The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-08-13
Characteristic Sayings of Americans.


Some one with q good memory LOT sucn, mlSul
make q very readable article from the best re-
membered and most Characteristic sayings OF
Americans. Here are a few which may serve az
specimens of what might be done with time and
opportunity;
has his name associated with the phrase first ap-
piled by him to England" Nation of shop
Keepers
1t was John Wesley, and not Charles Sumner,
who first spoke of slavery (the slave trade) as
50 the sum of all yillainies."
Franklin said many things that have passed into
maxims, but nothing that is better known and
remembered than he has paid dear, very dear
for his whistle"
Washington made but few epigrammatic
speeches. Here is one: to be prepared for wal
is the most effectual means of preserving peace
Did you ever hear of old John Dickinson ?
Well, he wrote of Americans, in 1868 "by
uniting we stand, by dividing We fall"
Patrick Henry, as every school boy knows,
gave U.S. give me liberty or give me death, -
and, 90 if this be treason, make the most Of it,"
Thomas Paine had many quotable epigrammatic
sentences rose like a rocket, fell like a stick; )"
9 times that try mems souls " " one step from
the sublime to the ridiculous, " etc.
Jeferson's writings are SO besprinkled that it
is difficult to select. In despair we jump at g few
die and none resign" certain as applicable to
ofice-holders now as in Jefforson's time.
Josiah Quincy, Jr., said, " wheresoever, when
soever, or howsoever we shall be called on to
make our exit, we will die freemen."
Henry Lee gave Washington his immortal title,
" first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney declared in favor
of millions for defense, but not one cent for
tribute"
Peacefully if we can, forcibly if we must, - is
from Josiah Quincy, 1911.
John Adams did not say, Z" live or die. survive
or neriSh I'm for the Constitution ,; hut Daniel
Webster did say it for him.
The revolutionary age alone would give US our
article had we time to gather the pearls. Coming
down, we pass greater, but not more famous men,
for
Davy Crockett, the illustrious author of SO be
sure you're right, then go ahead"
Andrew jackson gave us, 1.-The Union-it
must be preserved"
Benton almost lost his original identity in
" Old Bullion" from his I" hard money doc
trines.
Gov. Throop of New York was called "Small
Light Throop" for years from a phrase in a
thanksgiving proclamation.
Scott's Sc hasty plate of soup lasted his life
time.
Taylor's battle order, ga little more grape,
Capt. Bragg will be quoted after he is forgotten
by 80 all the world and the rest of mankind"
Seward is known for the Z. irrepressible con-
flict wherever the English language is spoken.
Marcy's patched brooches are as well remem-
bered as his State papers.
Rufus Choate gave us g glitrering generalities.'
Our own Bill Allen, the " Chinese Cong is
responsible for " 54:40 or fight"
Tom Corwin's { welcome with bloody hands to
hospitable graves one of his noblest utterances,
gave him more unenviable criticism than any
other saying of his life.
Calhoun gave us State rights as q most
pernicious and absurd equivalent for national SUI
premacy under the Constitution.
nnu0iasapnlied 80 snuattnr sovereipntv ''thOuuh
it is probable that Cass invented and Calhoun
named 1T.
Stringfellow was the original 60 Border Rufian."
War times gave us no end of epigrammatic ut
Those of Lincoln alone would fill a
volume. Chiefest of all these that noble, god-like
sentiment, =" with charity for all and malice to-
ward nome"
McCIellan's chief exploit was to make us ac-
with the phrase g change of base
Grant gave us fight it out on this line,'
$ unconditional surrender, - " | propose to move
upon your works, : bottled up
and a hundred others. 1t seems to have escaped
notice that Grant is responsible for more of these
characterizing, elementary crystalizations of
thought than any military leader of modern times.
Sherman first gave utterance to the great truth,
at once craftsmanship and military sa-
The Confederacy is a shell, - and he
had the rare felicity of practically demonstrating |
his own theorem by the q March TO the Sea-
Sheridan's character and his style of fighting
Ire expressed by " sent them whirling up the
Pope's unfortunate orders from 8. headquarters
IN the saddle gave Gen. Lee opportunity for
he one solitary joke of his lifetime what can
you expect of a General who puts his headquarters
where his headquarters ought to be 20
Butler, more incisive with the pen than with
The sword, cut through one of the knottiest prob
ems of the war with the name, &c contraband.
I