The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-10-15
THE LATE PRESIDENTS MAXIMS

! In illustration of the late President s
/ intellectual c laracter. the following eX-
tracts have been taken from Il work re-
/ Gently published by William II. Balch,
containing a collection of General Gar
fields maxims, rules of conduct, and
Judgment on society:
wonii rather be beaten in right than
succeed in wrong.
feel profoun,l-r reverence for 4 boy
than 4 man. never meet Il ragged boy
in the street without feeling that may
owe him Il salute. for | know not what
possibilities may be buttoned up under his
coat.
Poverty is uncomfortable. as / can tes-
tifl; but nine times out of ten the best
thing that can happen to young man is
to be tossed overheard aid compelled T."
sink or swim for himself. In all my ac-
uuaintances ] never knew mau to be
drowned who was worth saving.
Ii the power to do hard work is not
talent. it is the best possible substitute
for it.
Ii there be one thing upon this ealth
that mankind love and admire better
than another it is a brave man-it is q
man who iares to look the devil in the
ace and tell him lie is devil.
1t is one OF the precious mysteries
ii SORROW that it finds ,lacc in unscll>h
;hnught.
Every character is the joint product Of
nature and narture
1t has been fortunate that most Of our
greatest men have left no descendants t"
shine in the borrowed lustre of great
name.
An uncertain currency. that goes up
md down. hits the laborer and hits him
hard. 1t Ee'ps him last and hurts hin:
first.
We no longer attribute the untimcl,
icath of infants t" the sin Of Adam, hut
10 bad nursing and ignorance.
Coercion is the basis of every law III
the univcrSe-human or Divine. A Law
$ no lw without coercion behind it.
For the noblest man who lives there
cmaiHS IL conflict.
w lrlG reunions. not for the dead. fnl
herc is nothing in all the earth that you
,ni can do for the dead. They are past
'ur help and past our praise. We cali
'l:l them no glory; We can give tn them
~ Immortality. They d, not need us.
ut forever and for cvermore We need
hem.
Throughout the whole web of national
Xi>tcnce We trace the golden thread o;
,uman progress toward higher and
letter estate.
Heroes did not make our liberties, but
hey reflected and illustrated them.
Tie life and light Of 4 nation are insep-
.rahe.
After all. territory is but the body of q
nation. The people who inhabit its hills
md valleys are its soul, It's spirits, its
iife' In them dwells its hope of immor-
ality. Among them if anywhere, are to
,e found its chief elements of destruc-
ion.
1t matters little what may be the forms
IF national institutions. if the life, free
Ion, and growth of society are secured.
Finally. our great hope for the future
our great safeguard against dangers
q be found in the general and thorough
rlucatinn of our people. and in the virtue
which accompanies such education.
The germ of our political institutions
he primary cell from which they wer,
v"lved was in the New England town.
md the vital force. the informing soul o
he town was the town meeting. which.
or ali local concerns, vas King. Lords,
md Commons in ali.
1t is as much the duty Of all good men
- protect and defend the reputation O.
so.thy public servants Us to detect pub
&C rascalS.
Be tit tor more than the thing yoa are
low doing.
Ii y"u are not too large for the place
v.,n are too small for it.
Young men talk nf trusting to the spu
# the occasion. That trust is vain. DC
;aSions caun"t make spurs. Ii You ex-
sect to wear spurs You must win them. |
t .yon wish to use them YOU must bucki,
hem to your own heels before You ."
nto the fight.
Great ideas travel slowly and for a
time noisele>>ly. AS the g"ds whose let,
We're Sl.ol with wool.
What arts are tn the world Of matter.
| terature is to tie wul ld of mind
History is but the unr,lled scroll of
prophecy.
The worlds history is divine poem.
ii which the history of every nation is II
;tnto and every man a word. Its ST. an-
.ave been pealing along down the Gel
Jlircs. and though there have beer
uin. led the diScurIs of warning cannon
nd dying men, yet to the Christian.
philosopher and hi>torian-the humble
.istener-there has been a divine melody
canning through the song which speaks
II hope and halcyun days to come.
Light itself is great corrective. 4
thousand wrongs and abuses that ar.
-ruwn in darkness disappear like OWL
md bats before the light of day.
Lii c ty can be safe only when sufIrag,
is iu minated 10y education.
Parties have an organic life and spirit
If their own, an individuality and charac-
Ter which outiived the men who compose
chem, and the spirit and traditions of
patty should be considele ed in determine
ing reir fitness for managing the affairs
" nation.
IINrOI NJ AND GAREIET n