The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-04
The Race Has Grown Bigger.

Little Alec Stephens. Bob Toombs
and Ben Hill. and now Joe Brown. have
passed out Of life into history They were
giants in their day. and We may never see
their like again" So says the Columbus
Enquirer-Sun; and 1t is correct. It is not
likely that we shall ever again. in Georgia,
in America or in the world see men tow
ering above their fellows as did the quar-
tette named and others before or contem-
porary with them. Not that Stephens,
Toombs. Hin and Brown were unworthy
Of the great honors they received. but
the people have come to occupy a
higher Intellectual position than ever be-
fore. Not that the world has ceased
10 produce great men, but because great
men have ceased 10 be 50 great in com
parison with their fellows. The standards
Of intellectually and craftsmanship have
not been lowered; the classes embracing
these accomplishments have been broad
ened and knowledge has been spread until
it must be a very powerful individuality
that achieves pre-eminence. There are
throughout the country to-day minds prob
ably as powerful as were those that
swayed the country in the days of Ste
phens AMI Toombs; but they very seldom
sway even townships. There are states
men in 1894 probably as able as was
Thomas jefferson; but their policies are
not unquestioningly accepted and re-
vered. There are orators who upon crit
ical comparison. are probably not below
Webster or Hayne. yet their orations are
not printed in school books or detained
by young America.
The veil of mystery that separated the
great men of the past from the people was
largely responsible for the greatness of
many Of them. The masses caught only
an occasional glimpse of the statesman or
other public person, and then 1t was at his
best moments They saw only one view of
the man, and that was the heroic view
shown in the very best light. If similar
conditions prevailed It present there would
be as many great men now as at any other
period Of the country's history.
In the years of the mental giants" there
obtained a custom Of hero worship that
magnifed them. In these more modern
days there is no hero worship, no magni-
flying of public personages. and every man
is taken by the people for his actual worth
When we come to look at some of those
who might in other days have been big
fellows" we find that they are not so
much bigger than their fellowmen. after
all. They might have appeared great had
they been looked at through the glass that
once magnifed bright men into brilliant
men.
That glass has been smashed; and the
great newspapers Of the day did It, The
newspapers have brought all the world to
the individuals breakfast table, educated
the reader, and lifted the veil that hid one
class of people from another They por-
tray men and events as they are. and
show every phase of every situation In
the light of complete publicity and popular
education there are no towering heroes,
and sterling merit, wherever it is found, is
more inteHigently appreciated
1t is a mistake to bewail the passing of
the great men. They have not passed.
They are with us to-day. And it is no de-
traction from the well merited fame of
Stephens. Toombs, Hill and Brown to say
that the great men of the present and flu
ture will have to surpass them by far in
intellectual accomplishments before they
will be accorded distinction similar to
theirs.