Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-07-20
Are Edltor. statesmenl

The Cincinnitti Enquirer says
that there are some who recognize
the pre-eminent abilities of Mr..
Greeley, yet lament that some states
man, as they call it, like Mr.. Adams,
Mr.. lGroesbeck or Mr.. Trumbull,
was not selected in his stead.
We do not know exactly what is
meant by the word statesman in this
connection, but understand 1t to be
one familiar with the principles and
policy of human government, and
competent to direct it Alright. Now,
in theory, where is there a man in
the Union who has given all subjects
that pertain TO our political relations
such q close and elaborate research
more than thirty years, his attention
has been called to it, and he has dis
cussed almost every conceivable
topic relating thereto. There is no
man in all the country who has one
half Of his varied information, or
who has had occasion SO often to ap-
ply it practically to the questions of
the day. For the past twenty years
the ''great" statesmen of the party
to which he belonged have, in most
particulars, simply stolen ideas that
govern them from his articles in the
Tribune, elaborated them in "great
speeches." with ten times more
words, and made for themselves i'm
mense regulations. The people
have perceived this; they have no
ticed who were the Originators of
the measures and policy of these So
called eminent Congressman aud
model statesmen. 1t is true, Mr..
Greeley has, with the trihing excep-
ton of three months service in
Congress and brief experience in
the New York Constitutional Con-
vention, been in no political bodies.
But that is not material. The best
school to form craftsmanship is not
in Congress, but in an editorial sane
tum. 1t is there that quickness of
perception, readiness of thought and
application, great knowledge and re-
sources must be displayed in order
to win success. 1t must be done in
the face OF hostile criticism, politi-
cal and personal; and degree of in
telhgence is required that eminently
fits those who do it well for the
highest political positions.
There may be vulgar error de-
rived from some old aristocratic no.
tions against those whose destiny it
is, mentally as well as physically, 10
toll for livelihood; that there is
something in the pursuit which is
derogatory to a statesman's antece-
dents; but it is exceedingly false and
unworthy Of Americans, as we have
shown. The best statesmen in
France for forty years were Guizot
and Thiers, both editors Of prom
nent Journals. In fact, in Europe
to-day-in England, France, Ger
many, Italy and Spain-the leading
statesmen have been chosen from
the ranks of the journalists. If two
or three ably-written and well-con-
ceived speeches are sufficient to
make the reputation, as statesmen,
of Congressional leaders, how much
greater should the reputation of
those who have made speeches daily
for thirty years-written, of course,
but addressed to audiences fifty
times as large as those to which they
are ordinarily spoken? No man has
run for the Presidency or been named
for il, for many years, who has had
the amount of intellect, political ex-
perience, and statesmanlike qualifi-
cations that distinguish Horace
Greeley.-APpedI.