The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-12
Star Worship.


from the Times.
The business of the Legislature of a great
country ought not 10 be lightly suspended, and
should never be suspended Tor the mere purpose
of "honorinR" the servants of that Legislature,
no matter how inustrious or how deserving the
recipients of such "honors" may be. We have
quietly passed over a dozen or more of such ova-
tions, but the business is becoming bore-to
use local Vulgarism, il Is run into the
ground" We Americans hold in lofty contempt
the Difference to Office and rank which prevails
in most European Governments, and we crow
vociterously over the assumption that the ever
1sstIngly FREQ and glorious people of this repub.
]ic are, collectively and individually soveregns
OF the first water; that we have no Baal of Rank
and bow to no mortal idol; and yet we are often
the most abjeCt toadies on earth, as the record
of the present Congress has proved.
For what reason, good reader, is the business
of the United States Congress suspended when
Northumberland Grant happens to drop into
either House? Who made Mr. Grant lieutenant
general2 Why, Congress. Who keeps him in
place, and pays him his salary? The people,
Through their representatives in Congress. What
is The relative rank of General Grant and the
Speaker of the House? The first commands
(under the Presidentl the armies of the United
States; the latter presides over the great power
(the House, of the republic, and may at any
moment, under certain contingencies be Presi-
dent of the United States; the one Is the servant
the other is (or should be) relatively the mas
ter, as representing the only actual power-the
people.
We might have passed over the iattery of
General Grant and General Sherman, admitting
that their great services should plead IN extenua-
tion OF Congressional euogy; but when the
members OF the House come down from Com
manderin-Chief to second or thlrd-rate generals,
and the vitality important business of legislation
is suspended the moment an officer in army uni
form makes his appearance at the door, it is
time to protest Yesterday there were three in
1erruptons of this kind, on behalf of very good
men, no doubt; but the whole matter is most
absurd and childish From seat, second only
10 that of the President OF the Union, the
Speaker OF the House comes down to utter COM
monpace compliments and the gaping rulers
ot great nation bow IN abject Difference to The
beings OF their own creation.
Let us nave no more OF this. Excepting only
The President himself, there is 60 man-general
or partlcular-enttled to more than simple
courtesy IN Congress or anywhere else. If the
people choose to make fools of themselves by
running atter great men, indulging this un-
manly tendency to hero-worship, it is no reason
Tor similar exhibition on the part of their
representatives. We can readily appreciate the
enthusiasm that will spring up in the presence
of a truly great man; but we also APPRECIATE
how thoroughly ashamed we ought to be OF
such exhibitions as we are now alludinp TO-
Certainly it does not become the United States
Congress to lead the way in establishing "a
system of man worship, alike unnatural to our
theory Of government, and ridiculous to the
representatives and to the people.