New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-11
Che Duties of Young Men.


There are throughout the country thou
sands Of young men who are Just beginning
business life. They have got through Their
school days, and have arrived At that period
when the dependence ef the youth merges
INTO the independence Of the man. The
next five years will determine what they are
likely to be ia the mature and ripened day 8
in store fOrthem. Fortunate circumstances
may lift some above tho plane of their indi-
vidual exsrtiOns. but she ninety and nine
out OF u hundred viii. be what they make
themselves. If shey start out determined
TO win in any branch Of business. the
chances are in their favor that they will.
sooner or later. win it. II they start life
with the spirit Of indifference, they will
drift along with the vide. may secure
enough 60 eat and drink and to ccthe
themselves. bu, old age will Oyertake them
not far in advance. OI the spo. wheys they
started.
Therefore. Il IL all important that the
young man should start right, and when
certain on this pOiGt. should throw his
whole soul into the business he has chosen.
Success is the result Of energy, an intel
ligens appreciation OF Hfe's opportunities
and business courage. The young man who
has these elements to rely upon will seldom
fail to achieve what he set out TO obtain
If he seek wealth. it will cGme 70 him; if
fame. he will secure II: it power. it will be
given to him. The degree OF his reward
will be in proportion 10 his deserts as .
man. There may be exceptions 20 this. but
wherever found they vii! be attributable to
no fault OF the n IN. but rather to those
misfortunes which come like sudden etorms.
giving no warning Of their approach. and
destroying in an hour the patient work Of q
lifetime. Respectability and honor come
from the man, and not the trade he follows.
One business is as honorable as another, if
il is legitimate. This should be borne in
mind by all young men who are abou, to
start out into active business life.
Personal integrity should be the corne,
store of character. Without it, the most
brilliant attainments will fail to reach snc.
cess. The world stands in need of upright
men. men who can be relied upon. whose
word is as good as a bond. who ars proof
against the cOrrupting influences which
beset the business man everywhere. No
matter how strong the temptation. young
men often make mstake in the choice of
an occupation. Through false notions Of
respectability, they enter upon professions
OF trades for which they have no adapt.
bility. They seek to become lawyers. COG
tors, preachers. and are voted failures
by all who come in contact with them.
They might have made merchants. or excel.
and keep wrong all their lives.
Start iii gh,: This ls all important. A
good blacksmith is a hundred fold more
valuable to community than a poor
doctor, lawyer or preacher. He will make a
fortune at his anvil. while these professional!
moths are starving to death.
The young beginner should cling Co
honest principles as 20 the rock OF safety.
To let 60 This rock Is to drift to certain
destruction. The ship which breaks from
its mOOrings on a lee shore is no more cei-
tain OF destruction than the young man who
breaks away from honest principles. Hon.
esty first, industry and intelligence second.
are the SltmaH which We commend as
the only reliable groundwork ios human
success.
Last. but not least, vote right! 4 man
owes much 60 his family. to his business,
but he owes more 10 his country. tov with
out this. what would be holne or business to
him! In starting life. young men shonld
educate themselves 10 serve the nation, with
the same fidelity witt which they apply
themselves to business 1t il not enough TO
cast vote once a year. This is hu. u :-ac-
tional part Of the duty which q citizen owes
to society. He should take part in The pri-
mary meetings, have his il iuence felt in
the conventions. and be heard at all times
and in all places where his persona: iAiiH-
enee would tend to elevate politics and se.
cure men of high character for office. When
the business Inen OF the country become in
terested in political affairs. we srali have
fewer complaints made Of bad or incompe-
tent men being elected to office. 1t may be
difficult to change the habit of old business
men in this particular. and bring them to a
realization of their duty to tho nation, but
not SO with the young men. They are free
to lay down certain duties which must be
performed. We urge upon them this sacred
duty Of citizenship. Let it head the list of
obligations. and let its faithful performance
be regarded ~ little short Ot ge!gic us
duty.
To reduce these duties OF citizenship TO a
system that will be vital force, through
combination with others, We urge the young
men OF the nation to organize Republican
clubs in their respective communities, 60
that by organized efforts true reform can be
brought about wherever needed. The Re
publican party has strong claim upon the
young men of the country. 1t has made
possible the government which protects
them and the republic which they love- It
is q party of progress, Of ;outhtul aspira-
.ions, and has within it. subject 20 greater
development, the principles Of individual
and national success. To the standard of
this party. a standard of patriotism, of
loyalty. OF politica! integrity. the nation
calls its young men. Let them respond to
the call. and by their earliest efforts pre-
serve for posterity the rich blessings OF self
government which they now enjoy Wash
'"gto" Republican.