The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-12-13

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1t requires moral courage to get through
this world in any kind of a respectable style.
It is absolutely indispensable. You will find
lions crouching in your way, bullet not their
ferocious mein alright you. Meet their glare
of terror with uhdannted gaze. Press on,
undismiyed, invincible in your God-giveu
strength, press on. Mountains will dwindlS
to hills, and these hills viii melt to plains.
To-day, the clouds lower, the tempest bowls
and the thunders crash, tomorrow will be 8
sunny calm. Dependency is the FIRST step OF
! the base coward to suicide, who shrinkS from
the stupendous responsibilities of life.
To us were given mental and physical SyS-
tens of power and endurance, that We may
answer the ends of our creation and fulfill
the grand and sublime destiny Of our mis-
sion. We were not made to be I" cumbercrs
of the ground n void ard desOlation in the
realms of created matter. We we're made
to hope, and not to repine, to achieve some
purpose essential "to the amazing whole OF
the woudrous plan," and not to be cyphers
hanging upon the point Of eternal zero. The
lives of the greatest and most illustriouS
players 10 the drama Of the world are so
many testimonies to the truth that energy 10
the sutomaton of success.
Tamerlane defeated in battle and deserted
by his war weary and battered %soldiery threw
himself down amid the ruins Of = Tartar
Cnrnvanscra. 10 die ia 3 solitude and dis
grace which seemed inevitable. As te lay
PROSTATE on the ground, surviving to live
yet wishing for death, his eye was attracted
by an ant endeNvoring to carry a grain of
cora up the wall into a ~crevice. Ninety and
nine attempts were made aud on the hum
ireth it succeeded. HIS zeal WAS revived to
its former intensity, courage r~etHrned 10 the
heart aad will to the mind. He reasoned
thus. "Shall this little creature whose life IL
n mere nothing and endowed only with in
stinct, strive until il succeeds, whilst | a man
and the leader Of armies give up all further
effort afttr a siagle bHtlle." He sprang from
the ground; fourd'a troop Of bis followers on
the outside, and with this nucleus organized
a large army and cIosed his career the con-
quprer Of Rsia, the teTrorof Europe, and'the
wonder Of the world.
The romantic history Of the "Corsican
youth" is another striking illustration of the
capabilities of man when energissd to their
fullest scope. By his iron will and determi-
he arose from obscurity to the high
est pinnacle u human power and distinc-
and gained one o! the ~proujest thrones
on which the sun ever dawned, surprising
all that has been told Of Roman, Persian aud
glory. The opposition of man,
time and space presented no difficulties he
not surmOunt. The same hope burned
and glOwed within his bosom, the same mo-
lives and feelings animated his heart, leading
his willing and idoliEing followers amid glA-
cier and nyAancte up to the hoary SammitB
the Alps frcwning upon their tolls IN ibleak
and savage grandeur, or lodging them 10 n
wilderness of Russian SHOWS, 40 when Ttalia's
skies and ~tearesB gBmmep favour
I'd his progress over her lovely plAihl. Not
outstanding the failure Of ~higsIPedi,i.n to
his frsf disaster and eTpatriatiOn, bis
overthrow and Punishment, be never
.isspairrd Of the triumph OF those principles
II government for which be fought Arab
nd Ally alike. Undsr this g~risvouS aceu-
imitation Of u'sfortuneS rendered still more
By his Imprisonment on the VsrduTs-
tss and storm scatbsd rock or 81. Helena,
'heu bis weak and enerVA,ed body was
,orturouSly slow Into the tomb, be
abandoned that en,rU Of mind, inrin-
ibiliiy Of will ard dselIios Of purpose
Ibi,s required ths srts Of 9 world Tor their