The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-04-25
File [7emofraf-S Star
sELF.CONFIpENcE ANp sELF.WmL.


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Too much sell confidence,
strengthened AID exercised by
predominant self will-proved the
financial ram OF a multitude at
men, the wrecks Of whose enter
prises and schemes aad theories,
lab0rs, hopes and best aspirations
lie strewn out upon The face Of the
whole world in every direction and
in every cline, in every century
and in every phase Of human bust
ness. These multiplied examples
of the disaster and doom of these
over confident aud sell-Willed spe-
CimenS of Gods noLlest and best
creatures should be but iutelli-
gent and truthful! reminders and
teachers and fUTeWarnerS to those
who follow them. But it is not al
WAYS the case that those whose ma.
tural aad cultivated interests are
capsCliated to See ana know the
dangerous and treacherUus rocks
upon which so many countless lives
have been shattered aud DESTROYED
are sure To escape The hapless
doom that like an evil spirit has
Iurked over their heads and I'M
consciously dictated their every
thought and impulse and action
hurrying them onward and still on
ward towards, and finally over. the
preclpice that waits their coming.
But without the possession Of IA
considerable amount of felE-cOnf-
dence and self-will 10 eXecute-no
nan is likely to climb very high
upon the ladder Of worldly success
and worldly fame. A large amount
OF personal self-confidence and
sell-wlll, If properly appreciated
and wisely exercised, are manly
virtues of no mean prelensions
and value but if subjected tothe
uses OF a misguided judgment and
an un~cultIvated intellect-become
vices instead Of virtues.
The most unjust and tyranical
men we have any knowledge of
possesses these gifts TO a very large
degree, but are not either Inclined,
or individually able Of their own
strength to RESTRAIN their indul-
gence within The bounds of modera-
ton and In keeping with the laws of
justice and common char
iy. They are merciless because
they know moi how to be mercilul
and they are pictorial and domi,
neerlng and cruel because thew
have no power 10 bend their wills
and surrender their views in sub
servlence to the wills and views in
any mortal man. Their word is
law. They alone are right and in
taliible and no man should have I
the audaCity Of speech, and indie !
pcndence of thought. to differ with
them. They will brook no crit
cism and will acknowledge no is. [
sue, in woId or deed, TO be made
against their preconceived views, I
and prosecuted actions. They
assume responsibilities of such
grave and weighty character,
such as these sclf-confidcnt and
selfwilled men Of honor, would
shudder TO think of assuming.
Their wives mast bend the knee in L
servlle obedience to their every
whlm or caprice; their children =
are afraid of them and i'll at ease 4
IN their presence, and from the 1
cradle 10 years far beyond The are
OF maiurll y, cannot muster up the
com age 10 converse with them iua 4
Ire, familiar and unconotrained I
manner. !
Grief and misfortune and sick. I:
and disease, a declining age. s
and the spirit OF The Almighty y
sod itself, may IN a measure soft \
en- l%he,nature and modify to a de- z
gree lis fierce and harshness-bul g
rs to The outward change effected
until LIES race is run and The spir. {
It takes lis flight to Him who gave u
mot until then will The seli-con-
confidence and self-WiIl in their
combined power ana strength and
luraiIon-be broken.
Ihlsis but one of a special type p,
mankind. In the example above
we see much Of character to adj. CO
hire and 10 commend: but much
more TO displease, to criticise or TO -
condemn. i