The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-09-02
SELF.CONFIDENCE.

have at certain stage of their develop
ment required organizing. This must be
done by men who are masters OF them
selves, who confde in their own powers
"Feel yourself and be not daunted by
things'' is the law of conduct which the
strong man prescribes for himself. One
sef-confding man, resting on his own
initiative, devisings, courage and hopes,
gives tone, character, energy, activity
and uplift to a whole community. The
nerveless, the weak, the timid, those who
cannot plan, much less execute, effectively,
instinctvely search out and consciously
or unconsciously cling to such leader and
will go whittier he goes.
So great and commanding is the quality
of self-confdence that mere buster and
bravado, the counterfeit presentments of
self-trust, have sometimes carried men of
mean and low quality far on the way to
some sort of triumph. Bacon in philo-
sophically facetious way remarks that it is
said of calumny, "Calumniate boldly, for
some Of it will stick,'' SO it may be said OF
ostentation, "Boldly sound your own
praises and some of them will stick"
Often clustering manner conceals timid,
quaking heart. Excessive self-conldence
may take the form of self-idolatry. 1t is
one of the striking sayings of Mirabeau
that Melebranche saw all things in God,
and Checker sees all things in Necker.'
1t is probable that the absolute and abiding
self-confidence that runs into self worship
has existed in certain great men, though
there were no offensive exhibition Of it.
The great tasks are done by men with
sublime self-trust, and in the infinite
gradations of success the men who rely
upon their own strength are in the van.
Thus runs an ancient maxim, "The strong
man and the waterfall channel their own
path" 1t has been so ordered or it so
happens that the mass of men remain the
followers of those who have the assurance
to push to the head of the line. 1t is easier
for most persons to trail along than to force
the leader to the rear, and so he holds his
place. Government began in some such
fashion. We are prone to imitation, adopt
ing not only the modes of dress of some
mysterious autocrat of style but accepting
without question the opinions of fallible
authorities. How many of US examine all
sides of moot questions, apply our own
reasoning powers to them and arrive at a
conclusion for which we can offer good
defense? There are acceptable authorities,
men of original genius, but the most of US
are instructed too much and are not at all
self confident in our opinions. Emerson
aptly describes this weakness in man, and
in some so-called leaders of light and
learning:
1--WE see it advertised that Mr.. Grand
will deliver an grafton on the Fourth of
July, and Mr.. Hand will speak before the
Mechanics Association. We do not GO
thither because we know that these gen.
tlemen will not communicate their own
character and being to the audience. II
we had reason to expect such communi-
cation We should 60 through all incon-
venience and opposition. The sick would
be carried in litters. But public Grafton
is an escapade, noncommittal, an apol-
ogy, gag, and not communication, not
a speech, not man."
The man who habitually looks to others
for help, who has not learned to rely firmly
on himself, will make no great figure
among his fellows, and will be fortunate il
he does not remain through life in the
"submerged" class. It is by sturdy in.
dividualism that notable things have beer
and will be done. "Have the courage moi
to adopt another's courage. There is
scope and resistance for us in our proper
work and circumstance" If we are no,
self-trustful we shall always be held by
leading strings. The yoke of servitude to
stronger and more resolute natures is the
bondage to which the mass of mankind
most willingly submit and accept as thei1
natural and inevitable condition.
We are bound in chains of conformity
to all that our sect, party, circle, class
clan or faction has prescribed for us. W.
are afraid to incur the odium which at.
taches to a dissenting opinion. We like
new clothing for our body, but take ou1
opinion second hand. We do not like te
appear peculiar in thought, word or deed
If Columbus had conformed to the opinion
of the average man. of his day he
would not have been so foolhardy as te