New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19
this testimony recorded, and the solution 81 the
problem, with the added experience OF historic feeof'
embracing the lives Of 60 generations OF the race Tar
more widely observed over the globe Is still TO seek Bss
there ever been such mani
4 CLASSIFICATION OF PUBIC sss.

there ever been such mani
A CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLIC Man
without attempting TO enter upon such q topic do-
manding lifetime of research t perhaps, be per-
mitted to observe that, from what may learn
OF the all those who have since been eompeu-
tors in this noblest OF human pursuits " possible for
us 10 deduce general laws Of human action yaius
BILE 70 bear mind Praying Jour pardon for my bold
ness would then, venture 10 suggest that by com
parison OF tho multitude OF examples We may readily
reduce them all classification consisting OF three
FORMS The first and lowest of these embraces oil those
lives in which power has been exercised mainly oH per
soaa ends with little regard to the public god IL
called 10 give an example Of this class. should name
the noted Ceon Of Athens as deneated 30 iorc'D Dy
his eotemporares Thucydides the historian and As
tophanes the dramatist But this type OF pubic man.
called demagogue democracy, does not change It's
essence by transfer TO absolute forms OF govern
ment. The interested natterer OF the people SIMPLY
puts on q laced coat and becomes the courtier OF
monarch or any other sovereign power one or many
Ceon stimulating the passions Of the Athenans 70 the
Of the male population Of Mylene, wss only
working for his own influence, just as Ashley cooper
shaftesbury stimulating the treaeherous policy OF
the Second Charles In Great Britain,
The pillars Of the public saey shook
and Just Emmanuel Godoy, the Prince OF Peace. by HE
selfish counsels precipitated the fall OF the ptfu
Charles Of Spain.
l. This is, them the class which works the fan Of
lions.
The next and second division includes those who with
pure motives equal capacity address themselves 10
the work OF maintaining existing state Of things ast
Is Their aim is to reinforce established IDEAS and con
firm ancient institutions OF this type would specify
as examples Cicero In antiquity; Sir Robert walpoIe
Cardinal Mazarin, Prince Kaunitz, In later times.
q This is the class which sustains nations
The third and last division consists Of those who
sessng a creative force labor TO advance the condition
of their fellow men, OF such find type in Perces, In
Gregory the First, and in Cardinal Rchelieu.
g. This is the class which develops nations.
Measuring the life OF william Henry Seward by this
scale have scruple n enrolling his name In the third
and highest class In my mind, his bears analogy
to that OF Per1ces with this difference that the sphere
Of his action by the side Of which tbat ~ the
other dwindles into nothing.
MR.. sEwARD's EARLY LIFE
On this occasion ii Tiny design to follow the
mon course Of purely chronological narrative. 1t
would absorb too much time besides which, that work
has already well done by others who have preceded
me. 1t will suffice to state that Mr. Seward born
with the century, and issued from the college at
at the age Three years. passed IN the
customary probation OF a lawyers office, gave him MS
profession and one year more found him married In
the words OF the sagaeous Lord OF Vernlam, he had
'tven hostages to fortune" aud very early assumed
impedlmeuts TO great enterprises whether OF virtue or
mischief" From that moment he could hope to enlarge
the basis Of imperfect education only by snatehinR
what he might out Of the intervals OF rest in busy e
Hence II becomes proper TO assume that In the luss
sense Of the word, Mr. Seward learned man.
In the ardor with which he rushed into affairs, the
IL that he acquired what he did. To his faculty
Of rapid digestion OF what he could read, he in
debted for the attachments he actually mastered Foi
it should be further remarked that though be faithfully
applied himself his profession, it not an oceups
ti0n congenia to his taste. On the contrary, he held
in aversion He felt in himself capacity TO play noble
/ "a. - CO. fair
aspiration for the fame of statesman and 10 10
dulgng this propensity he committed no mistake.
| MORE STATESMAN THAN POLITICIAN.
The chief characteristic OF his mind its breadth
Of view. In this he philosopher studying
politics. He began by forming for himself q genera
idea os government, by which all questions OF prct
that up for consideration were TO be
tested. This naturally led him to prefer the field Of
legislation that OF administration though he proved
equally skilful in both. Almost simultaneously with
his marriage he appeared ready launch into the pOt
zeal conflicts OF the hour. Commencing In this ,smat
way, he by easy degrees into the atmosphere
craftsmanship. distinguish between these conditions
not derogate from either. In past experience
there have been many politicians who have not become
statesmen So, also, there have been statesmen whs
politicians. Mr.. Seward equally at home
In both positions But iDasmuch this made up the
true career which he followed, / driven u
the necessity OF considering it almost exclu
plunge less deeply INTO The ssIpealak
bog Of obsolete party polltss Tot isensible to tbs
nature Of the difficulties under which labor in
position Of this kind. On the side. run q risk OF
trying your patience by tedious reference to stale excite
ments; and the other, Of raking the ashes OF
fires still holding heat enough IL burn. All say in
excuse s that my belief correct deneation OF ths
course OF this leader be made without IL
Permit only to add promise that, in whateyerl
feel IL my duty TO say IL will be my endeavor be
guided by calm and impartial spirit the lot Of
humanity will admit Happily purpose Ia facilitated
at this by the that the passions which
1ercely ragged during the period am to review in
laid asleep by the removal OF the chief
that set them In motion.
TWO PERIODS OF AMERICAN POLITICS.
The political history Of the country under present
form OF government naturally divides itself into
periods Of neatly equal ergth The first embraces the
administration OF the first five Presidents the set
Element OF the principles upon which policy was
guided. well at home abroad. But, by reason
the almost continuous embarrassments oecasioned by
the violent conflicts then raging the entire cont
nent OF Europe, the agitation Of parties had It's chief
in the conflicting OF foreign rather than
domestic questions. Hence it came 10 a natural end
with the reestabllshment Of general peace. The
foundation of parties having failed there followed an
interval OF harmony which, at the time, known by
the name of the EZRA of good feelings"
Suddenly there sprang up contest. wholly in its
nature, the first sound Of which the veteran Jefferson
his retreat at Monticello kened to that OF fire bell
night. The Territory OF Missouri wished TO be organ
iEed and admitted into the Union State An effort
made TO afix condition that slavery should
be permitted there The line OF division between
the free aud the ssye-hoiding States at de-
nned and, for time, the battle fought In the halls
OF Congress with the greatest pertinacity with equal
audiences the quarrel was appeased by the adoption