The Portland daily press., 1873-12-16
What Are We DoiuR

The sixth lectuse of the India Street course
was delivered last evening by Gen. James A.
Hall of Damarscotta. his subject being "What
are we doing?" In beginning the speaker re-
marked that in handling his subject he should
look at it from four stand points, viz: In our
occupations, politically, religiousy and socially
First-What are we doing in our occupations!
Nevor was a country more favored WIN all
that goes to make land prosperous, than the
land in which we live. 1t all comes by the
prooress that we have made in the arts and sci :
ences, but are we in fact, progressing? There
is a population in the United States of 40, OOO,-
900; of that number, only 10000, 900 are en-
ployed; 5000 900 millions are drones in society,
whom the world has to support Here the
speaker gave the numbers engaged in the yari-
Gus occupations throughout the United States
There are too many persons out of their sphere.
In consequence, SO out of every 100 business
men fail. Everyone should select his occupa-
ton, and after he has chosen it, he should fol
low it and no other. Success depends upon
strict application TO one thing. You must be
prepared to meet all the obstacles that may
arise Energy is the key to success When la
Dor is appreciated as it should be- and as it will
be, then there will be more energy and will put
into it.
Second-Politically, "Now comes the rub
Political parties are the fundamentals of gov
eminent. 1t is impossible for country to pros
per without them. Every voter is responsible
for the laws of the country. There are too ma
ny laws now Your State Legislature meets IS
days. Seventy-four and half of these days
are spent in lobbying, and the other half day is
for the good of the State. The people should
den and the enforcement of every law SO that
mic SInxro Oo1 ho Il
The speaker took strong ground in opposison
to woman suffrage. Women have suffoage
enough now Theyl can have petition pre-
senteu to Congress as well as men, When
Congress cleared Jeff Davis from his respousi-
bility, in regard to his actions in the South,
(which they havn't done the House only pass
ing the bill, they disgraced every man that died
for the cause that Davis tried to trample upon.
The Virginius affair was then mentioned. War
is spoken of by many as being an awful demon
azer. So it is; but it only demoraizes those
who stop at home. Be always prepared for
war it you want peace.
Third-Religiously. Under this heading the
lecturer spoke OF the different creeds, and re-
marked that he was not prepared to conpemn
any of them if they were productive of good.
He then asked, what, where. and how do we
worship. We worship in churches that are so
costly that poor mon cannot 60. No man ever
went to hear Rev. Henry Ward Beecher or
Rev. w. H. III. Murray preach, without going
away feeling that he had received some good
There are too many creeds, and not enough of
christianity.
Fourth-Men are ranked by the money that
they carry in their pockets. Every man should
have competency, but it should not rate men
in their social positions In closing, he denounc
ed what is called social liyng-big dinners, ex-
travagance in dress, ETC.
Gen. Hall expressed fear that some smart
reporter might misrepresent him, and begged
that no ideas except his,own, should be present.
ed to the public. An endeaAor to comply with
his wishes accounts for the meagrensss of our
ranort