The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-03
American Iconoclasm.

from The San Francisco Chronicle.1
Americans in political matters are the
greatest icopoclasts In the world. They love
70 idolize their tavorites and call them all the
net names in the vocabulary. They elevate
them TO the highest official dgnities at will,
as often without reason as With one, and
shout their praises without stint. One would
think during one of our political campaigns
that great men were never beard OF before, so
greatly do the virtues and merits OF the eX-
istjpg candidates excel those Of all men that
ever lived. We make our fayortes for the
time into dcnigods, and are enthusiastic 10
our devotion. They are Drawer, greater,
wiser, and more patriotic than any that have
zone before them. Everything decent that
they ever did is maSnitied into something
great, and everything base that they may be
charged with is u "vile opposition ie" In
the general enthusiasm Of the masses the
faults of The candidates are forgotten, and
the most trifIpg, nay, even doubtful, acts OF
merit are extolled and magnited million
fold. II Colonel Richard NJ. johnson killed
an Indian he wa, the biggest Indian that ever
lived and johnson the bravest man; and he
was given the vice presidency. II Harrison
commanded at Tippecauoe that was the
greatest Of all battles, and Harrison the
greatest of all generals, and bis reward was
the presidency. No matter about fitness
in any one respect. They are the
popular idols of the hour till Others
take their places. But the popularity of
. great man is ephcmeral, and he is hardly
warm in his seat before the wild hurraDs
that attended his sudden elevation are
turned into screams. The mob who have
screamed themselves hoarse In his praises no
sooner see him elevated above them than
their mean jealousy breaks forth. HE is
no better than we are" they cry eve put
him where be is, and TO show our power as
well as spite We will drag him down again."
The greater the man the meaner and the
deeper the jealousy when he arrives into
power. Thus TIE greatest men we have ever
had. aud who would never have got into
power had their real merits been suspected,
got tumbIed from their pedestals as did the
ancient statues Of heroes when trampled in
the mire by the feet of barbaric conquerors.
No man ever yet has gone out Of any
great political office as popular as when be
entered it. The very force OF character
which made him great has universally pro-
yoked hostility and returned him 10 private
life stripped Of bali the laurels he had worn
on the Opening of his career. Indeed. in
politics no man can long escape the icOnO-
elastic spirit Of the people, either in this
country or in England. Especially must Il
great general avoid politics II he would pre-
serve his bard-earncd fame. Had Yelling
ton never catered Parliament he would have
remained the idol Of the nation; as it was,
his life was threatened aud his house mobbed.
Had Grant, after Lees surrender, refused
the presidency, the heart Of the whole na-
ton would have bowed down to him in re-
vereuce and gratitude, and his laurels re.
manned green forever. AS it is, he is the
target for party calumnies and the sport OF
the conocla>tic folly Of his countrymen.