Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-02-21
Literary Statesmen.

| AAtSI al GG0tSS AAOA
In. flle fierce. onslaught made upon the
personal character of General Grant by :
morning paper the other day, one of the
many charges against him was that ''ht
has no capacity to enjoy works Of genius.
by which was meant that lie was not +;
man of literary culture.
1t is to be regretted, we think, that any
body should be by circumstances or hia
: own neglect shut out from the rich enjoy.
mcnt. the exquisite delight. the varied ano
inexhausiibe o pod that is to be found III
books. a perennial fountain of improve
ment and pleasure is denied him--a re-
source. which cannot be estimated, OF en-
tertainmcnt Tor his lighter hours, and oil
solace in his SORROWS. But we are not
sure that Il man is any better soldier De-
cause of this species OF knowledge. or that
even in craftsmanship il IS an lndlspenSa-
! BILE condition of success. Culture is al
ways an ornament. is always help even
to the highest natural genius. but is not
| always necessity.
! Nor is the want of culture so rcmarka-
bic a defect in this country as to cast par
ticular Disgrace upon the delinquent, es-
pecIallv among politicians or statesmen
Several of our earlier public men. such as
Adams. Jefferson. Madison, JAY, Franklin.
| Pinckuey and Marshall, were men of
classical education, habtual readers. and
masters of the pen. In mind as in man
pers they were lifted To shine in the most
polished society. But of how many of
our Presidents even could the same be
said? Lincoln. Buchanan, Fillmore Tyler,
Harrison. Taylor, Pierce. and Jackson,
whatever other merits they had. were not
distinguished for the graccs ami amenities
of their literary attachments. How many
is it 10 lie supposed. of the last twenty
years could constr,ie 4 Greek verse. or
write Latin heNameter, Or speak either
the French or &c, man language. or tell
pi.turc by Titan tto.n picture by Nit
rillo, or give reason why TcnnySon is y
poet and Derby is not. or really enjoy such
a mastery work as Cornewall Lewis
..Crctlibilfy of History to say nothing of
their ability 10 write >uch work?
Orr statesmen, indeed, do not common
" possess the literature of their profess
ion. Clereymen. doctors, lawyers. cd-
tors and merchants are generally familiar
wfh what other; have thought and written
of the nature. duties, responsibilities and
bearings Of their special pursuits; most of
them have made wide incursionS into the
domain ofyencral letters; they have learn
ed from the experiences of mankind. and
the knowledge Thus acq tired has taught
them 10 utSttiIWuiSI Nllal u
what is commonplace. and what is practi-
cable from what has been repeatedly DEM
on>trated Ia be foolish or inane. But i'll
we may judge from reading the speeches
made In Congress, there are few men in
either branch of that body who have made
history. jurisprudence. political economy
and the cOgnlit sciences OF their profess
ion an object special continuous and la
bored pursuit. A Congr ssionai Globe is
apt to be an endless flow of ordinary talk.
which no interest or Importance ofthe sub
jeet lifts Into vivacity or real cloquence,
and which resembles one of those half
turbid streams; that we sometimes see rum
ming over WASTES of sand. without Il flow
er upon its banks. or Il wecd-"rOwn rock.
or Il graceful bend, to mpari some degree
of picturc>QueIess to its course. History.
poetry. art, the imperial fancy, the lun-
nous citation. the delicate but apt aliu>ion,
the CHANGING wit. the frequent anec,lote,
often more convincing Than aigulnent-are
very rare or wanting altogether. SO that
the reports of law courts are not more
drearv and dry than the reports OF DELHI
eraiive assem- lies.
We are not saving this in the way OF re-
proach; we know the circumstances of our
country in which these deficiencies arise;
we appreciate. moreover, the COOL Stn>e.
the strong power of reasoning. the practi-
cal ability. the patriotic devotion. that are
often found where there is little culture;
and we remember. too, the high culture
that has sometimes accompanied the most
lancVtablc moral turpilndc.
A maI's intellectual refinement is not
always the measure of his moral integrity.
\ scholar may be II suob. Some great
scholars, indeed, have been very great
, -f.pIt,lra1S In the a nj. - l. il m
inauy CT them have been us arrani thieves
as jack Sheppard, and if the intent con>ti-
ttltes the morality of HE act, a. malignant
cut-tllroat> rs Captain Kidd. The south
cin representatives ut Washington We're.
on the whole, better instructed men, more
polished and courteous in manner, more
sure to be acceptable to dra~ing-room
bellies. than tho sc from the Moth; but
their beile-letre requirement did not pre-
vent them from becoming Bobadils at
times; nor did it prevent them from piung-
ing Into one of the most reckless, criminal
aud atrocious civil Wars that was ever got
up by human wickcdness aud folly.
Btu what weare arguing $. that it is not
a iatr mode of criticism to inputc to Gen.
cral Grant. as peculiar unworiliucss. Il
defect that belongs to the whole of us.
more or less. not excepting. perhaps, those
versatile. omuiscient and all-accomplished
Crichtons. the editors of Newspapers
Whether Grant is learned or unlcarled we
scarcely know whether lie has the sens-
bility which delights in the beau,ils of ma
ture and art, or the aspiration which would
master every science, we are not informed !;
he may. like Washington. prefer horses to
the muses.; or he may, like Jackson, take
an interest in so vulgar thing as cock
| fight but whatever his taste i'll these re-
spects, we are quite certain, from the facts
of his career, that he is not an ignoramus.
for that sort hardly get through West
Point; that he is not wholly illiteratc, for
the style of his letters proves that; that he
mas excellent sense, for he accomplishes
what lie undertakes that he is not a self
seeker. for lie has never solicited a place
nsx an advancement !; that he is honest and
true, for he has never yet wavcred in the
d .scharge OF his duty; in short, that he is
u sound practic Il ''cnius, who sees what il
to be cone and does it; and therefore :
good typical American. whom other Amer
cans will forgive though he be not cndOW
ell and adorned with all the brilliancy o
the scl,,ols.-[ Ecening Post.
TIE TRIBUNE ON GRANT.--The Iri
bune Of yesterday. after several days de
lay, sums mp the case of Grant and Stan
Inn and nlthouvl il durs not lovc Grant