The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-23
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LEADERS UNDER FIRE.


Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice
sleeps"
These ringing words voice the demands Of
the American people. IN every generation OK
our republic the. masses have called for Just
such leaders, and today millions OF camoring
tongues are ready to hail the coming man.
1t is believed by many that great occasions
bring with them great men, and that when
ever nation CT party needs leader the
man never fails to come TO the front.
Perhaps there is something III this optimistic
view, but there is ample room for a touch of
pessimism. When great man begins to loom
up as leader his rivals and legion Of little
fellows train their batteries upon him, and
subject him to a merciless fire. The air is
thick with abuse and SANDER, until men be-
come confused and bewidered, wondering
whether their champion is Il hero or
scoundrel.
Take tho case of David Bennett Hill. For
about thirty years the democrats Of the conh'iiv
have ragod over the humi!iating fact ti'"' an
New York a republican minority We" VII ~
trenched in the senate, defeating 80 ma
the reo; end preventinS, ~ ~ r,at Zig merrers
iority At time WEeE the de1)H responfsi n1
apparently helpless and hopeless, 81 rrod,tl
head, splendid nerve and dauntless coeSnlly ur%
Governor Hill redeemed the Empire 5 ,,i-t
parayzcd the corruptionists, and restored t.
rule Of the majority, giving the democrats the
control of the senate and sealing tLelr
supremacy with the sanction of the courts.
Naturally this successful revolution made
Hill the leader Of the democracy. Bat lis
Jachsonan methods and his dazzling success
drew upon him the bitterest denunciator
from his republican foes, and even III the
democratic camp there were men TO he found
who made common cause with their party
enemies in their efforts to pull down tie abiest
leader III their ranks.
Yet our leaders have always encountered
Just such opposition. Looking beyond Hin
far backward IL our history, we SEQ Washing
ton the shining targa. for the slanderors OF
his day. The Philadelphia Aurora charged
him with squirting at monarchy. II was sad
that ho had deceived the peope, and one
furious editor wrote: "a curse upon his viz
tues-tliey have undone his country!' The
opposition newspapers were iublant when he
retired to private life, and said that his ta-
nous farewell address fell fiat. So CALLING
were some Of these ATTACKS that Washington
complained of them in, his cabinet, and init
Time has vindicated Washington, and one
has to hunt through q lot Of Old books and
pamphlets to find even the names Of his enc
mics
Look at Jefferson, the father Of onr de-
mocracy. Was there ever 4 statesman SO de-
nounced and lied abcnt?
His 8oiourn in France caused his enemies to
say that lac wasa red republican, en anarchist
an infdeI, a dangerous man That sharp
schemcr Aaron Burr, laid so many traps foI
him that some very good men down to the
present tine have always had their doubts
about him.
We'll, the rivals and little men made their
fight got whipped, retired into oDscurity, and
the statesmen of later generations are studying
Jefferson as the apostle of genuine democracy
s"s
And jackson?
Old Hickory was always under frei
His enemies were relentless, and some of
them were good men-very good men Of the
picayune variety.
Very carly in his career peou!e said that lie
was lawless bully. 4 Judge in Louisiana was
so outraged by his conduct that lac fined him
s., eco for contempt Of court.
CONGRESS paid the fine thus endorsing him.
linen, u Was SdlU tItiI 81 dCA>Otl COii!iitt' cd y
crime when he went into Spanish territory
down in Florida, and hung CT SHOT a man, If
am not mistaken. A biz ruupus was stirred
up over this affair. but finally people came TO
the conclusion that what the general did vas
for the best.
He was abused all his life The United
States bank matter, the notification business.
his two marriages to divorced woman-nearly
every public and private act of his life was
bitterly criticised, his duel with Dickinson
included.
The stormy career ended at last, and demo
Gratis and the American people generally are
now satisfied that Andrew jackson honorad
name deserves very high place on the ron OF
fame.
Lincoln, gentle, great-hearted and wise, was
the victim Of the SANDER mill.
After his death people understood him. and
today his memory is loved in ali lands.
His Gettysburg speech is tribNte enough.
1t reflects his head and heart.
David Bennett Hill like our other great
leaders, past aud present, is under fac.
His enemies waste time and labor. Coming
up from the ranks of the people Hill through
all his phenomenal success has lived such q
clear and spotless life that his foes can point
to no single vice, and to no scandal, pubic or
private
lie has never gone bacl, on a friend, never
favored the rich and powerful, never disap-
pointed his party, never made mistake.
Where is there one black spot on his record?
Point il out!
he is misreprescnted and called the viest
of names so were Washington, jefferson
jackson and Lincoln.
The fact is a man cannot be really great
and successful without making enemies
Perhaps, the serenest man III the country to-
day is David Bennett Hill. lie knows that
he is right. and it is a maxim with him that
right is sure to win in the long run
There is a certain victory Ill sight for delnoc'
racy with this daring leader.
Without him, we may as well asSi " Wha'
of the nght?" WAL>A1H K NEED
No for the Book in This,
From Tie Washington Post.