Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-03-27
TILE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH q.
COMMUNICATED.
rHE. LITTLE GREAT MaN-By J. B. Johnson.

Little Great Man, we'll adapted to convey an
ample conception of the ridiculous and while
his oficiousness conspires to fret consistency,
propriety cannot always suppress the smile
which is elected by his ludicrous efforts to act
the Gensus. He tancies himself great, and
soon learns to feel mighty contempt ior those
who doubt his superiority. His coneelt rapid
lydeyelops mutation with It's manifold devices,
dignity. His principal adjunct is cunning ct
frOntery and if he we're no more than forward,
and enpendcred no more harm than to initiate
worth. he might be passed In silence but it
is otherwise. In consequence OF the absence OF
tnie merit, he is constrained to perform his
mart by means which the honorable despise
and rejecting the counsel Of the wise, takes
his mock excellence as bis guide, and endeav-
ors to stamp with his vanity, all that he can
influence.
Every community contains its implement OF
bis kind; and almost all the discord In rela-
ton to social and political questions, is kept
alive by him. Desiring to be conspicuous, he
takes up any subject which the popular mind
may be disposed to entertain, and wakes great
with the growing interest of the dispute. lie
strives to separate the parties to the discussion
by strict lines of opposition, and hopes to be
carried into petty place. by the torrent OF par
ty tervor Anxious to be foremost in every
thing significant or insignificant that engages
nubiic credulity, he generally arranges himself
on the side which is most likely to succeed,
and without regard to the truthtulness or un-
truthfulness OF his position, advocates 1t with
all the crudeness of rule or ruin spirit. He
cares but little for the solidity OF The preten-
tsions which he makes, and caters entirely to
the tase of the vulgar in order to derive his
authority from the passions and opinions Of
people of easy conscience Without adequate
tuition, he makes trade OF the science OF gov
eminent, and identifying himself with partizan
struggles, has opened 10 him rich field tor
the display of his knavery 1t is not long be-
fore he becomes proficient in the art OF arrang-
ing the machinery of party matters, and OF
evincing great shrewdness 10 writing political
resolutions He indies them with much pom
posity of language, and urges their passage
with vehemence that conveys the notion that
the welfare oil the commonwealth depends
upon their adoption He cajoles the pride of
the side which he espouses, and clamorously
declares that, unless certain tenets are OBJ
served, the party will lie defeated and the
country ruined His zeal entities him to the
notice of newspaper correspondent, and hay
Ing bis name associated with some august move
ment, enters Immediately rs t he verlahle lead
er Of his party. This success gives him conf
dence, and he is next. found h.Npe,Goiuttng as
the principal, and most pert parsonage cOnnec-
led with every public assembage within The
reach of the circle Of his locality. A little no
toriety has u very fascinating bearing upon
hun, and has the effect OF making him feel his
Importance as public man; and surrounding
himself with q clique Of gullble admirers, soon
begins to bid for the succession to places OF
honor and profit as a reward for the lllustnous
services which he gave the cause, and he self
:, ~ =, rbiab ba vi lla1 bic ,plo1n
time to the fnrherance of the interest Of his
Darty.
When placed in power, he goes arduously to
work in the business Of making himself fore
most in urging every variety OF reform for the
purpose of winning adulation He generally
apitaes those changes which touch the artificial
relations of his constituents, and not those that
have in view the improvement OF their moral
and natural wants. He caters 10 taste, and not
to nature, and rarely pauses TO ask: What will
be the prospective utility OF The measures which
he fathers? Success for the time is the height
OF his glory; and he cares not 10 know that
Temporary advantage iraudulently obtained,
ends bat in ultimate ruin and disn1ay tos the
uncouth culture Of his mind prevents him from
making nice distinctions. His .forteis the spe
ciality of the hour; and, by giving it prom
nence greater than any other question, succeeds
10 making some noise in his sphere, and by the
frivolous, is considered great; but he does not
even approximate greatness. A great man re-
poses in the consciousness Of his merit, and al
lows Offices Of public business to seek him; and
when made the exponent OF principle and the
executive OF laws, observes with fidelity prln-
ciple and makes the laws which were de-
vised for his guidance, the guage OF his pow
err; but the Little Great Man is ever seeking
Office, aud when successful, tries to force both
principle and law to bend to play the part OF
his shallow notions Of how affairs should be
governed in order to yield him the greatest Sc
curity and the most profit. The query with
him is not how to serve his fellow. beings by
teaching virtue and moderation, but how to
pander to the ungrateful passions 10 ensure 4
retention of his place? 1t is in this way that
the world is too much governed and when the
Little Great Man becomes legislator, his con-
duct is controlled not by representative COM
Inands, but by personal motives; and he gives
rise to great confusion by assuming to regulate
matters not of utility and worth, but Of preju-
JUDGE and taste.
OF all his attributes no one Of them is 50 in
tiicatiye of him as the high degree of fckleness
which he is ever found to possess and moth
ing is more characteristic of him than the ex-
treme facility with which he changes his SEN
timents for he quits one side as readily as he
takes an opposite position, and notWithstand
ing his sagacity proves over and over again
false, he coolly ignores his prophetic blunders,
and Of all others.is most willing to let by cones
be by cones He is ever solcious to have his
past forgotten, and essays to make the public
believe that his inconsistency is more than
orershadowed by the Jealous adhesion which
he is ever willing TO devote to the majority.
Any question is sure to meet his industry as
long as he can make capital Of it and he is
fha last tn 1OrSaka an aypeaianf whom tho hopa
of inducing his crowd to believe in it's feasibil-
ity is at all available; but when he cannot do
this, he shrewdIy watches the swell of the re- |
spec.ive parties, and with specious excuses
and loud protestations of sincerity, places him
self on the side which promises to have the
larger number Of members. He usually tells
the dominant spirit that its wishes are well I'M