Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-09-05
a}listtllanu.
CHARACTERISTIC SAYINGS OF
AMERICANS.

Some one with a good memory for such
might make very readable article from
the best remembered and most character
istic sayings of Americans Here are
few which may serve as specimens of
what might be done with time and oppor-
tunty.
Samuel Adams, known for many things.
seldom has his name associated with the
phrase first applied by him to England
''Nation of shop-keepersT
1t was John Wesley, and not Charles
Sumner who first spoke of slavery (the
slave trade) as 1.-THE sum Of all villanies."
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 epigram-
matte speeches. Here is one: ITO be
prepared for war is the most effectual
means of preserving peace.''
Did you ever hear of old John Dickin-
son? Well he wrote of Americans in 1903:
"By uniting we stand, by dividing we
fall"
Patrick Henry, as every school boy
knows, gave us: ''Give me liberty or give
me DEATH" and eff this be treason, make
the most of it."
Thomas Paine had many quotable cpl
gramatic sentences Rose like rocket,
fell like a stick:n Time that tries mems
souls" ''One step from the sublime to the
ridiculous" etc., etc. .#.......s
Jefferson's writings are SO besprinkled
that it is difficult to select. In despair we
Jump at Few die and none resign" cer-
tainly as applicable to otlice-holders now
as in ,Jefferson's time.
Josiah Quincy, Jr., said ''Wheresoever,
whatsoever, or howsoeyer, we shall be
called on to make our exit, we will die
| freemen."
Henry Lee gave Washington his immor-
tai title, First in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts of his countrymen."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney declared
in favor of Millions for defence, but not
one cent for tribute"
"Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we
must, "is from Josiah Quincy, 1911.
John Adams did not say, .'Live or Tie,
survive or perish, I'm for the constitution
but Daniel Webster did say it for him.
Davy Crockett, the illustrious author
of ''Be sure you are right, and then go
ahead
Andrew Jackson gave us The Union
it must be preserved"
SCOTS ''hasty plate of SOUP lasted his
lifetime Ate<t aa%
Taylor's battle order, "a little more
grape, captain Bragg" will be quoted af-
ter he is forgotten BY ''all the world and
the rest of mankind"
Seward is known for the ''irrepressible
conflict" wherever the English language
is spoken.
Rufus Choate gives us ''glittering gen.
eralities." srg
Tom Corwin's ''welcome with bloody
hands to hospitable graves" one of his no
blest utterances, gave him more unenvia-
bic criticism than any other saying of his
life
| Calhoun gave us Estate rights as a
most pernicious and absurd equivalent for
national supremacy under the Constitu-
ton.
Douglas applied 'squatter sovereignty
though it is probable that Cass invented
and Calhoun named it,
Stringfellow was the original Border
Ruilian.n
War times give us no end of epigram-
matte utterances Those of Lincoln alone
would fill volume. Chiefest of all these
that noble, Godlike sentiment, with
charity for all and malice toward none"
McClellan's chief exploit was to make
us acquainted with the phrase Change of
base
Grant gave us Eight it out on this
line, unconditional surrender" II pro-
pose to move Immediately upon your
works." ''bottled up" and hundred
others. 1t seems to have escaped notice
that Grant is responsible for more of
these characterizing, elementary crystal
izations of thought than any military lead
er of modern times.
Sherman first gave utterance to the
great truth, showing at once statesman
ship and military sagaeity, 1.-The confed-
eracy is SHE'LL" and he had the rare fe-
licity of practically demonstrating his
own theorey by the March to the sea-"
Sheridan's character and his style of
fighting are expressed by, "Sent them
whirling up the valley tlA
Pope's unfortunate orders from ''head-
quarters in the saddle" gave General Lee
opportunity for the one solitary joke OF
his lifetime ..What can you expect of a
general who puts his headquarters where
his hindquarters ought to be?"
Butler, more incisive with the pen than
with the sword, cut through one of the
knottiest problems of the war with the
name "Contraband. -Colum6us (O)
Journal.