The National tribune., 1885-04-30
MISSION OF THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

| struggles seem to have been gone through
with for the sole benefit of a few men, who
are blazoned in history as possessing. all the
courage, patriotism, foresight and unselfsh
devotion of their times. 1t was they alone
who fought the battles; it was they whose
courage remained mistaken under every re-
verse: it was they who made every sacrifice
and took every risk, and it was they who
won the glorious triumph at the end.
Historians have persistentIy ignored any
but the very central figures in any epoch.
To them they have given everything; to the
mass OF men who really accomplished the
results there has been nothing but oblivion
and neglect. The few have had everything;
the many nothing
This is why all history is, as Napoleon
expressed it, merely ian agreed-upon lie"
No man, however great, ever accomplished
anything by and of himself He was merely
the agent, leader or spokesman of those who
put him forward. For instance, it is absurd
in the last degree to assume that Napoleon
conquered Europe by virtue of his transcend
ent military abilities, or that Wellington
defeated Napoleon because of the superiority
of the English to the French General. Both
were merely the instruments of forces and
movements infinitely greater than they or
any one man. The course of the Napoleonic
wars would have been precisely the same if
the great Corsican had been killed at TOulon.
The battle of Waterloo, or some engagement
of similar Importance, would have been
fought with precisely the same result, if
Arthur Wellesley had died while teething.
Our rebellion would have run precisely the
same course had every one of the leaders on
both sides been killed in Indian fights while
Second Lieutenants. Had Lee died of camp
dysentery in Mexico and Grant been shot at
Belmont, some other Union General would
have forced some other rebel General to sur
render in the neighborhood of Richmond.
Napoleon's victories were the victories of
the courage and devotion of the whole French
people, who led in a revolt against terrible
system of despotism which prevailed over
Europe. WeIlington's victories were the
victories of the whole English people, who
gave unstintedly of their money, courage
and lives to stay wave of revolution which
they did not want to sweep over their island.
Napoleon and Wellington were merely the
chief instruments of the people TO accom-
plish their purposes.
But, as we have said before, historians
and chroniclers take no note of anybody but
the chief actors.
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE is the pioneer
of a great reform in this absurd, false and
unjust way of writing history. Its columns
are every week filled with proof that no one
man or set Of men supprest the rebellion
and carried the Nation triumphantiy through
the greatest trial that has assailed any
country during the present century. 1t
demonstrates that the glorious result was
the work of millions of men in the field, who,
with marvellous zeal and courage, improved
every opportunity to disable and overthrow
the enemies of the Government, and of
millions more men and women at home who
supported the fighting men with unfaltering,
enthusiastic fidelity. 1t exhibits how each
of all this great host did his or her best as
chance or ability allowed toward the grand
consummatiOn. It shows how battles were
frequently won, and defeats changed to vic
tories by brigades, regiments or COM
pany's gallant self-sacriice at q critical
time to repair Generals blunders, and
how the final triumph was the ulti-
mate product Of the heroic devotion OF
ereay man engaged in the strife. Every man
| who periled and lost his life as spy; every
man who rotted to death in prison; every
| man who fought and died in some unnoted
little skirmish, in some sharpshooting on
picket. in some defense of wagon-train, as
well as in the grand contests of mighty ar
mics, did his share toward the final victory,
and it might not have been won had he not
been where he was, and did what he did.
1t was no one mans victory-it was just IS
much that of the private soldier standing
in ranks, with his faithful musket, as it was
of the epauleted Major General
1t is THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE's peculiar
province to establish this truth Other publ
cations concerning the war follow the old
beaten path of history and heap all the credit
upon special men, exalting them to demi-
gods, and ignoring the subordinates of every
/ grade, whose brains and courage, and enthu-
siasm In the cause were the stones which
built up the monument to the fortunate Gen
erals fame.
1t is glorious mission, and our chief re.
ward comes from the knowledge of perform.
ing it well.
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
The business men of Atlanta have done q
very wise as well as very shrewd thing in