The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-02
The Value of Genuine Sincerity.

instinctively reverence, master build
ers of edifces, of governments, of in
situations, of character, master paint
ers, sculptors and poets, stern up
holders of truth, philanthropists and
martyrs. Yet, says the Columbus
Ga. Enquirer, whatever differing
traits of character they may possess,
or however various the channels in
which their powers move, they all
unite in one distinguishing character
istic--that of genuine sincerity
Whatever the truly great man be-
lieves, he believes with his whole soul;
whatever he strives to do, he does
with profound conviction that it
ought to be done; whatever message
he bears his fellow-men, it is one that
he feels urgently impelled to deliver.
There are men with extraordinary
powers in certain directions-with
energy, perseverance and discretion
who yet fail of real greatness for want
of this quality of sincerity. They
work assiduously and unweariedly,
perhaps, in certain cause, but in
their hearts the cause itself is second
airy, and they only value it as ameans
to some other end. Personal ambi-
ton, love of name or fame, or applause
or luxury, are the secret motives
which impel them, but which they do
not acknowledge, and they thus live a
double existence, one for the eyes of
the world, the other for their own
Such men may be successful, as they
count success; they may even. be
deemed great men for a time, but it
is greatnessnrss that cannot last, for
it bears within it the elements of de-
cay. Take two speakers, for example,
with equal advantages of natural abil-
ity and education, the only difference
being that one is enthused with the
cause he is pleading and the other
with his own eloquence. The latter
may please, amuse, instruct his audi
ence, and gain his end in their COM
mendation; but those who have listen
ed to the truly great orator viii be SO
impressed by the truths he has utter
ed, SO inspired by his sentiments, SO
aroused by his convictions, that they
may forget the greatness of the speaker
in the greatness of his subject. What
picture is that which chains us in
silent rapture or wonder, and before
which we stand mute, deeming praise
an impertinenceP Not that on which
the artist has labored to prove, to the
world his genius, but that in which
he has expressed his deepest thought,
his tenderest feelings, his most secret
soul. So the truly great statesmanis
he who with ability, wisdom and
foresight deVotes them all gladly to
his country's highest good, with
sincerity that precludes any thought
of what his country may or may not.
do for him; while the scheming poll
tician, be he ever so adroit ever SO
far-seeing, ever SO able, can never be
truly great man, for insincerity and
greatness are forever incompatible.
Though a man must be sincere in
order to be great. he need not be
great in order to be sincere. What
ever may be the size of our brain, the
strength of our powers, the talents of
any kind with which we are gifted,
sincerity of heart, of belief, of life,
is possible to us ALL It is of itself O
kind of greatness, which, in spite of
many drawbacks, win make itself felt.
The honest upright man, who lives
openly, fearlessly and truly, profess
ing only what he feels, upholding
only what he believes in, pretending
nothing, Disgusting nothing, deceiv-
ing no one, claims unconsciously q
respect and honor that we cannot give
to any degree Of power or ability
welded with dupIicity or cunning