Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-05-31
aa(isetlla Meo II s
The Curse of Temporizing.

If men would only do what common
.ens, dictates as good judgment anu what
the instinct approves as natufaiiy just
we should need veiy littl" law and have no
social wars. The facts. however, thit .he
AVERAGE, OF human IA R:r i very 10" hiiio
men being moved by complete sciiiaiiue,
and therefore lack Of Jud -ment as well
honor-where one has both the honesty
and the courage to do right. American
communities are full of cNpedlcnts. lnet
even attend to social and religious o"''es
by odd Jobs. We start on pan W .'.o''-
uiish a certain work and it has got TO De
done. and done with despatch. whether II
i. diryinr a cellar or reforming a drunkard
or putting a church upon 4 paying OASIS.
One of the saldest results OF tins strange
thirst for eXpcdcnts that has happened oi
late. is now eliminating IN the west III the
sL,,o oc, labor strike. Both the great po-
liticalparties of Chicago cspoused the cause
of the "eiyht hour system and both are
bitterly denounced by the poor victims Oh
the i'll considered scheme. 1t Is oheoi TIE
most humilating spcctaclcs oil the tl'ic>'
thi. abiect and cruel disregard OF prudence
by great political parties anxious ON. "
~et. temporarily, Il few votes by cheating
and bv qualification. The cause OF the
workingmen in that region IS II ullied iof
months, and perhaps years. by the Tempo
riLine of schcming politicians. Ana 50 IL
is. There's nothing so hcartleSs and shof'
sighted that Il certain portion OF any POM
lead party will not commit itself TO ior par
.ty ends. and debdse not only The ca'i>t M
i;l the parties To the >ehene. aS the hA..fz
..ue dr!.Iahc- himself when lie polatco ID
uoccncc anywhere.
VIII it ever happen that moral or so
cial reform movement can be carried oii up
I Il At . -
a,. or must everything be proStitutcd to
the use of demagogues. rs for the last ic"
wears Of this rcpuhlc Portland lS"
There is food for daily thought in the
above from the Star viii men. and won-
en- too, ever learn to do right though the
heavens fall!
There is nothing in the signs of the pres
ent times to justify the hope that they Will
in this generation, or the next either. Tenn
porizin~, the use of eXpedientS. falling IN
with the multitude for the time being, and
CRYING with it, 'crucify him.. or asking Tor
The reverse of such a terrible sentence just
a, thoughlles>ly, seem to distinguish the
men of this age.
The sad result of the labor strike, and
the moral cowardice of most men on the
eight hour system, from the President down
10 the merest pot-house political demagogue
should teach those who have the influence,
and the position to be heard and felt, that
thcy should have spoken when their words
would have told on the question, and Whtn
they had uflicient influence to deter men
from rush ing on to ruin at the instiGation
of designing men. There is no use IN
talking. ten hours is little enough of time to
be considered days work. we wish we
could be let oil with twelve.
But the most suggestive paragraph in the
quotation is the concluding one. 1t would
seem that there is no such thing as ram
ily, or family government. or family ihilu-
cnce nt this time. The father bolts his
food and ru,hes to his bu,i.ess with rau-
road specd. and the mother G..S,eas 10 some
reform society and trusts 10 IL to educate
her children in self-denial and the prlncl-
Mos ot temperance and virtue. The Dane
i,y school must refine their manners, and
tbe restraint o: an org anization outside OF
the family circle must take care OF their
habits and morals. There is no place III our
pre. .ent social organism for the family
n has become obsolete. The son must ask
for counsel from some, ''Most Worshipfal
and the daughter from some equally titled
dignitary So in the domain OF politics.
there is no individualism and not inaoh M
denen,lence of thought or of action. Nei-
ther is there as much charity for honest
difference of opinion as there should se'l :,
tho crowd for the time heing, will insure
vigorous attack OF motives, rather than a
combating Of positions, which is all wrong. y.
But then he who expects the world to be
reformed in Il moment, or for 1t to run Just
! as he thinks is right, Will be doomed 10
disappointment. We must learn learn to a,a maxi ,s
the best OF what cahilo. oo no,po'' anu '''''
without too much faultfindlng'