Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-10-04
Bunker Hill Correspondence.

After hard days drive through the
country, several things which were
brought to my view prompted me to
have talk with you tonight OH De-
cisive Integrity. The man who is so
conscious of the rectitude of his inten-
tions as to be willing to open his
bosom to the inspection of the world,
is in possession of one of the strongest
pillars of decided character. The
course of such man will be firm and
steady, because he has nothing to tear
| from the world and is sure of the sup
port of all men. While he who is
i conscious of secret and dark designs
which, if known, would blast him and
keep him shrinking and lodging from
public observation. Such man may
indeed pursue his plans steadily /; he
may waste himself to a skeleton in
the guilty pursuit; but tits impossible
! for him TO pursue them with the same
health-inspiring confidence with those
that feel that they are in pursuit of
honest ends by honest means. The
clear, unelouded brow, the open coun-
tenance, the brilliant eye which can
look a man steadfastly yet courteous
ly in the face, belong to him whose
OOSOsll 10 AiSC Al0hl kuiAO aud NHO
knows that all his motives and pur-
poses are pure and right. Let your
first step, then, be that which will
give you decision of character, 10 be
honest in all you do, discharging all
your duties both public and private,
both open and secret, with the most
scrupulous integrity, in that sense
which drives from the bosom all dark,
debasing considerations of self; and
substitute in their place a holder,
loftier and nobler spirit, one that
well dispose you to consider your
selves as born not so much for your
self as for your country and your fell
low creatures, and which will lead
you to act on every occasion sincerely
and justly. There is morality on a
larger scale perfectly consistent with a
just attention to your own affairs,
which it would be the height of folly
to neglect generous expansion, a
proud elevation of character which is
the best preparation for a decided
course in every situation into which
you can be thrown it is to this high
and noble tone of character all men
should aspire.
Yes, thou strong advocate of Truth,
| am weary and so are all men regard
less of party, of any man who comes
under the head of cranks and sore
heads, more especially those who
don't stick TO their text. Will you
kindly inform Old Nick where he in
any of his writings uses the word
"taters ," but can conviently make
use of the word at this time by saying
that the man who has been Repub-
lican all his life, then drops from this
lifelong profession for a mere trifie, is
small " taters and few in a hill.
You spoke of sins of the party. Great
Jehovah, how thin if protection to
American industry and to the farmer
and laboring man is a sin, l say for
the love of heaven give me more of
that sin and now my dear sir, may i
not insist upon you to show all that
truth and bravery by coming out
honestly and not hide behind nom
de plume, otherwise Old Nick and all
sound thinking people will think you
never were in the ranks of the great
army of protectionists. II there is
any chance for reformation | would
advise you to be like the ocean, that
noblest emblem of majestic decision,
which in the calmest hour still heaves
its resistless might of water to the
shore, filling the land night and day
with its echoes of its sublime declara-
ton of principle, tossing and sporting
on its bed with q consciousness of
strength that laughs at defeat. 1t is
the weight, power and purity that /
would have you to resemble, and like
| these waters to become the Durer nv
your own actions. l sincerely hope If
you are one of those enthusiastic
Puritans, fall asleep and when you
awake find that the truth and fear
have disappeared and you are sadder
if not a wiser man.
8, $3.50. OLD NICK.