The Republican journal., 1881-12-15
Good Advice to Ambitious Young Men.


Many of the young men of our State who have
been ambitious to fill place in some small office
and especially to procure clerkships at ASKING
ton, are finding out to Their sorrow, that it does
not pay to hold public office; and that they arc
Infinitely better of at home, pursuing the ordna
l avocatlons Of life We wish that fact could be
strongly Impressed upon the rising generation
without submitting these ambitious youth TO the
severe cruciole Of actual experience
Ii should be the noble ambition Of every Amer
can boy by STUDY and he discipline Of his mind, to
iit himself for the prizes OF life should they come
On this fitness depends III large measure The per
petuity Of our free Institutions. With nation Of
men ready Tor the grayest responsibilities Of office
bat without an undue calnOrng and ignobe stlte
10 possess them, and the civil service question
viii be solved at once And then when the call
comes TO step higher. the Offices will be filed
BY men understanding their business, and fitted
tor the places to which they called This
preparation for the gravest responsibilities OF life
On he part OF all our citizens, is the PRIDE and
glory Of our American system. We like the re
mark made by the proprietor of a newspaper to a
new apprentice Elmer nix your eye on the best
position 10 this Office and strive to tit yourself for
il Don't set Your mark low but put yonr mark
on tie editors chair, and reach It If possible.
That was excellent advice He did not mean
there should be underhanded scheming, possession
without the requisite excellence, a knock down
dragout eight for the place, but TIE steady step by
step progress the discipline that comes by the
close application Of the daily experiences of life
III TINS slow and often tOilsOme way the highest
places are reached When high and honorable
posi- lions come by this process, they come to stay
We have known men financially ruined by
Il ayiug their regular profession or occupation for
temporary official positions There is something
IN human nature that Is apt to yield to the temp
iaInus that seem to invite to something outside
and hey ord the regular course Of life. The usual
business Of life IS abandoned, and temporary ex
tlt.TI = reSortCd Ry by thp iral
wave rectdes. he man loses his office. and while
he has been serving the public in the place he so
much crayed, bis business has taken unto itself
WINS We have Known a skilled mechanic, who
had spent years fitting himself for service and
who "ds receiving five dollars day spend month
after mOAth III seeking for office that was
worth but two dollars and fifty cents day and
jGt d he lost it-very fortunately for him, for il
SEM h'm back TO his york bench contented and
happy man Hundreds of young men writing
to leading public men and button holing every
person Who has a 1.-THE ofinhuence, asking for ap
continents to clerkships al Washington al sala
res that would hardly keep soul and body togeIh-
er: and when secured they have nothing to offer
bat the closest drudgery. with but little hope Of
promotion Better remain on the farm, in the
mechanics shop, BY the work bench, or at the
bacSsmihS forge. at a dollar day.
The holding OF political office is in every way
honorable, and al honest and capable office holder
is entitled to respect, the as persons filing
otNeF departments OF HE. we 40 not ION the
sci seless raid that is often made upon office
holders nor do we believe that because here and
there is found who is recreant to his trust the
entire class must rest under the stigma The
gentlemen holding these places will compare
tavoiably with any other class or profession
They as honorable as generous, able, as
high minded, and as honest And for fidelity to
their trusts no nation on the globe can present
such list of iucorruptbe officials as our own ma
ton
But what do claim is, that no ordinary man
afford to set himself to the task of professional
Office seeking, but should seek some profession OF
occupation in life that will insure constant EN-
ploym ent and independence-an employment en-
gagged in which you will rot awaken some fine
morning to find Yourself voted out, and some
other lucky Tor unlncky) chap voted in. Pursuing
the even tenor Of ones way in the delightful field
of toll chosen III early youth, the mind s free from
harrassiDg care; and while We may not be in a
station to receive the votes the accaims of the
populace, we quietly and calmly filling the
exalted place OF an American citizen, and doing
our part to furnish the solid foundation upon
which every office, high or low, must rest And
if during this busy life, the summons to serve
ones country in Office should come, with the prep
aratiOn we have suggested above, the step may be
taken gracefully. IT could gather up all the
golden moments squandered after one political
campaign in fruitless quest for office, we could re
eve the distress of every family of want and suf
fering throughout our broad domain and carry
sunshine where now is sorrow. We say to those
who are looking out with envious eyes upon the
office holders stick to the business which has
brought bread and butter to yonr tables. and com
fort and peace toyour minds. Name Farmer.