The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-01-22
True Courage.

The great curse of the human race is
moral cowardice. 1t is malady inherent
to humanity. and presents itself in an in
finite variety of forms; no period of life is
exempt from its attacks: there is no posi-
tion in the social polity. from the President
to the artisan or day laborer, which is not
susceptible to its influence. The little word
NO, though the smallest word in the En-
glish language, is the most difficult to pro-
nounce, and to strictly adhere to when ut
tered. All the disappointments, all the
failures in the accomplishment of projected
schemes; all the vicissitudes and calamities
which chequer our earthly career; all the
troubles and difficulties arising from the in.
fringement of those natural laws by which
our bodies and minds are maintained in
their normal condition of health and
strength; all departures from the moral and
social laws which regulate and protect sOci-
ETY., may be directly or indirectly traced to
the wants of moral courage.
What a pleasant. harmonious. happy
world this would be if we only had the
courage of our convictions we only
obeyed the voice Of conscience. In the
arena of commerce. in the social circle. in
the halls of legislature, in the ordinary
course of our daily business, and even in
the sacred precincts of domestic life-we
evince the same timOrOusneSs, the same
fear of criticism or blame-the same tend
.ency to tempOrize; we have not the courage
of our opinions, and we dread to ''go it
alone" No matter how praiseworthy or
legitimate the project. we hesitate at es-
pousing it or advocating its principles. for
fear that it may bring down upon us and it
the redicule of our associates or the epposi-
ton of those differing from us in opinions;
and. accordingly. we either entirely abandon
our undertaking, or modify and alter it so
as to suit the popular view, wait for a
leader, and. like the silly sheep. follow him
'blindly and heedlessly wherever he may go.
If the venture is failure. or results in
leading us into trouble. we unhesitatingly
lay all the blame of our own foOlishness or
want of thought on the man who had the
courage to take the helm; if, on the contrary,
1t turns out to be asuccess, we unblushingly
hasten to congratulate ourselves on our
own foresight and enterprise. and selfishly
refuse the protector the slightest credit for
his skill and administrative ability.
1t is mainly to this pusillanimOus and
cOwardly spirit that we owe the great bulk
of our failures Individual or collectively.
There are. unfortunately, comparatively
few in any community fitted to be leaders or
managers in any undertaking, commercial or
Otherwise-few that have the requisite
amount of self. denial, forbearance, foresight.
integrity. energy. and pure grit or courage to
face every obstacle, overrule the timidity or
recklessness of those associated with them
or the generous fortitude to take on their
own shoulders the blame of their fellows
shortcomings. in addition to the errors or
weaknesses they themselves are at all times
liable to.
1t is truly said, in the book of Proverbs
that HE that ruleth his spirit is better than
he that taketh a city;" for, while the latter
may be effected in few days or hours, by
a single act of military strategy, the former
needs life time of incessant watchfulness
and care. This subject is of peculiar inter-