New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-30
GOVERNOR WARMOTH.

GOVERNOR WARM0TH,
The poet has said some men are born
great, some achieve greatness, and others
have greatness thrust upon them. If Gov
ernor Warmoth was not born great, he is
really in the way of achieving greatness.
Like all great men who have preceded
him in the world of politics, he is becom-
ing to be the most loved and best abused
man in the country. Like George Wash
ington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew jack
son, Henry Clay, and others of marked
character, Governor Warmoth could not
hope to pass through life without making
warm personal friends and admirers and
bitter and INSCRIPTIONS enemies; for it
must be conceded that political enemies
are the most bitter and INSCRIPTIONS OF
antagonists When Aaron Burr and Alex
ander Hamilton became political enemies,
Mr.. Burrs hatred became so intense that,
thirsting for revenge, he was induced to
challenge Mr.. Hamilton to mortal COM
bat. Mr.. Hamilton, being high-toned
and honorable gentleman, did not shrink
from the proposed meeting, although
his moral instincts led him to op-
pose dueling He met Colonel Burr as a
gentleman ready to respond to call for
satisfaction made by one whom the
world recognized as a gentleman; one
whose social and political standing was
equal, perhaps, to his own. Colonel
Burr and Colonel Hamilton were both
known in the American war for indie
pendence as brave men-both having
served under Washington. And they
were both equally well known in the
cvin service of the country, Mr.. Burr
having served as vice president of the re-
public, and Mr.. Hamilton as secretary of
the treasury when Washington was presi-
dent. Both were highly gifted by nature
and education, and men of much personal
popularity, though their moral charac
tiers materially differed. They had be-
come political enemies, and for language
that reflected on Colonel Burr's charac-
ter, Colonel Hamilton was challenged to
mortal combat. The consequence was
the death of one of the parties and the
disgrace of the other; for Burr was
politically dead after his fatal meeting
with Mr.. Hamilton.
Burr held Hamilton responsible for his
language, but he would not hold others,
who were not his equals, responsible for
language far more abusive.
General jackson challenged man for
the use of language that reflected on him
self and a lady he admired and befriended.
The duel was arranged, and hostile
meeting had, in which the General killed
his man. But General jackson did not
think of challenging every scurvy and
disappointed politician who heaped bill
lingsgate upon him. He was one of the
best abused men in this country and at
the same time was much loved and ad-
mired by host of personal friends; and
no man, not excepting Washington, en-
joyed wider popularity as public man.
Why wonder then, coming down to our
own day, that Governor Warmoth should
be basely reviled by foul-mouthed poll
teal enemies and disappointed politi-
clans? 1t is nothing new in the history
of the public men of this country. 1t
has been so from the days of Washington
down to the present time, and will con-
tinue so until that good time comes that
is spoken of in the Bible, when the lion
and the lamb will lie down in peace. The
fact that Governor Warmoth is daily Bit
terly assailed by political enemies is
rather complimentary than otherwise,
when it is considered that he is Governor
of a sovereign State and entrusted by the
sovereign people with more power than
commonly falls to the lot of governors. |
He knows and appreciates his strength |
with the people, and can afford to defy
those who launch their puny shafts of
malicious detraction at him. His friends |
will far outnumber and outweigh his enc
mics when the time comes for his re-elec-
ton to the gubernatorial chair of this
State. AS great as was his majority in the
election to his exalted position, there is
no reason to fear that it will be dimin- |
ished next time. The very efforts that
enemies are making to |
break him down will incite his friends to |
renewed action. And when the people |
earn the motives that are inspiring its
ambitious tyros to supplant Governor
Warmoth, they will sustain him with more
force than ever before as their standard |
bearer of Republican principles in this
State.
HOW IT Is.