The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-07-01

who has ambition. presses forward with every
nerve strained to success nothing escapes
his attention, he tolls early and late, and
leaves no means untried in reaching the OBJ
ject of his desire.
The men who have won for this country
its present greatness, who have made it what
it il, were ambitious men; the men who have
stood high in art, in science, OF in literature
in this country or any other, have been am
bilious men. II made Hannibal. the scourge
of Italy. il made Shakespeare the prince of
poets, it made Daniel Webster, Americas
greatest orator and statesman. And il was
also this ambition that raised Napoleon Boz
naparte from the position of poor Corsican
Lieutenant, 10 that OF Emperor of France
the very heighth of human possibility, and yet,
as we all know. humbled him in his greatness.
But If Napoleon fell, and if others have like
wise fallen, the world yet owes tribute
! to her ambitions men. man without this
quality, be he rich or poor ignorant or
learned, cannot win in life.
The second quality which the successful
man must possess and which il closely al
lied to ambition is energy. Ambition is the
desire Of success, energy Is the means of at
tanning it, Energy is that internal strength
that makes man active and industrious it
is that which makes the attainment of ones
ambition real possibility
What young man especially needs when
he goes out to meet the real practical ques-
tons of life, is an energy so constant, so Wig
orous, and so well applied, that he may be
undismayed by the greatest difficulties that
he may rush on among his competitors with
out the least fear of defeat II is this spirit
which has animated all successful men.
The question AK to who shall win is not a
question or position, but a question of real
industry and labor. Men who have astonish-
ed the world by their genius and learning.
have done 1t by constant application, by
thOughtfulness and by indomitable energy !:
no obstacle seems 10 have been too great for
them to overcome, no ill-fortune seems to
have checked them in their onward course to
fame. Thus, energy is the fundamental prin-
cipe of individual. and hence. national pro-
gress.
A third, and perhaps the greatest quality
which IA man can possess, is integrity : il is
his guide throughout the whole course of
life. and points with unerring certainty to
the goal of his ambition. II is not confined
To men of renown. or to men of wealth, but
Is the common property of men of every
class and condition who start ont in life with
success and honor. Integrity is not only a
guide 10 US in this struggle, but IS also pro-
tector in the darkest hours and heaviest trials
/ of life. If man is upright and honest in
, all his efforts to succeed. he creates name
which no slanderouS tongue can III jure and
which will last as long and as firmly as in
. tegrity itsif. Nothing can injure the man
, or endanger his success as long "a he clings
. to his integrity.
? The devotees of wickedness and fraud
, may press ahead for a time and seem on the
, very point of victory. but they invariably be-
, come handicapped by their own wickedness.
/ by their Screenings and plots to reach the
| goal and while they thus struggle for az
? undue advantage over each other, the honest
upright man presses straight ahead, and in
spired by nothing of Ineanness or of fraud
comes out at last deserving victor.
Thus, man TO win must be the poSsessoi
: of three indispensable qualities these three
, will form the basis of all his actions, and on
= these he will build up reputation which
will last in time. according to the deeds OF
, his life and according TO the prize which he
! will have gained
} Hence, when a young man finds himself
! gifted by nature with ambition, energy and
integrity. he naturally fixes upon some goa
2 which he will gain in life. But the ways Oh
E life, over which he must go. are rough ano
; dangerous the struggle is long ano
many others seeking ~ gain the same prize
e Therefore. ne must 90 straight forward witt
an unwayering courage, with self-rel!an
4 spirit and fixed determination TO overcome
L every obstacle that besets his way. But while
he IL rushing on through the many scenes
1 of life he must consider for moment
: whether he has been discreet in fixing TIE
) goal which he is struggling to gain. Can h,
: fix it too far away : Can he over estimate
2 his gifts? These are serious questions fol
4 every young man who is fairly started on the
/ course of life. When We consider the nigh
ty effort required TO reach certain positions
. the powerful intellect, the strength of charac
g ter. the keenness of vision, we sincerely fee
that the mind can be put i'll pursuit of thai
beyond its reach. Hence, it il the duty OF
every one who would win for himself an
honorable place among men, to seriously con
slider his various qualifications. and to decide
upon some goal, fitted to his abilities which
he has good reasons to believe he can win.-
Nor is this all a young man who has really
made up his mind to win, who has really de
cided to become n competitor in this great
race of life, must be promptly at his posi-
I and when the word is given, must start out
with al earnestness and determination thai
cannot meet with failure that is. he must
grasp the first opportunity that presents itself
10 him. If he does not, he starts out with
unfavorable circumstances, he is continually
behind, and unless he is a genius himself. ht
, is unsuccessful at last. The most fiery spirit
the best laid plans, the highest qualities OF
I the mind and body have often met with fail
ure. simply because there were few seconds
delay at the start the grandest epochs oil
life are often those which lie just in the flu
; ture. Now is the time for action, and h,
) shall win who can seize the flying moment
as they come. and use them skillfully, Justly
and well.