Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-04
Man who Nave Been SIandcrcd.

/
/ It is pointed out that the men VINO
received the highest votes Ior places
in the Hall of Fame are nearly Az
men who had to bear gross calumny
or scornfulness from their contempt
raries. Washington was COLO
hooded aristocrat"; Lincoln was both
a clown" and a 'tyrant Grant vas
a butcher; Emerson was a dream
or lost in clouds; and something or
! similar nature could be cited as hav-
ing been said of many Of the other
men who are now honored. There IS,
"a avarv reader of history win recos
nize. nothing new about THIS. me
tendency of men to build the tomps OF
the prophets whom their fathers mad
stoned was commented upon before
Jesus called the attention or the Jews
to their characteristic habit. Exam
pies Of such belated honor are every
where in the civilized world.
memorial Of Oliver Cromwell now at
tests Britain's pride in the 'usurper'
William Lloyd Garrison Is honored by
statue in the city where he was
dragged through the streets with a
ronc about his neck; and Thomas JEFF
ferson is appealed to as final author
ity by all the people of II country o.
whom more than half at one time
looked upon him as the most danger
Gus man within it's borders. On tho
other hand, the woe which all men
shall speak well Of you" has its full
fllment in pcsterity's scorn and for
getfulness Of the universally popular.
Weneed not govery far back, either. To
{, b. D
jurgattons Of the past operates. Not
many years ago. two men opposing
each other for the presidency were the
objects of the most unboundcd and
virulent opposition-James G.. Blaine
and Grover Cleveland. But even now
the Mulligan letters are all but for
gotten. so that they have 70 he labori-
ously explained to the very young
voter: and ninc-tcnths of the refer
cncgs to Mr.. Clevcland's administra-
ton are with respect to his suppress
sion of the Chinese riots and his stand
IN the Venezuelan matter-for both of
which he has FAR more praises than
condemnations In another generation.
Blaine win b. remembered only as
Henry Clay Is rcmemhcred-as an cN-
ample ~ the brilliant party Leader
who failed to reach the presidency
but who deserved the honor of his
countrymcn. while cleveland VIII ~
rated rs a President whose rugged
tenacity Of purpose and integrity az
conviction made him IA notable II not a
great chief Magistrate
Possibly it viii be- somewhat 50
with the mon who are now stanjinr
before the country as targets for
whatever of calUm0y and rcv.ling tho
intensity Of perverted party spirit can
devise. We incline to think, however.
that 70 circumstances something Of
this posthumous honor in forretful-
ness OF past dispraise is due. Washing
ton ami Lincoln and Grant and Emer-
son were not the only men who were
grossly attacked by their contem-
poraries; they had plenty Of com
paninns in this afiiction. and most Of
these companinos are forgotten today.
OF Emerson it may he said that he
elevated himself into a lasting fame
BY the sheer force Of his own intellect;
but the statesmen and soldiers owe
something-much in truth-to condi-
tons wlSch We're the accomplishments
of their lives And it may well be that
a man will never have the chance ID
demonstrate that the accusations
which his enemies made We're base
less Fame is partly q creature of
fortune. and how much il is worth to
its possessor has never been unani
m0usiy decentralization the New
Bedford Standard.