Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-07-28

deuteronomy, XXI,
Nothing is more surprising to
the careful observer than the
qualities of character which are
developed by an emergency, like
the present war, for example.
1t seems as though our men are
so ablaze with enthusiasm that a
decades growth takes place in a
month,
Courage, that kind of courage
which consciously and willingly
faces death, is so frequently seen
that it has become gloriously and
almost awfully monotonous.
Each days history is dotted
with deeds of daring like stars in
a constellation, and we can scar
cely eulogize one man without
manifest injustice to others. When
all are heroes even praise becomes
dumb.
If we are entirely impartial, we
must extend the limits of this
criticism until it includes those
whom we call our enemies also.
Human nature on fire is the same
all the world over When Vain
right received Cervera with warm
admiration of his bravery, and Of
fered deserved praise to one who,
after leading a forlorn hope, was
forced to surrender, he tacitly ad-
mitted that under circumstances
which naturally provoked it cour-
age is the common property of
mankind.
No matter in what cline a man
may be reared, Or whether the
cause he defends is by US consider
ed worthy or not, if he is moved
by a sufficiently strong i'm
pulse he is quickly changed from
a pigmy into giant, and thereaf-
ter he does a giants work.
We have tens of thousands of
giants of this kind in the field, in
the camp, behind intrenchments,
and for the purpose which we have
in view at this moment we are proud
of the fact that there are also
giants facing death under a hos
tile flag.
We are proud because we believe
that all human beings are capable
of extraordinary development un-
der fostering conditions; that there
is gradeur in. our common ma
ture which needs only an inclting
cause to show itself.
Mankind does not appreciate
itself. God made men noble, and
nobility should run through ev-
cry phase of life. We ought to be-
stow more thought on our high
destiny, on the qualities with
which we are endowed for it's ac-
complishment.
We are dormant, sluggish. in
dolent spiritually. Unusual con-
ditiens produce great men. There
never was time when the right
men did not step to the front to
meet and conquer an exigency.
The ability is always there, but it
sleeps until it is roughly awak-
ened by some terrible shock, and
then the country is suddenly
filled with heroes. That inability
to overcome is in you as well as
in the man behind earthworks.
You are larger than you think
yourself, There is nothing in your
experience which cannot be met
with a soldiers courage and used
in the production of a fine char
acter.
We live in the delusion that
life is common and ordinary /;
that we lack the opportunity to
make ourselves really great. And
yet there is neither one man nor
one woman in a million who has
not an environment to make a.
hero or a heroine withal.
If your lot is cast in poverty,
in drudgery, in inharmony which
hampers and discourages, amid
confning duties that prevent and
disturb-that is your battlefield,
these are your enemies, and you
must either conquer or surrender.
Tt will never do to find fault with
Providence, for perhaps Provi-
dence has put you where you are
with purpose. So might the sol
der find fault with his general
because be is not where he thinks