Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-11-21
From Iowa Progress.
Words to Working Men.

From Iowa Prcgrsss.
Words to Working Men.
/ am warranted IN asserting that
the working men 40 q class put more
obstacles in their own path, and treat
themselves worse than the capitalist
and manufacturer % and can do;
consequently they are their worst en-
sries. j 10 not uncommon to see
men il their declining years still
working at the trade. they commsnc-
ed lite with-whose position is still
. subordinate one. and whose pscu-
mary resources are as limited as
when they were twenty one years
old. / have made il . point, when.
ever a convenient opportunity pre-.
sented itself. TO engage in conversa.
ton with this class OF men, with .
view to CLEAN sach OF their history as
will throw light on the causes OF
THAR present condition; and l have
found a. general thing that il is
their own fault. The faults arc W.
rious. but the most common one is
Some, although not
excessively incorporate, are no:
economical. Some who had been iu :
dustrious and worked hard and saved
their money until they had . few
hundred dollars, but, instead of buy.
ing . home, invested in business
without having the requisite knowl-
edge Of business to insure success,
conducted enterprises out of the
reach Of their capital, AID we're in
variably "bust' hare yet to fini
one Of this class who can put the
whole blame upon the capitalist and
manufacturer. Among other causes
is prevalen; tendency with journey.
men to "tramp" from place TO place,
and never settle down anywhere
At ths end Of twenty five years OF
toll they have nothing tangible to
help themselves with in their dsclin-
ing years. Suicide sometimes puts
an end to thsir career; sometimes
they procure q place whore they can
work tor thoir board aud tew old
clothes.
What is the remedy for this state
of affairs The only remedy is to
reform the labsring men individ-
nally. Each one whe has a bad habit
that depresses his circumstances must
exert moral courage enough to stop
the indulgence OF that habit. I know
of many men that do not seem to
save any money; and the reason they
do not is because of some habit or
habits that absorb part Of their earn.
ings. Perhaps the amount that they
spend daily or weekly for these in.
dulgences may seem trifiing, but if
they should keep an accurate account
Of the monoy thus spent for one
year, the too,in: Of the account
would astouish them, aud they would
have no difficulty in determining tho
reason why they do not get on IN the
world. Young men should apply
tho remedy when thsy leave the pa
rental root. The rery moment that
they find themselves entirely depend
ent on their own sxcrtions for sup.
port. they should adopt manly prin
ciples, resolve to be temperate. hon.
est, Industrious, and econom,cal.--
They should aim At something, set
their mark pretty high, and persc-
we're in their efforts, anil success will
most surely reward them. When a
man leads an ailnless lite, aud lets
things go ~ they will, without any
torethought, and learning little by
it is not very strange
that he grows pooer; while man
who aims aud strives at something,
who has aspirations aud ambitions,
and who profits by expcrleuco,grows
rich.
Any man is at liberty to honestly
satisfy his ambition, whether it be OF
fortune or tame; and it is my opinion
that one OF the greatest reasons why
the rich are growing richer and the
poor poorer, is on account OF the
steadlast, ambitious life of the few
and the almlsss lite o! the many
There are of course other causes. 1t
is not to be expected that every body
can acquire wealth aud fame. There
may bs cases where persons cannot
rise above poverty. But / believe
thss At lcsst seventy Eve per cent. OF
the working men might acquire
homes of their own. Some men seem
to be more tror bled about the money
that is in other mems pockets than
they are about their own financss.-
They seem to be indignant because
their employer can live in large
and fashionable house and support .
private livery. They look at the man
- he 10 to-day. Perhaps it they had
seen him twenty years agS showing q
jack plane or pegging shoes, they
would not feel SO indignant. Why
should they abuse HIM tor his succesa
in life The circumstances Of both
we're nearly the same twentj years
ago. What has brought about the
change? It is altogether probable
that it is owing to tho different
course OF lite pursued by each. The
successful one acted upon economic
al principles, and saved the proceeds
Of his early toll, settled down carly
in lite, was industrious and temper
ate, and, following the course Of his
ambition, he is now we'll provided
tor. The unsuccessful ones undoe bt-
edly pursued different course -
They could not be induced to settle