St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-26
posIrIrE AND NEG4TIVE MEN.

In this world of ours there are two kinds
of men, and they may be classified as posi-
tive and negative. The former has an opin-
ion on all subjects, while the latter has none
unless he adopts The opinion of another-he
is never able to give reason for the faith
that is in him. He is not a Democrat nor is
he a Republican, but votes with the side he
thinks will win without regard to principles
or to men. He cares little for the future. in
fact does not care what happens so it does not
happen to him. He avoids opposition,
strife and bitterness encountered by the
positive man; he is simply nobody and ac-
composites nothing, and when he dies is
soon forgotten. A negative man has few
enemies, and being destitute of positive
character, has no friends. The positive man
has a purpose in life, and on all questions
of general interest, plants himself on one
side or the other and will make himself
felt, whether the decisions are for or against
him. In matters of politics be is a Demo-
crat, or Republican, from conviction, and
when he goes to the polls you know just
how he VIII vote, and you know, further
more, that his suffrage cannot be bought
The negative man marches up
to the polls, deposits his ballot, but just bow
and why he votes depends upon the candi-
date who ''saw him. lat. He will take
money from each side and possibly betray
both, certainly one or the other. Matters of
interest engage the attention and secure the
best efforts of the man of positive charac-
ter. He is always an earnest advocate or
ant I'm xril hor ri
names but then he is 4 power in the world,
and all there is in science, art, education or
government is attributable to him. Such
man has warm friends and bitter enemies,
but he moves the world. Point TO a man
without an enemy and he will be found to be
a nobody for whom no one cares.
These two classes of men are seen daily in
our streets. The positive man aids in the
building up Of our city. He favors every
enterprise calculated to advance the public
welfare, while the negative man is q clog on
the wheels of progress. He originates moth
ing, produces nothing, but consumes every
thing within his reach. Our city would be
Just as well off without him. Iu the reeling
shock of the conflict and the seething struggle
of life, one fiery, dauntless, positive Rhoder-
lex Dhu, whose heart speaks in his blade, and
whose voice rings through his actual victor
les, is worth ten thousand negative men.
The rains fall upon the just aud the unjust
and so Gods favors are distributed in his
own way. From our standpoint we are at q
loss to understand why some of these negative
creatures should have been favored with
riches. True they are usually acquired by mar
rage or inheritance, but when once acquired
are never used to advance the interest of the
city nor to aid in any benevolent work. We
could name dozen OF these namby-pamby
noueutities who have never given dollar
for any noble work. The uniform rule of
these droues is to refuse aid to any enter
prise or charity, ana so we'll are their habits
/ known that they are not called on to assist
in any enterprise looking 10 the
! public good. Their neighbors give and
( thereby promote general prosperity, which
/ adds to the accumulations Of this worthless
| class. These same men are too mean to
/ take daily paper but trust to reading their
neighbors. They have no pew in church be-
cause It costs money to have one. They are
willing to enjoy the privileges of Gods
house, but unwilling to aid in bearing the
expenses of the same. Some one got up q
good joke on three of these men when be
said that they had agreed to eudov female
college in this city. Endow collegei The
men named would not eudow s col
lege If it could be done by the
contribution Of dime each, aud yei
they are among our most wealthy citizens,
What blessing it would be if all men Of
this character should migrate TO another
climel If they did and should happen Il
locate together, would it not he "a high old
town. that they would build upi Ihess
men are opposed TO all Improvements and
complain Of the injustice Of all taxes and as
sessments imposed upon their property.
The names of many men Of this class scan
be read between these lines"