The Portland daily press., 1870-07-12
DAILY PRESS.
f18ETIAA.N MD
Tuesday Morning, July l2, 1870.
Tie MODERN CynEcs,
<sN N1SLAN NI

ho"Sh" SJhLNs
There was formerly in Athens set of self
styled philosophers who displayed their love of
wisdom by doing nothing themselves except
TO watch and criticise and cavll at whatever
was done by their more practical and benef-
cent fellow-citizens. From this distinctive
trait, so similar TO the snarling of ours, (espe-
cially like the historic ".iog in the manger')
this school was called the Cynic, from the
Greek word meaning dogs-hynes We doubt
not that they rejoiced in this designation, as
some were found among us during the REBEL
ion pleased TO decorate themselves with cents
OF the old coinage set as breastpins, as an in
dication that they were copperheads. BY the
way, we don't believe that many OF these Or
naments have been preserved TO be handed
down as family heirlooms. These citizens of
the old Grecan republic were as rough in ap-
pearance, speech and manner, and showed the
same contempt for all the common courtesies
and decencies of life which is now seen in
their humble imitators in the ranks of the
modern Democracy. The most famous of this
Cynic school finally reduced his personal
wants, or habits, 70 he coalsest food and
scantiest, rousl.est clotl.Ag, = for his hab-
itation had only tub to shed the ran.-
Through all succeeding time Diogenes has
rendered himself notorious only for these
traits; solely for conforming his conduct to
the Eabts of brutes, and uttering snarling
sarcasms, scurrilous rather than wise or witty.
thereby giving TO his school that name of ca
nine origin, but leaving no writings that the
world did not willingly let die, and teaching
and saying nothing whereby the wisdom of
his so-called philosophy was justified of her
followers. The anecdote of him most famil-
lar to every school-boy is recalled by the imi-
tation Of it on the part of the Cynics of the
present day, who receatly assembled in this
city under the name of Democratic State
Convention: it is that he was seen prowling
about the streets of Athens one day in the
broad sunlight with lighted lantern, and
when the question which he intended to elicit
was put as TO the reason for his singular con-
duct, he gave the reply, 81 am looking for a
man." So, in response to call of their COM
mittee, these modern disciples of the old rail
er came together, and after looking all over
their own ranks were obliged to disperse to
see if from those of their opponents they could
not look up a man to lend them helping
hand. They have occasionally picked up a
deserter, and these as well as the old soldiers
of the democracy were ready to proifer their
services, but were repulsed, as Diogenes, their
founder, once drove back the crowd that gath
cred round him on his bawling out, "Come
here, all menF' by declaring, as he beat them
off with his staff, Il called for men, and ye are
eIcrements."
During the last decade, while the country
has been struggling for its life and to stanch
the wounds made by the war, these partizans,
true to their school of philosophy, have done
nothing but to find fault wit h the conduct of
the war and the course of the administration
since peace and unity have been restored.
The destruction of slavery, the protection of
extension of which was their only positive
policy, left them wholly without principle or
purpose, other than to regain the offices, if
they could, by misrepresenting, crticisiug and
reviling their opponents and thwarting if pos
sible, the efforts of the Republicans to re-
serve the Union. Since hope has failed them
from this quarter they are left with nothing
but the old party cognomen, which is fast
losing its power through successive and pro-
tracted defeats. Having no ideas calculated
to induce accession to their ranks they are re-
duced to the poor expedent of trying, by the
| magnetism of some popular name, to draw
such young voters as may be unfamiliar with
the full iEquity of their past course to their
aid.
We predict that this experiment, too, will
prove signal failure; though as its advocates
we'll said in urging its trial at their late State
Convention, as they were sure to fail by FOL
lowing the old routine they lose nothing ex-
cept little more from an already scanty rep
utation anda few more stragglers out of an al
ready defeated, decimated and demoralized
army-by the attempt. 1t is easy to see how
extremely improbable it is that any man
whose name is one to conjure with, would be
likely to link his fate with the falling fortunes
of the Democracy in Maine; and if one could
be found so ambitious, or unwise, OF deluded
| to listen to their flattering proposals, ,he would
add only one more to the many recent illus
trlous proofs that the American people are
not led away by names or hero worship but
| vote and act so as TO promote the success of
those ideas and principles to which the ma
ton is necessarily devoted; and that except
so far as they testify and represent these
ideas and principles the most distinguished
names are of as little consequence as those of
John Doe and Richard Roe.