Litchfield enquirer., 1868-12-03
GEO. A. HICKOX, EDITOR.
Unsuccess.


 Moses most, was tho propensity to fal down and worship stocks and stones Hu man nature has improved much since, but neither free institutions, civilization, no, Christianity. have yet taught us the full meanness and wickedness of worshippine our fellow man. We Americans do not fall down before mere wealth, birth or off, cial station as do our weaker European brethren; but we do idolize Success. The minister with large salary, the lawyer with large income. the politician in an impor- tant office, arc reverenced greatly above their deserts. They have strong points, doubtless, but often average.lower in ability, oftener yet, in honesty and general worth, than those who barely achieve mainten- ance and never attain distinction.
 The latest, the most unwilling and one of the worthiest subjects of American idol atry, is Gen. Ulysses Grant Ever since the war, people have been prying into his history, public and private. to find the super human element they think must be in him somewhere. They have searched in vain. Of this Gen. Grant, himself, gave them fair warning. Reticent as he is, he makes no riddle of himself, but says he is merely plain man who has done his plain duty m a very high position; that he has achiev- ed magnificent success chiefly through the magnificent energy of the people and the genius of the officers it has been his great fortune to command
 To the true -worshipper, General Grant is a continuing source of surprise and annoyance. The campaign biographer and the professional eulogist have labored at his story, but they have labored in vain. There is nothing melo-dramatic or sensational in it. He is no human steam engine like Sherman. nora brilliant military genius like Sheridan, nor great statesman like Jefferson. At the commencement of the war, he was as near complete failure as an honest, sensible man could be. Ev- cry one of his great successes took the pub- lie by surprise. Even in the presidential campaign, his opponents could not believe in his personal popularity till the votes were actually counted. What is common ly reckoned as genius, manifest superior ity over all other men placed in like condi- tons. he shows in one way only-in that the intoxication of repeated and unparal- lelled victories, and the fiattering acclama- tons of his countrymen have never made him believe that he is genius. If he un- derrates any man, tis himself. He seems just as difiident of his own powers to-day, as when, in 1861, he took command of regiment of volunteers. X President, he promises scarcely anything. He does not seem to think he can help Congress much in the making of laws, but will try to exc cute those that are made. He proposes an honest, efficient administration, not ga miracle of statesmanship."
 In all this we find something unusual, something which is really greater than the common type of greatness. It indicates that, better than any one else, Gen. Grant thoroughly understands the lesson of his own life. It is this: that distinguished success is ofhener the creature of circum. stance than Americans are usually willing to admit. Energy, perseverance, and good sense are necessary to it, but they do not always win it. They oftener fail than sue ceed. It is the self-asserting, selfmadt man that gives tone to American society and he is atrociously uncharitable towards the man who has tried to make himself and failed. The tyranny of Success over Un- success is about the commonest form oi oppression, among us, and all the more gal ling because it is thoroughly supported by popular opinion. We believe it is just as unchristian, just us unreasonable, and jus as undemocratic as tho tyranny of race over race, of caste over caste. In Gen Grant we are glad to recognize the self made man who is entirely above the egot ism, selfshness and harshness of his class who has never forgotten what wonderful concurrence of circumstances has, within
 few years, converted him from the mos unsuccessful into the most successful 0 Americans.