Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-02-06
Hard Times,

1t is the general idea that the times
arc close. Money is scarce, and the
wherewithal to pay debts and taxes is
scanty. An exchange asks the ques-
ton what causes this, and answers the
question as follows, which perhaps, is
in part, but not the whole reason. 1t
says:
1--WE are fast becoming nation of
schemers to live without genuine work.
Our boys are not learning trades; our
farmers sons are crowding into cities
looking for clerkships and postofices !;
hardly one American girl in each
hundred will do homework for wages,
however urgent her need; so we are
sending to Europe for workmcn and
buying of her artisans millions worth
of products that we ought to make for
ourselves. Though our crop of rascals
is heavy, we do not grow our own
hemp, though we are overrun with lads
who deserve faggelation, we import
our willows. Our women (unless de-
eeived) shine in European fabrics our
men dress in foreign clothes; the toys
which amuse younger children have
generally reached us from over the
sea- We are like the farmer who hires
his neighbors' sons to cut wood, feed
his stock, and run his errands, while
his boys lounge at the grog-shop, play
ing Billiards, and then wonders why,
in spite of his best efforts, he sinks
annually deeper into debt, till the
sheriff cleans him out, and he starts
west to begin again.
We must turn over new leaf Our
boys and girls must be taught to love
labor by qualifying themselves to do it
efficiently. We must turn out fewer
professionals and more skilled artisans
as well as food-growers. We must
grow and fabricate two hundred mil
lions worth per annum that we now
import, and so reduce the foreign debt
that we have so long and so successful
ly augmented year by year. We
must qualify our clever boys to erect
and run factories, furnaces, rolling
mills, tanneries, machine shops, etc, to
open and work mines, improved and
fashion implements, and double the
present product of their father s
farm. So shall We stem the tide Of
debt that sets steadily against our
shores, and cease to be visited and an
noyed by hard times"
Now we ask old men, young men,
matrons and maidens if the foregoing
is not too true for the future welfare
Of the rising generation and the good
Of our country. Is old Roman history
repeating itself in this great Republic ?
Is it true that q free nation cannot
fear prosperity, and necessarily be-
comes luxurious, indolent lawless and
lcencious only to sink in despotism, as
Rome did under Caesars ? Certainly
idlencss and luxurious habits in the
youth Of nation leads to fearful re-
suits and to-day threatens the down
fall Of our free institutions, for the
young who compose armies and fight
battles if reckless, are ever ready to
follow leader who will contribute to
their lawless desires in pomp and lux
ury, while marching them as slaves to
ruin. Employment, industry, labor
must save America, if it is saved NOR
ally, politically and religiously. Why
is it that our more accomplished young
women are so mis-educated that; they
cannot step into neighbor's family, if
necessary, and serve by cooking, wash
ing, ironing, or being useful in labor
which will do them good, without
losing cast in society? Most of them
today could not afford to without be-
ing slandered, even if life depended
upon their labor. Has labor and use
fitness really become sinful in the
fashionable world ? If so, God save
our country for sinful man will not
.NonrOe Monitor.