Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-08-28
YOUNG AMERICA
70 he Editors u tie Independent


| take no exception to your con-
troverting what | said on this sub
ject in the "Sixty-Second Birthday
chapter of my "Reminiscences. 1t
would he unreasonable i'm me to do so
in consideration of the very respect
full temper in which it was done. OF
course, it would he out of place for
me TO introduce anything like a con-
troversy into that series. Nothing
could be more foreign to its purpose.
But, in this detached form, it may
not be amiss to respond briefly.
The issue You have joined is one of
the open ones of the times. 1t is so,
however, rather by reason of the diff
ferent stand-points of side-takers
than of any intrinsic ground of de-
bate. To illustrate, let me say that
my contrasting words, "babyhoodn
mot manhoodl and manhood, -
seemingly indicate much younger
period than you had in mind when
you pointedly, and perhaps truthful
ly, penned this, as touching the par
ticular class of actors referred to-:
Eve want young, resolute leaders,
men who will keep abreast of the
times and neck-and-neck with the
progress of events: we want them to
assume the responsibilities Of bust
ness and government, and follow
closely the star of empire
/ shall make no objection to young
mcn' filling the role in the drama of
nineteenth century life, wherewith
you have tempted them in words so
stirring that they almost cause the
sluggish blood of your correspondent
to tingle in his comparatively senile
veins. But ] want to see it really
filled with s men" howsoever yo,tag
they be, not boys.
You say 1--WE want" Is what you
SO eloquently depict really want
of the times? Is there not enough
of it and to spare? Take the FREE
quent defalcations Of official men,
whether in Governmental stations or
the semi-public ones of our banking
institutions. What class of persons,
as to age, are mostly found wanting
in that integrity which is so sorely
tried by the handling of much mo-
ney, while fast horses and faster wo-
men fit and flash by the windows of
the offices and banking-houses that
have given them employment at wa
ges sufficient for your wants and
mine? Are they not below the mid
die agey | say "yOur wants and
mine,n for | include you, Messrs.
Editors, in my catalogue of safe
young men, while you were think
ing, seemingly, of a much younger
class who hold the relation. i'm turn,
of s'yormg men'' to you, at your
standpoint of comparison. Older
men have, to certain extent, out
lived the tendencies which have
made the class to which | allude so
liable to temptation. In other words,
they have outlived their vices.
Is this not so? Look around
among your acquaintance who have
fallen in the race of life, in what you
have characterized as san age of
steam and lightning and then an
swer me, If you are not ready at the
asking.
Consider the case of that rock-like
personification of honesty, Francis
Il. Spinner, our grand old Cerberus
at the Treasury Department, who
has just given place to a new and
younger watchdog. AS he sat there,
in his gigantic calmness of conscious
integrity, with thieves such as will
probably continue to ''break through
and steal" till the millennium comes
round, robbing the National Golfers
in spite Of the ''young men, detect
ives, might almost be considered to
have silenced the call you have made
for "young men" who will 'skeep
abreast Of the progress of events. -
He is Of the class of 'old fogiess "
who have Kept "a breast y closed
against that progress" And may
not that, after all, be the most ur-
gent need of the times?
] leave the question 'still open for
debate" as the President of the Ly-
ceum announces it. i have not said
all have to say, and may claim the
favor when you shall have replied as
/ hope you WILL No harm can come
Of our taking turn ut the question
until the Martinsburg Lyceum is
ready to take it up. TO the contrary,
it may do somebody good. am
more than "a mere friend to free dis
cussion. 1t is the life-blood Of socie-
ty. believe, with that sublimely
thoughtful "old fogy, nSir John Her
schel, in the imininence of 'sthe dan
ger of mistrusting, even for mo-
ment, the grand and only character
of Truth-its capability Of coming
unchanged out of every possible
form of fair discussion" w
Let this be our motto, as the dis
cussion goes friendly on--if III so
pleaseS you. } l.. =.
WASHINGTON, ID. G.