The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-22
rnK rnrE aTATRsMAN.

No title OF distinction is more frequently
misappIied BY our people than that Of states
man. The mere wire-working partisan, or
The successful aspirant for office, Is quite as
often alluded 10 as being what that term Ina
plies, As the man who really merits that ex-
alted station. The truth Is, we have had but
few genuine statesmen since the days Of tho
Revolution. The leaders in the movement
for national Independence proved their title
to be considered as such by the sagaclty with
which they encountered and provided for tho
exigencies Of war against a power over
whelmingly superior and the resources they ex-
hibited when It became necessary TO organize
q new Government for the land which had
achieved It's liberty. JOHN ADAMS was
statesman. He had the forecast to comprehend
the mission his country was destined to fulAl--
the legal lore TO vlndicate the principles Of the
Revolution against the ablest opponents OF tho
cause at home and abroad-the penetration re-
quired TO cope with the diplom Is Of Europe,
and the energy for an efficient execution Of
the laws. HAMILTON bad the genius to
originate schemes Of policy, and could organ
ize a department Of tho Government with
attention to the mlnutest details. He was a
Statesman In the fullest sense of the term.
JEFFERSON combined an enthusiastic deyo-
tion TO the Democratic lriuclple with the wis
dem TO shape the course of an administration
so as to make that principle permanent idea
in the popular mind. Even those who habit
ually detract from his merits, acknowledge
that he possessed many Of the qualities Of the
genuine statesman. WAsHINGToN, uniting
strong common sense with an Iron frmness,
conducted the nation through the eight years
Of Its infancy, and even In the time Of the
maddest excitement, when a French Minister,
partially sustained by powerful party, ven
tured to appeal from the President to the
people, he succeeded In determining our na-
tional policy in favor Of neutrality, and against
entangling alliances. There Is no question,
we suppose, about his craftsmanship.
Well, quitting that period-leaving behind
US WASHINGTON, ADAMS, HAMILTON, aud
JEFFERSON, who have appeared upon the
public stage since, 10 whom the term states
man can be justly applied2 We fancy that
many Of the popular idols, who have been
exalted to this estimation by those who have
followed at their heels for the sake of office,
must sink into nothingness If we attempt to
analyze their pecullaritles of character.
MADISON was reputed to be a statesman.
He was rather great Constitutional lawyer.
His want ofpower TO shape the policy Of the
nation was displayed In the measures l,adlng
10 the war with Great Britain. CLAY and
CALHOUN were at that time the master-splrirs
Of the Presidents party, and to them histo-
rlans generally attribute our entering upon
a second contest with the mother country.
MONROE was ono OF the most popular Of
Presidents, and an efficient leader Of party.
But his claims TO statesmanship will not bear
examination. JoHN QUINCY ADAMS had many
of the essentials OF true statesman, but he
lacked originality and the power to make a
permanent impression upon the policy OF the
country. HENRY CLAY comes nearest to the
old standard. He was not merely lawyer. a
politician, and an orator He possessed the
genius TO originate system of measures, the
faculty for administration, as exhibited while
he was Secretary Of State, the patriotism to
devote his entire energies to the welfare of
the Republic, and an ability TO leave an I'M
preston upon the politics of the country that
cannot soon be forgotten. CALHOUN had all
the qualifications for a stateman, and, as
long as he was o national man, he had
few equals and no superiors in the country.
But he gave up to a petty party In South
Carolina what was meant tor mankind" and
narrowed his genius so tar that he was worse
than useless to the Union. Webster has bseu
called great statesman; but he neither orl-
ginated any system Of measures or exercised
any decided influence upon the course pur-
sued by the Government. He was like MADI-
SON, profound Constitutional lawyor-con-
tent TO follow the lead of the daring aud bril-
liant CLAY. MARCY was more Of statesman
In the true sense of the word; and as far as
We know he has left no peer behind him at
Washington
The genuine statesman should be imbued
thoroughly with the spirit of his nation. He
should comprehend the peculiarites of Its
position and Its relations with foreign Govern
ments. He should possess the genius to de-
wise whatever measures may be required by
a national eSigency, and the ability 10 cope
with the representatives Of other Powers in
matters which involve the interests Of his
native land, and make the name of our repub-
lic felt in anI negotiations in which We may
engage. How many OF the men Of the present
day can answer 10 the measure Of this stand
ard, wa need not say.