Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-19
Courage for "A Little While.

In the case of many who are pro-
nounced greenbackers, or whose faith III
the right cause is wsvering on the verge
OF dese,tion, their desp .ir has mastered
their reason. This is one cause of the
large greenback vote in Maine. without
denial. Sound logic and the warning OF
the past were appealing TO them on one
side on the other was the retort: When
money was flush we We're prosperous;
now there is less money in circulation
and we are suffering. This was sufficient
answer for the men who have become
weary in waiting for better times, and in
their despair are willing to run the risk
of all evils if the flush times can only be
restored. Republican orators were
speaking to their heads; present distress
urged successfully against the intellect
the argument of the stomach, and. as in
evitabe with those not ready to bear
present i'll for future good, the clamors OF
the stomach drowned every other appeal.
! For all people OF tbs class the present
need is courage. 1t is downright coward
ice now to despair and risk all that has
been gained tor the sake Of the imagined
/ prosperity when the country lived In bor-
rowed luxury. 1t is hlllishness to seek
to avoid the present slow movement OF
trade and suffering of labor simply be-
cause il hurts. We have. as u social body.
viol iied one of the most potent laws
necessary for social peace. The luxury
of sin extended over more years than
have been covered by the p ,riod OF retri-
button. We cannot compl sin. The
wort is over. Imagination is fond of
turning back and pointing at the immense
amount of hardship endured in the last
tive Years, and groans to think what p
.rrible time it has been and the bewail-
or supposes that be felt continually as one
accumulated weight the many little bur-
dens which he has had to bear in the
many days numbered in five long years.
We are almost at the end. 1t is folly to
look back. The argument Of the stomach,
however camorous, must be slcnced long
enough for the argument Of the head to be
heard. How can you avoid the charge
of cowardce in yielding to your fears
when the penalty has not been fully paid
How can you Justify yourself in abandon
ing now the safe ground on which you
have been stan ling. Just before the hour
when your perseverance is to have Its re-
ward? And most pregnant of all comes
The question to him who looks forward:
How can you avoid suffering again all the
pain, destitution and starvation of the last
five years, if you renew their causes2
These questions must be answered, and
he is only cowardly. blind, or foolisbly
reckless, who in despair clutches at any
present relief. however full of evil for the
future, or who trifingly SAYS that the fu-
tire may look out for itself; that it will
all work itself out right in the end.
That the greenback strength In Maine
owed its proportions largely to this feel
ing of desperation. that hopelessuess of
better times under contraction is the rea-
SOU VI ITO stIcHStu III thiS ctatc, Is CicaI.
The one thing to do to expose the folly
of this feeling is to show that better times
are surely close at hand. Not the old flush
times. may they never return but days
of steady work with peace in our land
Hppelessness is not in the times, it is in
he men who l,ok back at what they had
TO go through to pay for their exlrava-
gance, and who do not study the signs of
the times themselves. Workmen are in
almost universal employment now. Ex-
ports are large, far in excess Of imports
National and municipal debts are disap-
pearing Rotten and dishonest establish
ments are being cleared out of the way.
Now. at the end of AL This, when specie
payments are just here, when business is
rising up anew on the only solid founda-
ton on which it can stand. it is childish
ignorance and shrinking which prompts
relief by another issue of the cause of the
troubles. The only course in reason and
in manhood is to hold on to the end. De-
spair will ruin all the gain of the last few
years. The pain must be patiently en-
dured. 1t is fast diminishing now; II can
not last much longer Daily Id
rerttser.