hitss oil the worn out plantations.
1.-The whole framework Of Southern society has, there
fore tended render interest absolute master Of the
situation. he moment it moved all others had to move
also hey were ut the most primary secondary ps-
cts which must follow the path OF the central luminaTy
Aud painful experience has shown that all expectations
to the contrary have been doomed TO disappointment
| AT the North had nothing Of this There Is not
interest here but Is entirely suborduaed to al the
Others One gam undue advantage this ear but
it s.s 1t the is very trueand IN this sign we
.ta finally pre7sthat tie Of Nortte rn citizens
are much intelligent laborous, patent ard prrse.
verb than those of The Rebel States But the.e very
qualities render them for time impatient Of CONTROL un
Wiling the parts Of machine whore move
they DO not clearly compre bend We submit cheer
fully to President Governors and other officials to the ex
in ordinary hmes but the instant it becomes
necessary tghtsn the meshes to at them for spe-
cis emergency half the ournas and orators 10 this coun.
try bm over with gnaiion. At the South papers con-
tain Journals here would have been snued out at the be.
ginning Of The with very little ceremony The Con.
federates submit TO such Dictatorship but DE-.
] light in seeing IL exercised.
What We need is leadership that shall possess eui.
nj nj bity and worth, without depressing whole classes
of the population We require body Of men In civil
in military affairs who have the SKILL the daring the gene
rsl capacity shown BY Southern leaders without syst N
o slavery and reign Of ignorance and terror in which TO
develop them Strength that be readily welded for
the UNFOLDING Of nationality must be combined with
the create individual freedom that consistent with pre-.
paraons against enemy whether internal or external
The happy unison is largely wanting We have body of
cti1.ns such has had It's parallels but those who
are recognised maste sprs too often follow every
suit excerpt that to which they justly entitled They
are fund at he detk in The activities Of commerce and
mn puiariures in Libraries, exploring the treasure of
ence The events Of the past conducting agtcu tural
experiments invenlog machines experimenting public
poks Tlnf Intelligence, and wealth are not at III. r
proper posts duty They toll and spin and complain
butsave the management Of public affairs to inc m
petent to direct them"