St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-12-08
ST. $sohnsburp Galedonian.
/ UORD RI YOTNG MEN.

'.Whc!r is thc use of my dragging
along amy more Unless Il fellow sells
himself ont, there's nothing to I've got,
said bright Young lawyer. as he lin
gcrcd with his hand on the knob of my
stGdy door. He has closed his office.
aud left New York.
What is the use of trying to hc hon
est and respectable. when | know most
respectable people to lie dishonest -
This was the folm IN which another
Young man had to put his thoughts,
when he was aided to Il clear analysis
of his crude conclusions.
Now | am not Il partiz:tn: nor Is II
on any mere political ground that | feel
profound satisfaction in the recent en-
preston of public opinion iii New York.
concerning men who were recently 'rich
and respectable :" and with 40 mean
and Sulgar trampling on the fallen. hut
with an earliest wish for the good Of he
rising. | wish 10 address Il few scntcn-
yee to our Young mcn--scntcnceS, which,
like funeral sermon, are not for the
dead. bat the living.
Young men there are persons W hose
@saltl. You would not now take, with its
appurtcnanccs Of sCOrn and contempt.
You no longer look with enviGus OF adj
miring eyes on their splendid success,
if you were ever tempted to such folly.
10 you, now. they are not admirable
persons nor desirable friends. But
l!ink for Il moment! They have not
been made mean and dcspicable 10y the
exposure of their ways. No political OF
personal hostility can demean or de-
grade a true man. What these neil
are now, in themselves, in their own
conscious claims 10 respect OF contempt,
they were six months or 4 wear ago.
The only difference is, that their career
~ now set i'll the strong light of public
opinion. You might 10y tortuous ways,
and at the price of your integrity amass
wealth and escape detection bur re-
member, at the bar of your own con-
science, yOu would be a degraded, alb
iect man and at the bar of your judg-
ment, You would sometimes be 4 tremb-
hug and apprehensive wretch. alarmed
by the idea of justice, lame rs she is in
overtaking you at last.
Young men, keep your integrity,
even in poverty. keepin your own good
graces. Preserve the answer of a good
conscience. He who fails here. fails to
he respectable, though he should die in
the odOr Of commercial sanctity and tif-
t. millions lie represented at his funer
al. Wealth comes fast enough to hon
esty and industry i'll this country. Do !
not ran after riches. Do your duties |
and let wealth come to You. food will !
Then there is hope that yoW culture
and capacity to use it will keep pace
with its growth. Your means will he
without meanness, and will not convert
yOur ueighbors into volunteer dctec-
tivcs. working with the zeal of men
who feel themselves wronged and in
suited. No good man will count You
prominent, incarnate temptation to the
Young, cvcrlastingly suggesting the hor
nd thought that virtue is out Of date.
and that honesty will not pay. And if
= reverse overlook You; no true man
would feel profound gratitude that the
temptation was gone. Young men of
america, il is with You. under God. to
ruin or restore this republic. BE honest.
personally, politically and commercial
l., even if poor. 70 he dishonest * to
SOW the wind, aud the crop is like the
seed. with an increase. The sowcr
leaps the whillwind" -J0hn Hail. u. u. |