San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-12
A WISE RETICENCE.

lie life IN this world who repent of the
Z unspoken word. 1t is.the spoken WORD
AZ that, like the arrow from the bow
cannot be recalled. Therefore it is
better not to send it forth. until there
is a certainty that the future will not
desire to recall it, In these times OF
Betrayal and. deceit, when suspicion
breeds in every corner and man new.
er knows who his political or personal
foes are until the time of adversely
tries him and them, it is well nst to
give yourself into the hands of any.
Better far that yourfriend be little
in doubt as to all that is in your mind,
than that your enemy should under
stand and be prepared in that knowl-
edge to illustrate your plans and reap
personal advantage thereby. You will
not lose at home and you may gain
abroad by wise reticence.
Blessed is that man, My Son, who
knows that he desires and why he de-
sires it; apd, not less blessed is he
who knows what he ought not to say
and says it not. The Youth and the
mature age of this country, the bui-
ness man and the politician, have had
a high example xecently set them as
to the wisdom and the value of this
reticence. Xjor sMcKinley has earned
for hims31[i the sobriquet of William
the Si6nt, because OF. his refusal to
- IL tongue in evidence against
himself for the benefit of his political
enemies. He is man not given to
secrecy, but he understood the times
and the enemies that were Hunting
for his political scalp, so took unto
himself silence as a garment and in
it's folds passed by his enemies.
TO a man of frank disposition, of
open and Ingenious mind, secrecy is
repellant. Such man always pre-
fers the freedom of openness and will
lingly risks the attacks that may fol-
low. But when the time comes in
which such openness is seen to be
dangerous, and the success of impor-
tant movements is perilled by such
frankness, the wise man shuts him
self up like q jack-knife and there is
no possibility of opening him until he
sees fit of his own accord. Teach a
man of thst Sempera'lent the necessi-
ty of sllence and the sphinx is not
moS- incomprehensible than he. In
~fhe example given above, the necessi-
ty of silence was so impressed upon
Major Mckinley that he would not
even speak to himself, what he did
not desire to say, for he knew that no
Interpretation of it but would be used
TO his disadvantage before the public.
Is it not possible that in our admira-
ton for openness we have crowded
the mourners little, and insisted
upon a mans turning himself inside
out for the benefit, too frequently, of
those who would only make merchan-
die of what IS llus revealed? Is it not
mjble-16at we Lated, at too
al a figure this so-called honesty
hat always declares frankly what is
S purpose? Is there not as wise and
potent reason for keeping silence con-
cerning much that we think and IN
tend to do, as there is in revealing 1t!
Is it a mark of strength of character,
pr its reverse, to be so open that all
1--WE aim, and aspire to do is
read Of all men? Is there not as much
virtue in keeping double lock upon
the door of our lips as in telling al
that we know upon the houseItops'
Il there not more danger to ourselves
Aaad to our friends from our openlht
oue mouths too wide, than in keepin,
theft zoo close?
Certain it is that the most success
ful men in the world have been or TN
latter class. The Nazarine philoso
nber did not commit himself to mer
for he knew their treachery. All wis
teachers in all ages have inculcate
the need of a wise reticence, and VIVA
has thus been taught and in the teaci
ing approved of success, may well .
considered as or value. There is M
"a successful man of business, of puI
lie affairs, in government Office, an,
where today, but is so because he hi
plgeonholed his knowledge and h
designs and put lock upon it al
y laidanembargo upon the speech of b
subordinates. Practical wisdom d
MES. the virtue of open and undl
gulsed movements IN the world
- - Eent Of all kind