The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31
For the Sunday CRESCENT
CAN ANYTHING BE DoNEs
ros THE CONSIDERATION OF SOUTHERN YOUNG MEN

FoR THE CONSIDERATION OF SOUTHERN YOUNG MEN.
The great trouble under which we of the South
are lsborng is not that, as people, we are osnK-
rupt but that we do not make sufficient use OF the
means at our disposal There Is little philosophy
or comfort in looking back upon our bright past
or bewailng our dark present. NOR can mucn
hope be derived from anticipated political revo-
lutions, which. in their natures do not necessitate
the speedy return OF material prosperity. We
have no system Of manufactures upon which to
rely, and our agricultural interests nave Deen
almost paralyzed. This sad state OF affairs Is not
wholly the result of hostile and gnwise legislation,
but is quite as much due to our own blind faith in
manifest destiny or some other such exploded
fatalism. 1t is untrue that we are chained to IN
| action. and should, as some preach, quietly await
| our future. II is not 10 be forgotten that the
| complexion of our future is to depend upon that
| which 10 stamped on the present by our own
acts and that success hangs not so much upon
! the high temper of the tools which God has left
u.s. upon the persistent, intelligent application
Of them. We are TO use the tools we have, and
not to waste precious time hunting. begging or
stealing others. There is much of hope TO be
cleaned from the fact that some of our best citi-
Zens seem TO be realizing the true state OF the
case, and are going atmanufacturing, even though
it be on a small scale, while others are cultl-
waiting the soil, as they should n proprid persona.
Yet, as people, we are not going into these
things as universally as We might, for che general
dullness OF business In all our cites and towns
necessarily throws many idle baads upon the land.
Now lots of these idlers are able bodied young
men, who should have TOO much manhood TO be
iteDso of expense 20 bankrupt fathers. Would it
bart any such, in mind, body or estate" Otis
true PRIDE might get a fall) TO emigrate to the
country and there dig up living! If they have
not money TO raise cane or cotton, other crops
can be produced at little or no expense, and often
as lucratiyeiy. By such q species of emigration
thousands now worthless in cities would become
useful in the country, and the latter prospered
so would the former. Lands can be bought for
almost nothing; and often planters are to be
found willing 10 give or lease for a long number
of years portions of their unoccupied estates 10
energetic, determined yonng men who desire to
"earn their bread by the sweat of toi.n There
is, then, no excuse why so many Of our young
men should be idling away their lives in hopes of
a vague something in the future. Our Southern
youth have never been sufficiently taught the
necessity Of economy in time, for "she is" not
only money" but everything, and the great ones
OF earth have never despised the moments. The
hard worker, then, wherever in life we find him
stationed, bears the stamp OF gentleman, and is
every inch" man, if not "a king" There is
more in life than simply growing, and though
There's a DIVINITY which shapes our ends,
Rough hew them though We may"
yet our future and that Of our country will be
of our own shaping. Let not our youth, then, be
moulded by the straitenened, disheartening cir
cumstances by which they are surrounded; rather
let them arise from the ashes of their supposed
ruin TO noble achievements. We, who are young,
who have ever been impervious TO the assaults of
fortune such are our selfmade men. We should
emulate their examples, laying aside all false
ideas as to the dignity of labor; for every intense
application Of mind or body Is ennobliag. Every
work.born bead of perspiration rolling from off a
human brow is more adjoining TO human nature
than the diamond flashing from of the breast of
beauty lis. mans mission to work, and may
the Southern youth be brought up to the high
pitch Of noble endeavor-the sublime height of
God-llke endurance-the immolatiOn of self upOn
the altar Of labor; for thus shall thrifty sparks fly
beneath the anvil of industry, the sound of which
shall reverberate through many syllable of in-
rolling time Let Us realize that time will not
stop TOR US to think-there are no clogs upon her
wheels, and stop she cannot though kings decree
or pariaments legslate against her speed.
Earth's thrones may crumble-state rise on the
ruin of state-yet halts she not The proudest
bird that e'er loated in the clouds stops on his
crag to rest, folding his noble head beneath his
faithful wings, passing to slumber. All nature
retires into herself as night comes on, save alone
the stars, and cen those trusty pickets, out set
by God 10 guard creations bounds, pale at days
approach; yet does not time hesitate, but makes
right on with continuous flow to the ocean of
eternity. Then, how vastly important. that we
OF the South should improve every passing mo-
ment; for, by the wise dispensstiOns of God, we
have been thrown back probably half century
in the march of prosperity. Ii is, therefore, both
duty and policy TO improve such means as we
have at our command. Looking for foreign eml.
grafton to set thisward will not save Us; a favora-
bic turn in political affairs may not repenish our
empty pockets; blind trust in the future is absurd
Nothing can materially help rs unless it be in US
and of Us. We must work our own right arms
alone can tear from adverse fortune the wreath to
bind the brow of Southern effort. We are not
weak, but strong; this We must feel, and feeling,
act.
"rO be weak is mserabls-doing. or suffering"
tbs.