Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-09-06


Conventions ON Saturday, August d. iSSy.
and the County Conventions De held on
Wednesday, September T. 1859:
G. H. WARNER, Chairman. q.
NJ. KAUFMAN, Secretary.
MEN WANTED AND WHY.
In treating OF this subject in a pre-
vious issue, it was insisted as necessa-
ry, in order to be manly, that we
should be firm; but it is also highly
important that bravery accompany
firmness. Not that physical bravery
characteristic of the back-woodsman,
the pioneer, the scout, the soldier, all
Injured to every species Of hardship and
danger, although this sort of bravery
is we'll in its way, and there is no need
of depreciating it. But there is q
bravery Drawer than this; nObler,
grander, better; a moral bravery which
dares to do good thing, which dares
to speak true word, which dares to
stand by just cause, in the face of
whoever or whatever objects are OPP
posed. It was this kind of bravery
which actuated Luther and showed his
manliness when he replied to the
elector of Saxony who advised him
not to 80 to Worms: II will 20 to
the Council Of Worms, though there
be as many devils in my way as there
are tiles ON the roofs OF the houses"
What is required is to be brave enough
to go or stay, to speak or be silent, to
do or refrain from doing at duty's bid
ing, without considering the probable
consequences to ourselves; brave
enough to say yes when yes is right,
and no when no is right; brave enough
to live upon the resources of our own
self-respecting personality, to stick to
realities and avoid shams. In short,
we must have courage to "dare do
all that becomes a man." not forget
ting that who dares do more is none."
But we must not conclude these
moralizings without . word in refer
ence to another quality of manly char
acter which we call fidelity and which
makes men true: that quality that will
win men to trust us and put their
faith in US. How it rivets men to-
gether, barring out all suspicion and
distrl,st, bond Of noble friendship.
The absence Of this quality makes the
cunning, willy, artful dodger, the low
politician, the shark, the sneak and the
traitor. In its absence, associations OF
men are held together by ropes Of
sand; every man is made police to
suspect and watch every other man
mutual trust dies; faith in one anoth-
er dies. If all men were true, true as
steel; faithful. reliable, trustworthy
what gain Of time and ability, Of pa
thence and temper would occur. A true
man., one who gives his word and
doesn't take it back; who passes his
promise and keeps it; who stands up
behind his statements and makes them
good; who clasps your hand with
whole-heartedness; who looks into your
eye with a sincere, unflinching gaze
which says, II mean all / say and
nothing else, what luxury is such
mani And yet such we must be, il
we would fill up the measure of man.
hood. We must be 80 true that those
who know us cannot doubt us; that
they will consider our simple word as
good as the best bond; that they will
trust US with anything they will trust
with themselves; that our charac-
ter will be to them . sufficient
pledge and explanation of our conduct
under the most extraordinary and try
ing circumstances, 20 true indeed, in
principle and practice, that the habit
Of fidelity will seize upon and hold US
to its unyielding rule, even when
temptation is strongest and opportuni-
ty the fullest and general morality in
the community the most lax: for a
true man, one who is true to principle,
true to conscience, true to right, true
in every place and time you can put
him ,such man is 20 noble as to
command the respect and veneration,
and almost the homage of all who
know him.
Such men are wanted everywhere,
in every country, every state, every
town and city and indeed every COM
munity. It is hardly necessary to say
why, because it must be patent to all
that these elements Of character are
absolutely necessity in . well-orga-
nized and well-conditioned society
necessary for the advancement, inn
provement, safety and elevation, indi-
vidually and collectively, of every
community.
Now, while it is far from US to draw
comparisons or cast reflections upon
any locality, for good men and true
abound, especially throughout the
Northwest, yet our fair city of Olym-
pia has such widespread and envia-
:, BILE reputation for the intelligent and
manly character of it's people, and the
excellence Of it's social condition, that
we are DESTROYS Of seeing its noble rep
utation maintained.
This is why we have called atten-
ton to those questions OF character
that constitute true and uoble man.
hood, that they may continue to be
more and moro cultivated to tho end,
not only that our good name may be
nobly sustained, but may increase with
our increasing population. .a