executes, he must listen. His own judgment must pre- vail with him ; but it must be his own judgment quali- fied, enriched, by the judgment of those wiser, or even less wise. No one can impose his own personality, how- ever solid and sturdy, on the whole world.
This is what Longstreet tried to do, with exquisite and naive unconsciousness. And this quality of an immense self-confidence runs through his whole career with a steadiness which is very peculiar, very instructive — and very unfortunate. Note that Johnston's trouble was an over-sensitive pride. This is not Longstreet's main trou- ble ; nor was he largely stirred by wounded ambitions. " I am not prompted by any desire to do, or to attempt to do, great things. I only wish to do what I regard as my duty — give you the full benefit of my views." ^o And again : " If there is no duty to which I can be as- signed on this side of the Mississippi River without dis- placing an officer, I will cheerfully accept service in the trans-Mississippi Department." ^^ Note also that it is not a foolish conceit, or pig-headed pride of opinion. Once convince the man that he was in the wrong and he would have been perfectly ready to say, ** All my fault," and begin over again. But you never could convince him that he was wrong. There was one way to see the ques- tion in hand and that was the way he saw it, one way to act and that was the way he acted. Other ways and other views were incomplete, or unenlightened, or sim- ply stupid. No single quotation can sum up this attitude,
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