The National tribune., 1897-06-24
rs L.H.M,S SEE THEM.
Varying Views Of Heroes in the Twentieth
Century.

Courage and prowess, military renown, signal
victories and conquests may render the name
of man famous without investing him with
the qualities of hefoism. Something moro is
necessary to constitute true hero than con-
quering arm and an intrepid mind. The
laurels of the warrior must always be dyed with
the blood and believed with the tears of the
widow and orphan5i but if they have been
stained to uphold suffering humanity the hero
rises to high plane Of honor. On the con-
trary, if they have been stained with rapne
and inhumanity inithe cause of avarice and
oppression, how the great hero diminishes into
the very little man. Like the colossal statue,
which at distance strikes the spectator with
its immense proportions, but diminishes into
rude and unshapely size upon near approach,
so sink into insignifcance the achievements of
q prominent figure in bad cause.
One of the characteristics Of . true hero is .
peaceable temper, disposition averse to giving
offensc and a desire to cultivate harmony and
amicable intercourse in society. Another
Characteristic of true hero is the boldness
with which lie shows to the world his love for
God and his country; fighting the evil one
daily, lifting up the falling, attending the sick
for the destitute and oppressed. Let us all try
to be heroes in the best sense of the word.-N.
r. Ordway, Milton, N. Y.
To me hero must not only be great man
in that he has achieved something, but good
man in that he stands for something. He must
be able to stand upon pinnacle with all the
search lights of criticism and investigation
turned upon him, and yet be able to stand un-
finchingy. lie must not only have the love
of God in his heart, but the love of mankind
as WELL He must stand for right before he
stands for might.
Napoleon Bonsparte Is worshiped as hero !;
he was great as soldier, great as statesman,
but not great az a man. He sought power, con-
quest, before he considered the good of man
kind or the business Of the cause for which he
fought. He was one.sided, and no one whose
conduct is not worthy of emulation in every
phase can be a hero from my point of view.
A hero must be a man whom we can revere
with increasing admiration, and whose life we
can. study with overwhelming ambition for
better living high thinking and more vigorous
achieving. To me hero must combine all OF
these qualifications Craig.
think hero. worship is a thing of the past
in our country at least. There is something in
our pushing, driving, achieving Americanism
totally antaeonistic to hero worship. We mus,
be up to date in everything. We have no time
to worship anything vencrate any body. We
come too close to people; we know too much
about them.
1t seems to me our newspapers are largely
responsible for this state Of affairs. All the
petty personalities aud details of life o
the man prominent in anything are heralded
in glazing headlines in all Of our newspaper!
until we are filled with disgust. We cannot
worship man when VIC know that he eat:
oat meal, chops. and griddle cakes for break fast
smokes dozen cigars day, or has fondness
for some particular color Of gloves or ties.
We. az Americans, arc not taught TO hono
anybody. We call our President by his frs
name, and know so much of party polite
| that our Representatives and Senators ar
| simply the accidents Of che machine. OF course
we all have our dreams Of higher things. ant
through the fogs AMI niisss we have our ideals
| 1t is the ideal heldmp I'm holy writ by one o
the twelve. and VIII iGfl was rightfuly applied t
Abraham Lincoln: 4 First pure. then peaceable
| gentle. and easy to be eUtreated. full of nero.
and good fruits, without partiality, withou
| hypocrisy ."-Kathariue Duncan