The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-09
The PRIVILEGE OF GENIUS.
Leuiens Judgment Of the World I'm the
Case Of IIlustrious Sinners.

Leufenc Judgment OF the World In thu
Case of Iilustrious Sinners.
The foremost statesmen and soldiers OF
our country have all done things of an
irregular and offensive kind, but wa
never think of denouncing them fen
such actions. We grant them certain
freedom Of personal remissness that we
deny to men who have not accomplished
important results. Washington has
been idealized to such an extent that
he stands as model of all the virtues,
and yet the fact is well attested that ts
was by no means perfect. He flirtqS
and bet money and swore vigorously
when his purposes were crossed. His
bearing was always lofty and supercil-
ious. and he frequently made enemies
by his arbitrary and dictatorial method
Of dealing with his subordinates and
with the public. But his large and
shining deeds obscure his faults in the
historical records, and we cherish his
memory as that Of supreme patriot
who had the right to disdain common
rules of personal behavior.
Like charity is extended to other great
men of that period. Franklin was not
an exemplary citizen in all particulars,
but his trespasses are forgive u because
of his exceptional ability and his effect.
i've devotion to the interests of his coun-
try. Hamilton's intrigue was an un.
worthy proceeding, but we think of his
offense only to admire his manly and
courageous acknowledgment OF guilt to
save his name from the deeper stain that
his detractors were trying to put upon
it. In all of these cases the privilege Of
genius to do wrong from time to time is
commonly and cheerfully recognized.
We contemplate the career of Webster
with profound respect and reverence for
his wonderful ability rs lawyer and n
legislator, and freely forgive him care
less and improvident business habits
and his occasional excuses of the bibu-
lous sort. He was so great that he was
not required to observe the rules that
mediocrity was bound to regard.
The prediction of Clay for gambling
was palliated by his wife with the ex-
planution that lie NEARLY always won"
but there was q better excuse for it in
the fact of his pronounced and pervasive
influence as q political leader. He could
play cards without forfeitiug his repu-
tation or inlpairing his usefulness The
people did not ask him to comply with
the theory of duty that applied to the
average man. He WAS worth SO much
to the country that it was willing to let
him antagonize such doctrines of social
propriety as confiicted with the personal
tastes and inclinations.
Calhoun had certain eccentricities that
were very annoying 10 his friends, but
they henored him more or less for that
reason. He lowered above them so
much that they Ind only praise for his
great qualities and never criticism for
his infirmities. Benton was favored
with a similar liberation of his weak
! neFscs, and so were the others of the in
tellectual giants of those days. They
had ways that We're not consistent with
established precepts of civility and
morality, but thcy also had gifts Of such
power and excellence that nobody was
disposed to question their privilege of
being offensive whenever they chose to
be so, either with or without provoca-
ton.
1t is we'll understood that Lincoln
sometimes failed TO ply due Difference
to visitors of high standing in their re-
spective professions, but he had Il right
to suit himself in such respects. He
was greater than any of his contempt
raries, and if he chose to be undignilied
at times az relaxation from the terri
bic strain of his office, that was his priv
ilege.
J. Stanton was probably the most often
sive man who ever occupied an impor-
/ tant position in any country, but the
nature of his duties and the value of
his services furnished u satisfactory ex-
cuse for his systematic arrogance. He
was the right man in the right place
/ all things eonsidered-and history has
| not yet done justice to him.
! Conkling's haughtiness was offensive,
+ but it did not detract from his superior
ity us statesman. He vas one of the
great figures in the politics of his time,
and it was not necessary for him to ad-
T here risidly to ordinary customs and
I concentrations. When the occasion
! came for him 10 do remarkable thing
J he was to be depended upon, and his
! naughty deneanor was no disadvantage
I to him or TO the cause that he represent
1 ed. His right to be proud aud scorful
was part Of his fame. He had SPLEEN
did ability to justify him in his idiosyn-
! crasies.
The point lies in the distinction be-
/ tween IA man who has right to be pc
culiar and one who has not When an
individual of limited ability puts aside
the ordinary rules of society and under
| takes to invest his personality with arti-
4 fetal importance by being insolent he is
simply contemplate. Louis Globe
/ Democrat.