The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-14
Tuesday. October Ia, 1879
RESERVED POWER.

OuI h6ncst eonNcps1oh " to"
is an indefinite one. We express
that indefinite conception by the terms
infinite, incomprebensible. omnipotent.
1t is not what We see or comprehend.
but that which is beyond, unseen
and reserved, that challenges cur
admiration and commands our reyer
ence. when we can fully comprehend
or measure the physical. moral or intel |
lectual power Of being, we can have
no reverence for that being. Reverence
is a tribute to the inoompreheusible.
The highest type Of power is intellec-
tual. Physical power is but the result
of mental energies The locomotive.
the highest embodiment of physical
power, may excite our wonder, bnt
never command our reverence, because
we fully understand the nature and
cause of its operative forces. Then
there is behind or beyond it mental
or creative power which brought it into
being, kiudled its lungs of FIRE. and
infused into its steel members portion
of its own mental power-likc IS the
Creator of man brea,hed into his nos
trils the breath of life, and he became
a living monument OF Divine power.
The locomotive 10 the highest typo OF
human power-man of Divine power.
In our estimate Of the intellectual
power OF men it is always an important
point to know whether what We see or
hear is q full measure Of his mental
forces. If it 10, and he leaves on our
mind no impression Of reserved force
or power which be could command. II
desirable, he sensibly diminishes our
admiration. Splendid may be the ora
ton, all aname with convincing logic
and burning eloqueuce, if we feel it is
not all Of the man, but that there is an
unfathomed depth of power in reserve.
our admiration is greatly heightened and
thereby. Webster, great as bis per
formanccs showed him to be-clcar in
statement. irresistible in logic. grand in
his conceptions Of truth and matchlsss
in its delivery-yet the admiration OF
his friends aud the dread Of his enemies
rested not so much on what he did rs
upon what they believed him capable
of doing. He never delivered speech
in his life that his friends or enemies
accepted ~ o full measure Of his intel
lect"nl power The impression always
left WAS that there was n grad force in
reserve.
We are constantly bu. inscrsibly, it
may be. applying this rule in our esti-
mate Of the intellectual power of men.
He who is growing mentally from day
to day and from year to year generally
imprcsses others with the belief OF re-
served power. But in order that this
rule may apply in a marked manner.
there must DO enough intellectual force
developed at first to arrest attention
aud command respect; afterwards it
must broaden aud deepen and ascend to
tho full demand OF every occasion. II
90. it always leaves the impression Of
reserved force. Belief that the man will
DO great il tho occasion shall require in.
tellectual greatness always intensifes
our respect for his INTEL sexual capa-
cities.
II is mysterious how some silent men
have impressed the world with the be.
lief Of wonderful reserve forces. Not
TO be tedious in illustration. let us say
such was tho Prince 1T Orange or Will
liam the Silent; suci is our own illus
triou, eountryman. Gen. Grant, 1t is
true that both Of these man arc 70
nowned for their deeds their historc
achievements. Both were comm ~ ders
o. armies, AMI both served their coun.
tries in the time Of their countries need
Both proved themselves equal to every
position 10 which the preference Of their
countrymen called them. Both were
silent men. One Of the sIrest founds-
tions Of Grants popularity is the belief
Ia his reserve powers. Great as were
the difficulties in tho past. he proved
himself equal to them; greater may be
the exigencies Of the future, but the
world believes and the American people
believe that his reserve forces would
not only equal but overmatch them.
This is the secret of his popularity and
power.