Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-12-08
Hero Worship and DetractiOn.

Hero Worship and DetraCtion.
Public honora, when the subject is
rightly considered and treated, are not
bestowed on man rs compensation for
public services. II it is to h'consiiercd
that men go into the hrl 10! letters, law,
art. science, or war III Consideration of
the selfish gains they expect, and that
they toll their lives away and expose
themselves to most fearful perils for per
s,nal ends, then patriotism is dead, hero.
ism IS banishcd and suffering for the
common good becomes subject OF III
difference if no, contempt Man wor-
ship is neither founded in reason nor be-
coming to those who indulge in it. No
man deserves worship. That is not a
sentiment which is due from one human
b,ing to another. But As by men great
human things are accomplished and i'm
plrtant events directed, men often stand
as typo, Representatives OF principles,
which are attributes of tn Creator and
deserve human worship. Everybody
knew that whcu that great crowd vas
madlv rushing to get to the feet OF
Dewey at Montpelier that in the veins
Of many ten drops OF blood were stirred
hv selfish considerations to on" by drYo-
ton to the hero. No out is hardy
enough to pretend that il the greatest
rash the politician forgot his campaign
or the woman her new bonnet. But no
one dreamed thai this great apotheosis
was composed Of the tickle, coquettiSh,
flwning and treacharous elements that
it was. 1t might we'll be supposed that
some if not a majority were doing no.
mage to an abstract heroism that be
longed to the country and was above
personal considerations, And doubtless
there were candid people in that inordl-
nately passionate rush who really were
doing homage to a heroism that would
not die with the man, but which was
universal and immortal; men who re-
oiced, not that George Dewey had So
much heroism which would die with him.
but that the country had so much which
would forever live.
But these are queer times, and the
crowd worship figures and outward
forms, the mayors hat the governors
pose and the hero's buttons; but it is
such a vast movement that no one can
distinguish in it sounds of sincere devo
ton from the balbutes of ignorance
The hero is followed by huge inconsid
crate mass composed of almost number
less individuals yieing each with others
in noisy demonstrations. The fever anC
the passion has grown so intense anc
unrestraincd by the fact that the coun
try has not by unavoidable misfortune
lost its chart and compass but has volun
tarilv thrown them overheard into the
sea, that when one asked to contribute
to means to buy palace for the here
suggested that there are many poor anC
needy among us and that when the here
should be in want he (the solicited
would contribute, he is denounced as
traitor. The old foundations Of thu
government being washed away tn
masses surge to and fro, now GOVERN!
the hero with fawning tiattery, mad
sickening by excess, then rushing hin
to deepest condemnation.
Has the nation no possession of or IL
terest in the heroism that all the land
yes, all the world, is falling down t.
worship? Is it simply incidental TO
= man and to be possessed and worn dun
ing good behavior? What tendency doe
it have towards the cultivation and c4
ercisc Of that bravery which keeps thi
country in its proud position to take it
model hero today and bear him in gram
professions, chanting his praises as if h
was demigoa, then for all the world t
turn from him in feigned contempt to
morrow, because of what? Because h
has BETRAYED his country? No. Be
cause he has done something that affect
her? No. He has done nothing in II
spect to anything which concerns tn
nation. Tired of war, and having spen
nearly his whole life i'll preparing for it
he supplied the only thing in which tn
country was lacking in ronown by TAX
ing her from the imputation OF heinz
weak on the water and on her coast anc
filling the whole world with the fame o
her navy He turned modestly from al
the Tutoring allurem,ata surrounding
The White House. His friends gave hil
home. He married wife, ana 1t
not claimed that s. Q is not in every wa