The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-04-08
CORRESPONDENTS.
CFor the Chisf.)
WILL POWER,
An OratieB Delivered NJ the Annual Contest
Of Highland raiver.iiy, March 1oth, 1873.
BrF. 7. eATEs, o. rHE cIIo.orHIc socIErr.


The physical universe presents many of beauty
many pictures Of sublimity. many curious and difficult
problems Yet. wonderful and inviting than the
material creation is the immortal mind bOundess in its
capacities 90 mysterious and exhaustess in its ener
ges the image Of its Creator; and of all the mental fac
utes few but have received recognition
elements Of power. not but has received
conscientious culture than the will Indeed determined
and resolue viii is deplored by many unfortunate
Characteristic those who admire only the mlder
elements it presents few attractions It is simple
ornament to aorn and the social circle 1t imParts
bOldness and ruggeness Of outline which throws into
the back aground the genter eatHres and brings into
eharmess prominence the and fOrcefnl quail
ties 1t is the bone and sinew of the being and the vital
force which gives 10 character its effectiveness and might
and determines its influence upon society and the world
The viii Is the Of the mind There can be
exeron nf mental physical power without Its use
It human thought and human sensbility in
themselves mPotent into the vital frces which move and
rule the world.
The will is twofoi in its action-aggressive and re-
sstve As aggressive rce il is to mind what Teoci
ty is There a law in mechanics. that the
force Of moving body is equal to its weight multiplied
by its Velocity; and personal power may he estimated
largely by the weight the intellect multiplied by the
force Of the will Tho primary idea of power is not in
amount Of but in the exeItinn of them man
might be endowed with all the mental resources which
combine sswering intellect his reasoning facial
might rrrtct his perception clear his Judgment
unerring; yet Ire tmid to take active part in
the battle life If he hesitate to marshal these forces
upon the field of bold and vigorous aeton If he has
po-er Of U carry the dictates Of his intellect his
| rrrat endowmeuts must cnunt him for naught and a
creature circumstances victim Of rrcsoluton and
decision his life must amid the gloom Of dsappot
| ed hopes. Many
| Whose hand the rod OF empire might have swayed-
Or walked to ecstasy the living Tyre"
has the humber walks Of life because had not pow
of will to rise above his surroundings and develop
! glorious possibilities.
Those who have exerted the widest Influence upon men,
who have controlled the channels Of thought moulded
the destnies of nations however remarkable in other
specs have been chiefly remarkable their dauntless
and unconquerabe Wills There many greater men
than Cromwell in Cromwes time, but given
that terrible viii which could demnish thrones
| ter Paramcnts, and revoluonize nation. The six.
teenth century produced many Of generous culture
and enlightened pety but it required the impetuous and
indomitable will Of Luther to sweep away the barriers
by ages Of intolerance and level path Ref
ormation.
Perhaps the marvellous achievements Of single strong
will may be attributed largely to its magnetic power
attach others its cause: inspire with own Tn
thusasm and Invigoate with its energy. yelling
ton said Of Napoleon that his simple presence in
worth forty Thousand Those Spanish and MI
indian braves whom Hannibal led through the de-
files and the icy peaks Of the Alps many
yuce Hanuibals to descend upon the plains of Italy
and annhilate two of the Granrs armies of Rome the
splendor of her power. We knnw how SheTi-
dams returning presence at Cedar Greek inspired his f
gtye soldiers with new courage and wrenched victory
from disaster and defeat MANY who can brave anv pbvs
ical DANCER mr. meet anv nurIv intellectual f,rce are nj
terlv unable TO resist the sway of troprer nature II
subtle silent force, of whose presence, though
| we instinctively conscious
But in the affairs of everyday life and cnterprise
STRENGTH Of will is an essential element of and