The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1854-01-07
VOLUME xIv-N0. 775,
What the WIN can Ds.

What the wm eaa De.
IT was one Of the leading characteristics of
Napoleon to regard nothing as impossible. His
astonishing successes are to be attributed to his
intiemtable will scarcely less than his vast mill
:tafy genius. Wellington was distine Wished for
similar popularity. The entire Peninsnla
eaRr Rraigns was, indeed, but one long display of
on iron will, resoiute to c0nquet difficulties by
Eearing them out Alexander the Great was
quite as striking example of what power
fHi will can effect. His stubborn dctcrrHina-
tion to subduc the Ycfsians, his persevefaneA
In the Crisis of battle, and the emulation to :
yliich he thus stimulated his officers and men.
did more for his wonderful career of victory
Chan cvcn his great strategic abilities
In the life and death struggle between Epr-@
l9pd and Alance. during the FIRST fifteen wears
essiturysit stnhbcyss> ~sfzshss
forsNcr which carried the day fof though Ma
poleon defeated the British coalitions again and
again. new ones were as constantly formed. nm
til at last the French people, if not their EN-
peror, were completely worn out-Ihe battle
OF Waterloo, which the climax to this tre-
me"dous struggle, was also an illustration of
the sustained energy. the superior will of the
British. In that awiNl struggle, French i,npe-
! tuosity proved too weak for resolution. eve
will see who can pound the longest" said Wei
ngton, and as the British did they won the
battle.
Bat it is not only in military chcftans that
strong will is "a jewel of great price" Nations
and individuals will and this alike in large nm
dertakings and in small. 1t was the determin-
ed will of our forefathefs to which We are prin-
cipally indebted for our freedom.
For the first few years after the Declaration
OF Independence We lost most of the battles
that were fought; New York and Philadelphia
were successfully captured 10y the foe; South
Carolina fell; New Jersey was practically fe-
annexed to England; almost everything went
against us. Had the American people been
feeble and hesitating, all wonld have been lost.
But they resolved to conquer die. Though
their cities were taken, their fields ravished, and
their captured soldiers incarccrated in hideous
pr;son-ships, they still maintained the struggle,
| making the pilgrimage of freedom, if we may
speak in metaphor literally with naked feet,
which bled at every step. Had our fathers
been incapable at Valley Forge, had they
shrunk from the stornl-beaten march on Tren-
| ton, we should never have been an independent
| nation. There arc people in the Old World to
| day full Of genius well as of enthusiasm for
! liberty, who yet cannot achieve freedom, princ-
| paiiy, perhaps, because they want the indom-
| table will to walk the bloody pilgrimage.
/ To the individual strong will is as necessary
as to the nation. Even intellect is secondary
| in Importance to will. A vacillating man, no
matter what his Abilities is invariably pushed
aside, in the race of life, by the man of deter
mination. 1t is he who resolves to succeed,
| who begins resoutely again at every fresh rez
buff, that reaches the goal. The shores of for
tune are covered with the stranded wrecks Of
brilliant men, WHO have wanted energy and
| therefore courage and faith, and have perished
| in sight of more rcsolute, but less capable adj
ventarefs, who succeed in making port. In fact,
| talent without will is like steam dssipatine
itself in the atmosphere, while abilities CONTROL,
ed by energy are the same steam brought under
subsection a motive power. Or will is TIE
! rudder that steers the ship, which, whether a
fast-saing clipper or slow aver-barge, is
III -
sail-will is what drives it. The man with Il
will is the one that pulls the strings and catches
the dupes. Young men, starting out in life.
have will of your own! If you do not, you
will be ruined. 1fyon do, you will succeed,
even though your abilities be modcrate-Z,hiL-
aderAia Ledger.