Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-27
Aancastcr f,,telligr,lcer.
THURSDAY EVENING, JULY a, ,ssa.

THURSDAY EVENING. JULY ~, lse2.
Rebeson's Career.
The question as to whether or no Mr..
George NJ. Robson is justly entitled to
be called q successful man is opened for
discussion in the newspapers. The New
York World declares that to "cynical
observers " he is q decidedly success
full man :" while the Philadelphia Press
is of the opinion that this man is not
successful" but that I" his career is a
failure" Evidently their:political preju
.dices are not consulted in these views,
since the World is Democratic and the
Press Republican. The fact is that Mr..
Robeson's character and conduct are SO
transparently bad that there is no use in
his friends trying to cover his failings
or of his enemies magnifying them. The
World and the Press do not probably
differ in their estimation of Mr.. Robe
son they both see in him a successful
man i'm one sense their difference being
simply as to whether that sense is one
which the world generally will adopt.
No doubt Mr.. Robson is man of
prominence, for instance but promi-
nence is not success, or great criminals
would all be deemed successful men.
Some of them no doubt are in the world s
view; for it is not virtue only
that wins the laurel crown. Napoleon
was in no sense virtuOus man,
but he holds his place as one of the
worlds great men, chiefly by his merit
as a soldier AMI by the successes that it
won him. lie is entitled to be called a
successful man, notwithstanding that he
died in exile. That Mr.. Robson is a
great criminal few people are probably
disposed to deny. That he has achieved
his prominence by lis crimes is also
true. That he has succeeded in his
schemes is fact. He has been a cabi-
net officer and congressman and big
frog in the puddle all the time. He is a
big frog now. He has amassed large
wealth. His fortune and political infu
ence are as apparent as the unscrupu-
lousness which gave them to him and
still the question is open as to whether
they entitle him 10 be called a successful
man.
Some observers may say yes. Men
who esteem success to be that which
fills their purse and gives them power
might say yes. Those who think good
reputation and individual weight and
consideration to he essential elements in
a successful career would certainly say
no. Mr.. Robson has large influence in
governmental affairs because the gov
ernment has fallen into the hands of men
of his low degree. He has wealth be-
cause it has been possible for him to
gather it under the shadow of high
Office. lie is not alone in this at all. He
but followed the fashion of his kind.
Senator John Sherman is fellow cabinet
officer who did the same. One question
arises with him as we'll rs with Robeson
as to whether his career has been a sue
cessful one. And with many of their
fellows. Robson, being just now the
most prominent of the evil doerS, has
been selected as the object of the in.
quiry which the newspapers are finding
time, in this hot weather. to make as
to the elements of a successful man. 1t
is only his luck. He is no worse than
his crowd. In fact he is better. He
is not such sneak as Sherman.
He don't deny his transgressions.
He submits in the House to being ad-
dressed as liar, perjurer and thief." "
He has too high a regard for the truth
or for the intelligence of his fellow citi-
zens to attempt 70 deny these charges.
Maybe it shows a very tough skin but
that naturally goes with tough con-
science. If Robson had been a man of
sensibilities he would not have been so
noted rs lie is. The people who boosted
him had no use for man with con-
science. 1t may be that accompanied
with tender conscience Mr.. Robeson's
natural abilities would have caused him
to rise and shine in holier associations.
But it is very doubtful whether he has
ability enough to have carried him up,
weighted with 4 conscience. He decided
for himself that he could get along bet
ter by g throwing conscience to the
DEVIL" and we are not disposed
to dispute his opinion of the best
way in which to get ahead with
such abilities as he possessed. But
he would have done better not to
have sought to get up so high illegiti-
mately, and to have been content with
the humber sphere to which his abilities
might honestly have carried him. lie
would not have had so far to fall. lie
would have been able to hold and enjoy
such success as he won. He would not
have been pilloried before the public by
journal Of his own party, while he holds
place as its leader i'm the House of Rep.
resentatives, as one wholly unworthy of
esteem and as of no. more individual
weight in political battle than the drum
major of a regiment.
If a man can he deemed successful at
whom the finger of scorn is Justly and
generally pointed, even while he holds
high place in the government, then Mr..
Robson is not a proper subject with
which to illustrate the doctrine of the
policy of honesty. II he really enjoys
the position he has gained and the money
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