The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-08-30
fuXll.age.

meaning of Hue courage. The lack
of this comprehension of, or respect
for, true courage has cost the lives of
many worthy men. Goaded to anger
by the words or conduct of those who
were really far below them in the
scale of manhood, they have allowed
their false pride and lack of true cour-
age to urge them into duels and
other disgraceful personal encounters,
always to their own abasement, and
often to their sore dismay and ruin.
The true philosopher will hold him.
self above an insult, will hold himself
too high to be reached by anything
which is beneath his dignity. His re-
Elections will run in this wise: 81
am made the subject of an insult;
well, what of it? Have | done any
thing to give this man cause to insult
me? If | have, then am | deserving
of an insult from him, and will pass it
by in silence. If | have not, then the
insult is beneath my notice and | will
pass it by in silence also. In either
case l cannot afford to descend to the
level of this man."
Thus we see the philosopher can
not afford to lower himself because of
an insult from an inferior. But you
say, suppose he is insulted by one OF
his own station? He cannot be in
suited by one of his own station, for
an insult, proceeding from what
source it may, is always unworthy,
and should be treated with silent con-
tempt. 1t matters not from whence
its source; it is unworthy Of any
source.
1t is a very common thing even in
these days, since duels have ceased
to be regarded as respectable, for
men to resent insults by personal VIC
lence. The spirit of war is in the
world, Notwithstanding the Geneva
arbitration. And especially is this
true among young men and boys. The
code Of honor still exists. Ifanybody
doubts it, let him go on the street
and provoke the wrath of the average
street corner loafer. Boys and young
men in this countle talk great deal
about fighting. Many of them carry
concealed weapons, more than is gen
orally believed, and we frequently
hear them talk boistcrously about
shooting somebody, whipping some
body, or the like. Small matters are
regarded seriously, and often are
gladlyappropriated as reasons for bel
ligerent conduct. Such men are, in
the true sense, towards, moral cow
ards. They have not courage suili-
cient to maintain proper dignity.
1t requires dignity and moral courage
to walk silently away, while the words
of an insult come tingling into ones
ears. But it requires still greater
courage to bear without notice the
brand of coward, coward according to
the falsely so called code Of honor.
The man who possesses this quality
of courage may be depended upon in
the hour when real courage and BRAY
cry are necessary in good cause.
He will be on hand to relieve the OPP
pressed, or to do and die for an OBJ
ject which is worthy of personal sac
riice, while the boisterous bully, pu-
pilist or duelist, who would not hest
tate to insult respectable man, or
offer him personal violence, is not
ready to make any such sacrifice. We
should like to see the young men of
Vancouver taking a higher stand in
this respect. They too often talk of
whipping somebody for real or fan
cied wrongs. They should remember