Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-11-29
NUMBER II

a statesman, that masterful, great man
growled, "a statesman is a politician
after DEATH"
We Of the present generation are
prone to believe that George Washing
ton was loved and reyered by all his
contemporaries even as he Is loved
and revered by US. He surely deserved
to be, but he was not. Americans OF
that day were willing to make him
commander in chief of the army which
achieved our Independence: they were
willing to elect him president SO often
as he would accept the Office, but they
always reserved the right to criticise
and revile him. When he quit the pre
idency, a large number Of neNS4eErs
fervently thanked Almighty Cod that
the old tyrant had stepped dol n and
out at last.
Thomas Jefferson is now universally
regarded as the profouHdesf phiIoso-
pher that ever devoted his life to states
manship- as the chief priest. apostle
and prophet Of civil liberty. III bis day
and generation he was bitterly and
brutallv assaiIed as an enemy Of or
ganized society. New England preach
ers took him for their text on Sundays
and mathematical him as tie anti
christ described in the Bible. yet ia
the recent campaign both imperialists5
and anti-imperialists claimed to be Jus
tilted in their theories and their con
duct by the doings and sayings of JEFF
ferson. Verify, the stone which the
builders rejected has become the head
of the corner!
Abuse OF Great Men.
The opposition papers from 1923 to
1886, both inclusive, represented An
drew Jackson as a ruff1an, a gambler,
a tyrant, murderer, the stealer Of an
other mans wife, yet there Is not cit
izen of the republic worthy Of bis BIRTH
right Of freedom who would be willing
to blot from the history of the repub-
lie the pages glorified by the deeds of
the leonine hero Of New Orleans.
While be lived Abraham Lincoln, by
long shot the greatest Republican that
ever lived and easily one of the four
great presidents, was denounced not
only by his Democratic opponents. but
also by his Republican enemies. as an
ape, a baboon, boor. yulgarian. an
imbecile and despot. thoagh hsAi1as
now universally recognized as -
man of vast capacity and as possess
ing one of the most generous hearts
that ever beat In human bosom.
1t is difficult to feel any great pity
for Senator Marcus A. Hanna He is
so trueulent and so domineering that
he arouses all cambativeness and all
the evil passions of his opponents. and
yet there was something almost pathet-
ic in his appeal for milder verdict on
himself when. before an Indiana audi
enee, be said. Il appear here tonight
to demonstrate Abaye not horns
and hoofs.D Sst :
Abuse is the FOOLS argument It II q
bad cause which has to be supported
by SANDER and vilifcation. In the
language of citizens Of BoyyilIe. a pub
lie man should be given chance for
his white alley. Personal merit where
it exists should be freely accorded to
q candidate. II should be laatier ok
pride With the peopleit closely con-
cerns the perpetnity Of the republic
~ ssss-,----5S puDlIc men snouid pg'sssss
t'spotless regulations. the richest treas-
ure mortal time affords
Coed name in man OF woman. dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel OF their souls;
Who steals M purse steals trash; tis something,
nothing;
twas mine, It's his. and has been slave 10 thou
sands;
But he that 6lehes from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriehes him
And makes poor indeed
My plea is for justice to public men.
The old saying. de mortuis nil nisi
bonum." is small consolation to a liT-
ing man. 1t should read. Say nothing
except that which is good concerning
either the living eT the dead