Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-09-21
Our National Ingratitude.

Strange as it may seem, b. is yet fact, that
the Republican, that form Of government which
is the most indebted for It's safety and prosper
ity to individual exert.5n, is the last TO &C
knowledge and reward personal merit. The
primal assumption Of Democracy is that no
good can be found excop, in the many" that
to recognize individual claim to supremacy is
to foster monarchy. With it there is fear lest
the general 10 assuming the laurel-crown
should mistake it for tue diadem Of royalty,
lest the statesman in governing Tor others
should forget the constituents whom he repre-
SCENTS and rule foy himself alone. And hence
he who has labcreJ and struggled for his coun-
try's good finds as his reward, if indeed he is
so fortunate as 90 win one, an empty title and
a cold word Of praise forgotten as soon as ut
tered ly people even then Fastening to reap
golden iaUests where be las sown. Like all
other national errors ills one oversteps the
bounds Of It's own legitimate exercise and ex-
tends its influence 10 classes Of society upon
which itlas no bearing. Not satisfied with re-
flssing the just degree Of honor to men whom
honor might render too great, but we include
under the same general prescription those
whose fame could only lend TO national glory
withOu, borrowing from republican safety +;
not only 90 we deny it 70 the General, the
Statesman, tie Orator. but we withhold it alike
from tie Philosopher, the Mau-ol-Lstters, the
Historian. and tleroe,. Aud when death has
removed the possibility Of an unjust assump-
zion Of power, even :leu we neglect to accord
10 them the glory they have won, the honor
which is their due.
Among the nations Of tie old world, during
liie-tO labor is 90 win. to lie gifted is to be
great; their pr5ulest Louors and their mobiles;
titles await those whose achievements have
won the frs. or whose talents would grace the
ether At Geath-,hoy are laid to rest amid
the n0tlest of the land, their praises chanted
by the nations poet and their names sent
down into the centuries, great in history aud
in song. The soi,eusd light as it streams in
through tho stained glass windows Of West
minister Abbey falls on craven tombstone and
sculpturei marble, showing 20 the passing
stranger tie records Of En- 'lud's great depart
Cd, their remains lying in perpetual state, their
achievements written In characters that can
never fade. So. also tie solemn grandeur Of
the Wa'haia preserves IA uubroken remem-
brance Tie fame Of Gumauys glorious ones
With Us how different Our great men find no
national recognition Of tlsir worth, no splen-
did mauso.cum as their final resting place
Disregar3si 10 life, they are dishouored in
death Joseph jefferson ia his incompatible
rendering of Rip Van Winkls return upon
the stage after supposed absence Of eighteen
years and finding Lmse'fmknowu 70 an whom
he had loved, utter, in tones of rsproachlul
sorroW-" how soon We are forgotten .7 So
migat the actors upon the stage Of a genera
tjon since, returning now % life and finding
themselves unknown and uuionored by the
country ,Ley served, exc'aim with the poor, for-
slksa OLD mau-"Low soon are we forgottcnr
The evil works IFS own punishment. The
public men Of our country, many Of them.
fud.sg DO just rewards I1r their labors, seek
to Min them by dishonesty aud fraud, aud
having tasted the forbidden waters quafr deep
intoxicating trausits tin the Ec-bl1cd Of the
nation Is drained ,o Stake tleir iusatjate thirst.
It's true the des.ilies Of The infant nation were
f3s.sro3 by q class Of statesmen whose stern.
imprsguaJ'1 honesty resisted all temptation.
but these belonged toa race that has long since
passed away. A glance at the present will
reveal to Us The result Of twelve years govern
melt by tie men wlosucccsled then in office.
One third Of land pretending 70 perfect free
dom suliel. 90 de sway Of a military despot-
ism. Many and Ingenious as are the plans re-
sorted Gu by the administration 20 cover their
deloTmi,ies, International press tecmiug with the
sentences Of corrupt officials and .hc impeach-
msnt Of uu.us. judges. What more significant
O.. palsiej executive, Of a d.shouorel and dis
regarded law, chan a meeting held by the iu-
habitauts Of orr gr7ulest inland metropolis to
protect tLcmse.y-s from ,ho knife Of the assas-
sin, the bullet ana The raisou-cup Of the muir
dercr. All these evils due. IN large mea-
sure % a renlr.7us system Of rewards. by
which our very existence is threatened in the
fs-esaff and llf fr. -rtrrs With M national re-