The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-07-25
Hours with the Newspapers,
Number "a.
by PlIlDELTA,

The reputation of not a few of our
public men is great deal better than
their character. The reason probably
is that they work harder at the reputa-
ton than at the character. They know
very well what they think of them
selves; they are most concerned about
the opinion of others-not that self
esteemis so very great or very small,
but the good opinion Of majorities is a
prize. The voice of the people is the
voice of their god-no matter what it
utters; it is penacea to conscience it
it only lines the purse or feeds ambition.
Ambition and ayarice are alike reckless.
Each makes a man hard worker
The ambitious and the avaricious can
agree in the race for office; and both
feel the want Of reputatiOn-not OF
ambition or avarice but of humility or
generosity. You see it will not do in
either case for the character and the
reputation to go together
If phrenology is true, you may be
sure no one is SO ready to call it a liar
as the dcmagogue who has, notwith-
standing, good reputation. lie
struggled hard for that reputation; he
rcsoutcly said to his evil propensitics.
abe still for policy" his forced genu-
fections and bows have made him al
most saint and gentleman by habit
he has made an impression on society,
and half of society think that that is his
only character. OF course many men
impress society with their real charac-
ters; there are some who cannot help
it whether the character be good or bad.
Whether we believe the "bumps" on
the Uranium to be true or not, good and
bad character existed before the boy
father of phrenology studied the heads
of his shool-mates. Besides, only one
in thousand sees the head of the dem
agogue; most people know him only
by reputation, and that may or may not
be what he is. Who knows? the phre-
nologist? ? he may not permit the phre-
nologist to feel his head. Perhaps it
would be as we'll to be guided by
"bumps" Except Morrissey) in filing
the offices, as to be guided solely by
reputation. There is this difficulty,
however, tie making of political repu-
tation in this country is an exact art,
while prhepology struggles to be num-
bered among the sciences.
1t would not be difficult to furnish a
recipe for cheap reputation suitable
for political purposes. The ingredients
are all ready in the breath Of popular
opinion. Your politician only desires
to know how the people breathe. How
adroitIy he balances difficulties! How
he feels the mighty thought "speech is
great, but silence (sometimes)i is great
err" How he watches the popular fer
mentationl How he calculates for diff
ference of latitude-the "sunny South"
and frozen Russia! A rotten character
is the base of many a profitable reputa-
ton. The character often has nothing
to do with the reputation. Many in
nocents suppose our great men must be
good, honest, sober-not thinking that
all the stuff in the reputation OF some OF
them would not make the smallest good
character they see every day at home.
All! that is it-many noble characters
have no reputation at all. Yet, thank
God, some of the noble struggle to
greatness that is seen, felt, heard; and
some glide noiselessly to greatness as If
theirs were special destinies. And our
land has more such than any other else
our national character would not be the
greatest and best. Away with your
prating politicians of rotten character,
boasting of our eagle as if theykept it on
the wing! There are Others born un-
der particular "stars" of ours and our
destiny is because of their birth and
life.
AS a proiessedly christian nation we
are remarkably easy with the private
character of our public servants. We
seldom trouble ourselves to inquire
about them. Campaign stories for the