Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-11-01

enuurc lne ight ana happiness which
went to dwell in their cottages. But
mark now what followed. There
came to the company in the course of
years time ofdepression and danger
Tho manager called together his op.
eratives, aud explained TO them the
changed state of affairs. He told
them that short-time work could not
save him. Hc came TO ask if they
would accept temporary reduction
of ten per cent. in their wages and
those eight hundred workmen voted
with three cheers to return an ailirma.
tive answer.
But selfishness is always narrow,
even when educated. Therefore en-.
ployers can not be implicitly trusted.
Back of them is to be created public
sentiment which will not be bafiled.
1t is in the ideas which prevail that
these evils take root. Social taste is
to be educated. You will read in the
newspapers that James Fisk has made
himself Infamous but it must be a
mistake. Men do not take so much
pains to gain nothing but infamy.-
Docs he not know that every journal
in the country is busy recording bis
exploits, and every other schoolboy
half wishing himself in his shoes? Let
New York shut its front doors to him
and how long will he continue to be a
power for evil? Society has itself to
blame for such man. 1t must be
taught to oxalt intellect above fortune,
and virtuo far above intellect. Facti
tious helps to advancement, organiza.
tions which tend to become permanent
and exclusive, the red tape OF party
and of sect, and all favoritcism which
bestows honor unearned, and leaves
merit to rust in obscurity-theso are
the sources of English pauperism, and
threaten to do like service for u.s. Let
these be swept away ; let social senti-
ment be first pure, then strictly i'm,
partial, and We shall see how quickly
pretcntion will hide its face, and
worth 90 up to our high places Of
trust. | deny to political economy a
universal mission. But there is a so.
cial law, simple and comprehensive as
that of gravity, which, could it be but
grasped and presented in its complete.
ness, is adequate to the regeneration
of society.
Though choosing for my subject
American society in general, | have
spoken thus at length OF the labor
question for three reasons:
First it is unmistakably the com
ing question in American politics.
Secondly: it is the parent evil OF
society. Ask an intelligent woman,
sulfragist what is their most grievous
complaint, and the answer will be,
"Low wages and the unjust laws Of
property ask the outcast who walks
our streets, n sarcasm OF civilization,
what drove her there, and three times
out offour she will reply, y,"Starvation.'
Likewise, also, the crimes which pco
pie our prison.houses-theft, robbery
fraud, house breaking, perjury, and
frequently murder itself-are but wit
ncsses to the profound sagacity which
pronounce the love Of money the root
of all evil.
Thirdly: while other great and
lasting evils arc apt to be but the just
retribution Of inilui:y, pauperism,
especially that which comes to us from
England, is not a crime, but the out.
growth of a social system which it
could not escape. 1t is not the perpe,
traitor, but the victim OF wrong,
Therefore society owes to it more
speedy redress
Do you say that am but picturing
creation Of fancy, that human ma,
ture ever repeats ITSELF and that this
ideal justice will appear among men
only when darkness outshincs the
sun? | can only reply, Here is the
evil shall we or shall we not attempt
a remedy? | am ashamed when |
SEQ Americans ronsacking the dark
pages of European history to justify a
wrong. 1t is tho glory of America
to solve problems which Europe has
given up in despair, and am glad that
tho slavery question is 10 sooner out OF
the way than this new moral conflict is
thrust upon us. The moment we
hesitate, the moment we begin to as
sumo an evil rs necessary, the whole
battle is lost. And | will add, ii it is
inherently necessary that some should
live such lives as they do in order
that we may sit in these halls of learn.
ing, then LET the colleges go down, for
what prescriptive right have we to
their unpaid serviccsY But il is not
necessary. 70 say that it is, is TO
blasphemo against the eternal harmony
of Gods benevoloncc, and to insult
the creative power of that lavish
hand whose very proiusencss com.
mands all its creatures 10 freely par
take.
1t is our privilege, my classmates, to
look out upon society from the high
standpoint of thoughtful young mon,
endowed with deep sense of the pos.
sibilities and the necessities of our
country. The materials lie about us
we must stretch out our hands and
begin to build. Two courses meet us
here, each offering its rewards. We
may 20 through the world living by
its rules, but never questioning thom,
measuring our success by its ideas,
and satisfied to take it and leave il rs
il is; or we may gather about us our
garments of self respect, and refuse TO
bow our heads before any corrupt
power, be it Office, genius, or wealth,
to take any snob at his own estimate,
or to join any multitude TO do evil.
There will be plenty to tell us that
iconocasts are fanatics and rciormers
fools; that an average, plastic morality
is the only road to success IN this
crooked world but il is the language
of weakness and the argument of II
coward. Let us not begin with these
failhcss sentiments, worthy only OF
bighted, miserable, and insipid old
age. Let US carry some generous i'm
pulses into life, and If, as we are told
they must withcr, let it be in the
frosfa of cxnerience. not i'm the mil.