The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-01-03
SUCCESS.
off.


t One of the self.made men Of this country
has given us his motto, "Success Is duty"
The aphorisn has truth In It, but Il 10 not
quite original; It IL only paraphrase of
the old injunction, $50 run that ye may OBJ
tain" The tent maker Of Tarsus was not
less wise In his generation than the Bobbin
Boy Of Massachusetts,.
ain aware that Paul uses this figure with
reference to the christian life, but II Is quite
pertinent TO worldly as well Us to spiritual
things. $50 run that yc may obtain" Is as
good advice for young hwyen, young
,radesmen, young mechaniq young work.
en In any calling. a. for " (ng christians.
"whatsoever thy hand "< to do" not
only make inignty ehJhs sSuS, t,'s --ssS IL
accomplish !, "wi,h thy might" Provision
is not made in sound philosophy for fail
ure in nny lawful undertaking. We nre
called upon not only to try to be masters OF
our situation In life, but 10 be masters Of
them. 1.-THE world be an oyster, according
to the proverb, our business is to open II;
not to stand haggling at !, till Il spells. This
truth, like every other, Is capable of per-
version. Il is our duty to succeed, but
what Is SUGGEST That Is question which
every young man should fully settle in his
own mind, before he begins his life.work.
The answer which he gives to 1t will no the
key to his future history.
1t is quite plain that tho acquisition Of
wealth, or fame, or position in society is
not necessarily success, in the best meaning
of that word. When, by a life OF rcc,itude
and bcncvoence, he gains any or all OF
these possessions, you mny we'll call him
successful, but not if ho acquire them
nv dishonesty or allack Of manlinoss There
is only one path that will lead you safely to
them. That is the straight road Of Chris.
tiun integrity.
But some of You arc answering me after
this fashion "rhat is good theory, but will
il work? Is not this the language Of en-
th,,siasrn rather than Of practical scnse ?
Can man succccd-that is the question:
upon such basis of principle? Is it posi-.
bic in this world, with perfect honesty and
,ru,hfhlncss, and by loving ones neighbor
as one self, to gain wealth or cminencc!
Is il not necessary to deviate from these
strict rules occasionally, in onlcr to sue.
coed? We nrc assured that success is a
duty. Then We arc commanded to seek it
only by path which seems to lead us away
from success! Il not tho alternative pro.
.en,cd TO us dishonesty or failurc?' You
will hear this cry every day. OF every
street OF every town in the land-"lt is 1T.
terly ,,sclcss for me to try to be perfectly
homes, and fair in my business: l cannot
succeed if do" I doubt no, these opin.
ions arc sincerely held by many persons.
Bu, I take the lilery If dissenting from
them in toto. believe that Success is surer
aud nearer by the way Of honesty than by
any other why.
The writer docs no, build OH simple phe.
ory in this matter. There arc some facts to
which he Is fond Of pointing. which seem
to him to have considerable Significance.
lie believes tina, if you 60 through the land
md pick OH, the men who have l'een most
successful in material point Of view, you
will find tina, the great majority Of them
have adhered rigidIy to the principles ofin.
,egri,y in oil their transactions.
There is no need that should mention
the name Of the most successful Statesman
f,his age. Is il not wntton upon oil our
hearts! And to what must his success be
attributed! Why did the people Of every
land love him 50 well and mourn him so
,eudcrly! !, was not because ofhis great
intellect (? For although his mental endow.
mems were ofno mean order although his
percep,ions were clear, and his judgment
was sound, there were many Others in the
nation who were fully his equals IN these
respects. Neither was Il because Of his