Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-29
Big and Little Men.

C0mmunlcaleu.l
We have some good big men of wealth,
who are enabled to do admirable things
who spend their wealth in noble charities
and in the qualification Of the physical
and mental wants of themselves, families
and friends. They are good by nature
and cultivation. They are big because
their wealth gives them prominence.
RicheIeu and Napoleon were big men.
Richelieu was unjust and cruel-know-
ingly did many wrongs-wrongs which
to us nay seem big wrongs. but to his
mind, allsd with such big things, they
were matters of small account For
France he lived and labored, and for
Franc e' glory be would have died. There
was big power in that man Richelieu.
He was very big man. he was almost
a Great Big Man. He was not individ-
ually and narrowly selfish. France was
his center. In circle taking in most
of the civilized world be labored and
centered the glory on France. Napoleon
was Individually and narrowly selfish
not only unjust and cruel, but ungener-
ous-trampling under foot all rights that
stood in the way of bis glory-the graft
Gcation of his personal ambition, He,
himself, was the Center Of his action.
All he did was for self Individually
His circle took in Europe, from which he
gathered to the center-self all the
glory aud personal aggrandizsment that
was TO be had. His esaiss vas rot CON-
posed of party, nor even Of family, but of
self individually and alone. He sseri-
Coed wits, saa Wonld have sacrificed
father and mother had they steoa 10 the
way to the qualification of his selfish
ambition. But there was a poper in
him that aads bin big man, the
biggest Of big men.
The great big man is just man
takes only bis own goods, claims and sp-
propristss the reward Of bis own merit
only-just to oil men, giving them theirs
in the way OF goods, chattels, lands,
houses apd honors. The great man is
great Of soul He may be full of justice
and truth, and yet not (either from want
Of mental power or opportunity have
made himself big sRsng men. Bui
when q man is truly great, and sttaius
prominence among his fellew-men, then
be is a great big man. Greatness is o.
Heaven biguess of earth Washington
and Lee arc specimens of great big mer
men full Of truth, justics, SINCERITY
and power. Truth makes them great
power makes them big. This is the day
aud country of big little men. The pres
spt impoverished ststs Of our society
will net produce even 5ig-big men, mucI
less great big men.
The sacred observance Of justice is th'
only guarantee of man's safety from him
self The citizen is individually Grim
inal for individual injustice, and citizen
10 the aggregate for injustice on the par
of those ia spihority. Virtue and patri.
otism, or smbiiion and dishonesty il
power-grest big men or big little mel
10 ofEict-sre but the reflex Of the SAM
qualities in the people Especially. j
This so IN 80 elective government. WheI
citizens become wholly selfish, aud die
regard the right, when aEariee and de
sire Of wealth decoy from reo,iiude
when the success Of loE, Sc hsh ambition
is Landed instead Of moral worth, il
short. the people perverted into huxier
dor veslth ADD trading politicians; whei
r...hes sre ia great good aud Office th
great ain, Whss sbe 'dyisA is 10 ih
asceudept-then sill oincial character b
changed, and instead Of public seryent
acting for the people, they will be iyrAnl
T and thieves. acting Cor themselves. Thi
vii, be the day in which w ktiss ne
a 1nrish-.he day in which Ben bui
Ter will be the representative mas.
"Hew selds n. friend, a goed, srslt HAn in
Honor sst vsaltb. sith all bis WOrth an
pAinfi