Our heroism has always been of life--our heroes have
conquered and lived to see the effect of conquest. We have fought
all sorts of wars and have never yet felt defeat. Washington,
Jackson, Taylor, Grant, all lived to enjoy, after successful war,
a triumphant peace. "These Americans," said a witty Frenchman,
"are either enormously lucky, or possessed of miraculous vitality.
You rarely kill them in battle, and if you wound them their wounds
are never mortal. Their history is but a chain of impossibilities
easily accomplished. Their undertakings have been without
preparation, their successes in the nature of stupendous
accidents." Such a statement may appear critically sound from a
Gallic point of view; but it leaves out the dominant element of
American character, namely, heroic efficiency. From the first we
have had the courage to undertake, the practical common sense
which overcomes the lack of technical training, and the vital
force which never flags under the stress of adversity.
Clark knew, when he set out on his march to Vincennes, that he was
not indulging a visionary impulse. The enterprise was one that
called for all that manhood could endure, but not more. With the
genius of a born leader he measured his task by his means. He knew
his own courage and fortitude, and understood the best capacity of
his men.
Pages:
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334