Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-11-04

a man entirely away from the in
tiuences, the conditions, the circum-
stances, associates and associations.
in the midst of which he is born and
bred, isolate him so thoroughly that
he is no longer inspired by the spir-
it of his times, and is no longer af-
fected by the state of civilization
and culture enjoyed by his society
let him no longer he an actor in the
midst Of scenes of progress. let
him no longer be associated with
the knowledge, the wisdom and ac-
tivity of other minds, let him be de-
barred from conversation and
reading, and what is he? What
will he make of himself? 1t will
require positive conscious effort on
his part, to prevent his relapse into
childish and utter barbarism. Even
the genius Of Defoe found it difficult
TO invest such an imaginary person
with any considerable interest; it is
only the Authors invention of see
merry and incident, that makes Rob
inson Crusoe . readable book. In
accounting therefore for any indi-
vidual, we must carefully consider
that there are material conditions of
existence, well defined and definitely
| limited over which he has no con-
troll; that the circumstances of So
ciety, the general knowledge and
culture of his contemporaries, the
progress and spirit of The times, the
character prblic events, the infu
ences that tend to the formation OF
aims Of life, whether acquired by
association or by parental teaching.
these Gre inevitable and involuntary
accessions to the formation of char
acter:' A man alone, is scarcely 4
man, he is not in situation condu-
sive to his self-development. The
very things which tend to the de
veIoDment of healthy mind, prove
the failacy OF the expression ''SeT
made man" 1.-THE expression have
any meaning it is common and su-
perfciaI. Usually it is q simple
contrast between successful and
prosperous men. One man has
wealth and position, he was born to
it, the respectability and ease of his
position came by Inheritance; or
another has spent his life in his
counting-room reckoning the gains
which clerks, and operatives, and
slaves have rnrdc-for him Now
tie keen. popular sense. ever detects
that which detracts from real merit
and that wealth or fame which fortune
thrusts upon man. for which neither
his ability nor lis ministry will ac-
count, deserves no distinction. Again
wien man despite the absence OF
wealth. or powerful friends, battles all
his disadvantages. works his way to
solid prosperity. makes his skill and in
dustrN. his integrity and energy serve
him instead ofcapital, accepts no f;i-
Vors he has not fairly won. finds his
way to honorable stations because he
has proved his qualifications 10 fill
them. such man Is said by way of re-
gard 10 be a self-made man. There is
Il distinction and there Is a difference
and we feel il. The one was born i'm
his state, and holds it by 4 parchment
which another has purchased for him,
his pride and strength is not in his own
manhood. and the blessing of his good
fortune. the power which he wields
has not come from the development of
his own mind; he enjoys anOther's toll,
and wears another's crown. the bones
OF the dead still support him, and their
memory honors him. But i'm the other
ease. neither Is prosperity nor eonse-
quence bestowed upon him until he has
proved that he is
Mighty-spirited and forward
To all great things"
This. then, is what people mean by Il
self-made mana man v no has self
reliance-whO proves by hiS own eXer-
tiOns his right to what nc owns. en-
Joys and wins. in his conflict with pow
erty, with opposition, and with the
world tardy Justice. one who puts his
own MUSCLE ANA brain to the test i'm
practice. who accepts his position and
ever endeavors to make the best of it.
one whose desires do not run ahead
of his performances, who works in ev-
cry situation and does not ape another,
whose endeavors 20 hand ia hand with
his ambition, one who does not fret
and pray for nclp. when tug with his
own snOulUier at the wheel will bring
ccn!enteu tU toll with earnest. hopeful.
good nature when he is poor ana docs
not lose his simplicity when lie is rich.
one who does not irct and Scold with
those who are above Eim, but wOIkS
right maniuliy on. until h0 compei>
the respect he Is Gntitfeii To. and wien
he has won does not forget that he i
a man of the people still. On such Il
man the people mean 10 place an enVi-
able honor. when they applaud hun
with the iavorite compliment. that ie
is a sclf-made man. We lind in our
day this TO be noteworthy, That with
popular Intelligence. the authority ot
names ana traditions fades away, the
divinity that hedges in hiSh stations
disappears. science. literature and art, !
and politics. become more and more
pupularized, aud as Il result OF all this
The scli-made becomes popular man. /
and powerful man. The men who |
to-day WELD the greatest influence in |
politics and literature in this country !
anC in Europe are of this class ofmen; |
the people seek and honor their owu I
representatives; for who - so wei.
qualified To be a leader and reprcseu-
tatiVe. as lie whose mind has been edit /
Gated while working his way up in the i
world? lie who knows his work 10y I
his own tools Is master OF
is also fit to be the leader of
minds. Take the ease of Vice Presi
dent Colf;lx. lie began life. rs You all
know. a poor printer boy. hut honest I
and Industrious; iIe had ambition OF Il
noble kind. II Was not accompanied by
that vice OF mean minds. dissatisiac-
tion with his position. he was not un-
happy concerning his obScurity and
his poverty. but he wOrke,. - hard
that whatever lie did, he did well.
While he applied himself 20 the drudg-
cry of his office work, he read closely.
studying all that he read. with the
avidity and enthusiasm of one who
loved knowledge and loved the excite
lnent OF Thought. rs his mind grew
in Intelligent strength. his occupations