Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-01-06
American Rpigrams.

80 American sEpiSrams.
Franklin said many things that have
passed into maxims, but nothing that
is better known and remembered
than, " He paid dear, very dear, for his
whistle" i T.. s.t'-.
Washington made but very few cpl
grammatic speeches. Here is one
"To prepare for war is the most etfec-
tual means of preserving peace"
Did you ever hear of old John Dicken-
son? Well, he wrote of Americans in
1868, "By uniting we stand, by divid-
ing we fall" ''-.
Patrick Henry, as every schoolboy
knows, gave us, "Give me liberty or
give me death" and I" If this be treason
make the most of it."
Thomas Paine had many quotable
epigrammatic sentences "Rose like
a rocket and came down like stick; )"
"Times that try mems souls y Gone
step from the sublime to the ridicu
lous," etc.
Jeffersons writings are so besprink-
led that it is difficult to select. In de-
spair we jump at Few die and none
resign" certainly as applicable now to
office holders as in Jefferson's time.
Henry Lee gave Washington his inn
mortal title, First in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen." .r.... ....
Charles Cotesworth Pickney declared
in favor of Millions for defense, but
not one cent for tribute
Peacefully if we can, forcibiy if
we must" is from Josiah Quincy,
1911.
John Adams did not say, "Live or
die, survive or perish, Pm for the Con-
stitution," but Daniel Webster said it
for him.
The revolutionary age alone would fill
our article, had we time to gather the
pearls Coming down, we pass greater,
but not more famous men.
Davv Crockett was the illustrious au
thor of Be sure you are right, then go
ahead" : y ~ - On
Andrew Jackson gave us " The Union
it must be preserved"
Benton almost lost his original iden-
tity in sold Bullion from his hard
money" doctrines.
SCOTS Hasty plate of soup" lasted
his lifetime.
Taylor's battle order, !" A little more
grape, Capt. Bragg" will be quoted at.
ter he is forgotten by all the world
and the rest OF mankind" l
Seward is known for the irrepressi-
BILE conflict" wherever the English Ian
guage is spoken.
Rufus Choate gave US. "glittering
generalities." ill.,. ~ .. ~, -
Tom Corwin's "welcome with bloody
hands to hospitable graves" gave him
more unenviable criticism than any
other saying of his life.
Calhoun gave US State rights" as a
most pernicious and absurd equivalent
for national supremacy under the Con-
Douglas applied "sqdatter sover-
eign," though it is probable that Cass
invented it and Calhoun named it.
Stringfellow was the original Bor-
der Rutfian."
War times gave us no end of epigram.
matte utterances. Those of Lincoln
alone would fill a volume; chiefest of all
these that noble, godlike sentiment,
"With charity for all, and malice to-
ward none" - ....
McClellan's chief exploit was to make
us acquainted with the phrase, 'Change
of base" L..
Grant gave US eight it out on this
line" Unconditional surrender" ~
propose to move Immediately upon
your works." " Bottled" and hundred
others.
Sherman first gave utterance to the
great truth, showing at once statesman
ship and military sagacity, "The Con
federacy is SHELF and he, had the fe-
licity of practically demonstrating his
own theorem by the "March to the
sea-" .,4. e.
Sheridan's character and his style of
fighting are best expressed by "Sept
them whirling up the valley.
Pope's unfortunate orders from
Headquarters in the saddle" gave
Gen. Lee opportunity for the one soil
tary joke of his lifetime = "What can
you expect of General who puts his
hea lquarters where his headquarters
ought to be ?"
Butler. more ,ineisive with the pen
than with the sword, cut through oneof
the knottiest problems of the war with
the name "Contraband." ,@ s''''