Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-10-17

We present at great length today a
full and faithful report of the welcome
given to Bayard Taylor by his friends,
neighbors and admirers, at Cuba Hall,
on Saturday. 1t is sueh a greeting as is
seldom given in these undemonstrative,
eminently "practical " days, to a man
who has won distinction by his pen, and
yet II seems to us an entirely proper and
natural recognition for a people to give
10 a man who has honorCd them in
honorlng himself, aud who has afforded
those who know his works a greater
delight than they have ever felt able to
repay him for in the paltry dollars they
have paid for his books.
He mas In his carevt Ov-nopstratadd that
the community of'which our own people
form part, can produce a man capable
OF winning as well earned distinction in
the domain of letters as any springiug
from the more thoroughly cultivated
communities of New England, and his
work is marked By more Of breadth and
freedom, than that of many who have
had less TO overcome in acquiring the
highest culture, and have been reared in
more precise and artificial school. His
is more sunny manifestation Of genius
than that of New England, and yet
enough of the cooler thought has
been put into his work 10 relieve 1t Of
the tumultous and simply passionate
traits which mar too much OF Southern
poetry, and 1t retail ms its warmth without
losing the trus poise and dignity of a
real work of art. Through Il all, too,
breathes the spirit of his and our native
hills. 1t has the fragrance Of the wild
flowers we know aud love, and It pictures
the lives of the people We best know and
reveals the poetry and hero!sm In them
which we are apt TO overlook if we see II
not through some more poetic eyes than
our own. He is in tact our poet, who
makes our peoples music, and it is but
right that we should thank him for it as
we best see a..
But there are those who say this is
"hero worship" ard saying this, think
they have condemned it. Are they who
say this themselves heroes : By nc
means. We do not count this honor to q
great man worship, but It is honor, ant
we say frankly that those who conde nj
1t and refuse to participate in it, will d.
themselves good rather than harm /
they will teach themselves the habit o
more readily honoring worth, merit anC
genius. This cry that every man is a
good as any other man, is the CT.
whereby demagoglsm tlckles the vanil.
of fools and takes their Judgment captive
II is not as they pretend, the true splri
of Democracy, but It's basest counterfeit
and most dangerous enemy. 1t is thu
doctrine which in politics has pu. tn
affairs of the Nation into the hands O
ignorance and mcdlocrlly, and exclude
the wisest from the councils of III
repnhlic. Democracy meors thSt e.
people shall have equality Of opportunit
and freedom Of choice, and somethin
higher and batter than Democracy G;
mands that we shall make the most c
that opportunity, and the wisret use o
that power Of choice.
Il Is a hopafal thing for the literatur
Of people to see them recognize a1l
honor the ability and geaius Of thel
leaders aud teachers in literature, and
will be a sign of better era In govern
ment when people shall be glad 10 hone
by their warm regard and high admir-
tlon, as we'll as by their sutIrages, thol
who arc most capable Of wisely eonduc
ing their public atiiirs. The frank an
unreserved recognition of superior meI
and ability is an honor and not
disgrace to those giving IT, and Ii
kind of boosted independence
which resents it as humlllating, is II
legitimate Offspring Of the perpetuo
marriage between ignorance aud concei
We have done about as much as anybod
to knock the starch out of stiG pomposli
and prick the bubbles Of inflated pretend
amongst regulations hereabouts, but L
,ss-rs hss fsuff,R shriHA nun Cue ~
recognition Of courage, ability or hone
in friend or opponent, and we have It'll
regard for the cry" Hero worship.
We need not worshP heroes, bat v
had better worship them than dollar
or pretence, or questlona5ly won success
or one-half the other things the niggal
natures raising this CRY do worship.