The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-26
THURSDAY EvE'G. DEC. &c, 1877;
FORCE OF CHARACTER.

Neither genius, talent, tact, natural ablli-
ties, nor intellectual requirements amount
to anything without force of character
patient, persistent, untiring force Of charac-
ter. Hundreds undoubtedly, possessing
rare genius and good talents, have lived
and died without leaving trace behind
simply from lack of individual stamina and
decision. INDIGESTION has ruined more than
actual wiekedness.
70 excel in anything, requires concentra-
ton and unfaltering progress towards the
end to be attained. 1t is in vain we give
our children the advantages of education,
if we fail to instil into their minds the
necessity Of self-relance and energy. 1t is
as true now, as in the days Of the patriarch
Jacob, that force of character is necessary
to excellence. OF many of our young men J
it may now as then be said, unstable |
as water We shall not excel"
The love of popularity is great him
drance to individual independence. How
many we see who are ready to assent to
the opinions of all they come IN contact
with, whether those opinions are at one ex-
IRENE or the other. You never know where
to look for such men. They remain on the
fence of neutrality, ready to obey at call
the party on either side. Human weather.
cocks. they white and turn with every
gust. Their only use is as tools to be
welded by minds Of individual force. OBJ
stinacy is better than vascillation; especially
when governed by right principle. Force
of character is not only requisite to con-
versation, but it is the foundation OF all
true reforms. No man can aid in religious,
moral. social or political reform, without
he possesses this important and all-essentIal
qualification. And like all other mental
qualities this can be increased add mtensl-
fed by cultivation. We say, sometimes,
s'snch man is born to command" "A
fairer statement would be such man
has inherent force of character" With
outfit. no man can insure respect, much less
exert commanding influence over
his fellow men. 1t is this
quality which has placed the Anglo
Saxon race in the van of the army of pro-
gress, and it is what will keep them there.
1t was the secret of the success OF Wash
ington of Taylor, who at the battle OF Beu.
ma Vista did not know when he was beat
en-, and of General Grant when he deter
mined to Eight it out on that line If il
took all SUMNER Real intellectual ane
moral force cannot be beaten. "Be SURF
you are right, then go ahead' comprises
in its brief and homely phraseology tn
true formula of success.
Prejudice is not necessary ingredlen
in decisive character. 1t is a grea
failing in a man to be unwilling t.
listen to opinions adverse to his own
1t is your duty to look on bot
sides Of every question, and then t
make up your mind, guided by truth an
reason. And as none are inialllble, 1t is
disgrace to alter ones opinion, when col
WINGED he is wrong; but rather an eyidene
of a love of the good and true. But is on
thing TO change, after calm considerable
aad due reflection, and another to be blow
about by every cnance Wlhu vi popu't
sentiment. If the men who first though
to lay the ocean cable, with their co-worl
ers, had bowed to popular opinion, Il
Atlantic telegraph would have remained
conecture-a visionary scheme, instead
being glorious fixed fact. Their persis
encc and perseverance, under the most di
couraging circumstances, is one OF the mo
remarkable illustrations of the power
individual force of character the history
our race furnishes. We need less OF tn
childish subserviency-this hanging on
others skirts, and more manly indlYid
atty, more force of character and tr
grit-and with the possession OF them
shall come out all right in Virginia.