The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-07
COLUMBIA,,.S S. c..
Wednes lay Morning, Arril Z. 1883.
The Road TO Wealth,


present day, by any of which he may hope
to reach that glittering prize which seems
to be the object and end ofaall men s iexer-
tions, and of few mems attainment. To be
great, to be honest, to be high among those
who guide the destinies of nations, are the
aspirations and day-dreams Of but few ambi-
tious spirits; the vast multitdde Of the chill
dren of Adam, crave to be rich, and to
satisfy that craving, risk soul and body The
desire, within due bounds, is not blameable,
when the means used are those sanctioned
by the laws OF God and man ; and the youth
standing on the threshold OF active life is
justified in selecting that which he considers
to be the shortest and surest path to the
object of oil mems desires-whether it be an
honestly gained competency or the more
ambitious desire of rivaling the fumed
wealth of "a Rothschild Astor or Stewart.
The three roads are those of agriculture,
commerce and mechanical pursuits OF the
latter we shall not speak, for the conviction
is forced upon every intelligent man, that
that class Of our Southern people whose in
telligence, education and, connections,
practical mechanics, will not make the per-
sonal sacrifices that are absolutely necessary
to learn trade. The professions are over
stocked, while the respectable and in many
cases lucrative situations in our railroads,
factories and cotton-mils, are and must be
filled by men from the North and from Eu-
rope, who were not too proud to serve an
apprenticeship which, for three or four
years labor, insures alife-long Independence.
1t is to be lamented, that to-be respected,
but ut the same time mistaken pride, closes
to our naturally clear-headed. people, that
avenue through which Watts, Arkwright,
Stephenson, Peel and many others, won
their way from poverty and obscurity, to
wealth and worldwide distinction. We
speak OF commerce in limited sense,
ms confined to that large, intelligent and in
fuential class, who live by retailing the
goods manufactured by others, and to whom
the great majority of our young men look
for employment. To be ok-keeper,
clerk, salesman, or any other employment
that excludes manual labor, seems to be
the only object of their ambition; and in
hopes OF this species of work, they will
linger about our cities and towns for months.
and If they are fortunate enough to succeed
IN procuring 1t, not one in ten receives
salary more than equal to laborer 8 weekly
earnings, and with the inadequate remunera-
tion are, unlike him, obliged to maintain
the dress and appearance of man of
means. Even, as the Portsmouth Journal
pertinently and truthfully asserts. if they
succeed in establishing themselves in bust
ness, they are at the mercy of every fnan-
cial crisis. No industry. no foresight, can
secure them from the crash brought on by
the reckless speculation of the monied cir
cles OF the great centres of trade
But how different are the prospects of the
farmer? Financial panics have no terror for
him; his industry cannot be thrown away
nor his capital lost, for it Is invested in q
bank that cannot fail; for He that created
the world has declared. that while earth
endureth, seed-time and harvest shall not
fall Even partial failure of his crops will
generally enhance the value of what is
saved. bis annual savings may not equal
those of successful merchant, but they
are sure, and cannot, with common pru-
dence, be swept away by those periodical
crises which convulse the commercial
world, at least once in every quarter of o
century. Health and peace of mind are in
mates of his dwelling; socially, pecuniarily
and politically independent he is one of a
class that may be relied on, in the worst of
times, to show bright example of public
spirit and private virtue, that will rescue
the republic from the corruption and icen-
tiousness OF demagogueism.