The semi-weekly miner., 1885-10-28
wuRK1NGMAN.s ECONOMY.
BY GEO. F. BoRIE.


The antagonism between capital and labor
ia traceable to one OF two things; first. envy
and secondly, pride. The first seems to be
a natural impulse so strongly implanted
in the hearts of the producing classes as to
DEFY. in most instances, every artifice which
human reason in it's utmost perfection Is
capable of producing to eradicate. 1t ls 9
morbid sentiment gro .sing out OF the belle
that some classes have been more favored
than others, and, for that reason, are en-
titled to and do enjoy greater privileges
The common saying that lit is no disgrace
to be poor, but that it is very incon
yenient," has doubtless done much te
aggravate the poor, as they naturally con
template the advantages, to say nothing o
the pleasures and comforts, which they
imagine the rich to be solely in the enjoy
| ment OF.
Pride, however, in the possession O.
riches. is more responsible for the ex
! istence OF the breach between the
rich and the poor than anything else
All men, whether educated or ignorant, rlcf
or poor, have been endowed by nature with
profuse supply OF reasoning powers. Ihe
only advantage enjoyed by the learned is
that they are enabled by logical artifice to
communicate the deductions of their reason
ing to others in a more convincing form
This advantage, though, cannot overthrow
the immutable principles inherent in the
minds OF all men. The poorer classes,
therefore, whether learned or not,
CANNOT RECONCILE THEMSELVES
To the belief that riches should make any
distinction among those who have been
created after the image of Him who created
and rules the universe. 1t has been said
that "riches beget pride" This may be a
truism as regards some. but 1T IS lar from
the truth when applied to all who are Tor
tunately the possessors OF wealth. 1t
would therefore appear that pride is at
tributable to something else besides riches,
for it is more the result OF a naughty, over
bearing demeanor inbred in the very nature
OF those who delight SO much to display it.
In considering the antagonism between
capital and labor, in the interests OF the
producer or laborer, it is not necessary to
waste any time in what would prove a
fruitless effort to conquer or subdue pride.
Much can be said, however, in arguing
against, and showing up the fallacy OF envy.
Saint Paul says, "that charity never
faileth," hence it is reasonable to infer that
all men are sufficiently charitable to ap-
preciate any effort conscientiously made to
promote their welfare and happiness, for
none can be said to be truly happy whose
hearts are ranked with envy.
To be envious is to be miserably un-
happy, without any means to remove the
cause, except by firm and steadfast reso-
luton to secure the object coveted. Is it
RICHES OR INDEPENDENCE
in this life that the poor man aspires for
and envies those who are in the possession
Of? If so then he should at once adopt the
only course open to him, and that is the
HI oh, %1n inlr 1cf, md
nomical have always pursued who have
succeeded in accommodating wealth, or, to
say the least, independence OF poverty.
every man is the architect OF his fortune" :"
This sentiment should be impressed upon
the hearts OF all in infancy, SO that even
the young might commence early to lay the
founda ton for future ease and comfort, for
there are thousands of instances where
even those who had launched their frail
barks upon the sea of life utterly penniless
have, by frugality and industry, entered in
triumph into harbors OF plenty even in the
meridian of life.
- - In order to secure ease and comfort in
the meridian, and a competency and indie
pendence in the sere and yellow leaf of life,
it is only necessary that those who would
be the architects early of their own fortunes
should begin only to practice principles OF
"early bird catches the worm,' and so he
who is constantly on the alert and
PERsEvEREs IN HIS EFFORTS
cannot fail to succeed in the accomplish
ment OF any honorable object he may have
in view. Such men as Girard, Vanderbilt,
Astor and other milionaires OF the past,
were not born with silver spoons in their
mouths. They were all OF poor and obscure
parentage, and commenced life in its very
humbest spheres. So did many OF those
who have acquired immense fortunes dur
ing the present generation. Stephen Girard
landed at Philadelphia during the last
century, poor cabin boy on merchant
vessel. A. L. Stewart, the late merchant
prince Of HeM Y9r5br fhi66ftions, and for years
Travelled on foot from house to house So
Letting purchasers for anything, from a
paper OF pins to yard OF lace. John Jacob
Astor commenced as an errand boy, WORKED
his way up to an interest in the house in
which he was employed, and subsequently,,
fortunately for him, invested his share of
the
PROFITS OF THE BUSINESS
wild uncultivated lands in Michigan, then
regarded as the far West, upon which the
thriving and prosperous city of Detroit has
since been built. Mr.. Jay Gould, the mill
lonalre financier, OF the present time, at
tributes his tremendous wealth to a pra yer
maze by him. when as poor, destitute lad
he was footing it alone along the tow nath
Of the Erie canal
These men, as have been seen, all COM
Inenced at the very lowest round OF the lad
der, and, yet, they and hundreds OF Others
beginning as they did, acquired fortunes,
solely by frugality and industry, equal to,
fnOt in excess of, the richest among the
Titled nobility and her editary princes OF
The world.
All over our broad land, in every valley,
and on every hillside, may be found men
'eputed for their wealth, who are in the en-
oyment OF the luxuries OF this life who left
heir parental roof penniless, but who by
perseverance have risen from squalor and
poverty, to exalted positions. As they
lave been successful, so can others succeed.
Where there is Il will there is way" is
IN adage as old as the hills. If, therefore
men have only the will the battiei is already
Won.
WORK! WORK. WORK.
whether by the brain or the muscle is the
nly sure highway to success. The slugyard
II the growler always finds himself left, lust
'here he deserves to be, struggling in pov-
rty, and enormously ascribes his condition
o ill luck. Is it luck that makes man |
uccessful? or is it not rather indomitable !
perseverance? If it is the former then it |
'ould be just as well for ali to let their |
ands and arms fall by their sides as though |
hey were paralyzed, for no effort, however
esoute it might be, would change or affect
he current, hence they would not have
nything to fear. Luck may temporarilv
,vor the novice in gambling, but experience
roves that such luck is of short duration,
'r those who are lucky in the beginning are
emnded OF its transitory nature, as the
anne progresses, when they find themselves
opelessly ruined. Luck may be influential
l gambling, and SO it has proved potent in
lany other more respectable and praise.
orthy enterprises but. after all, experience
roves conclusively, that the only sure way
} success is through being honest, perse-
ering and Industrious.
Are the workingmen envious OF the rich?
o a considerable extent they are. Why?
imply because instinct, for which they are
no wise responsible, prompts them to
IVY the rich their
LUXURIEs AND ENJoYMENTs.
Such rarely consider that it is not riches
one which produce happiness and con-
No, there is something else, and
lat is clean heart and a pure conscience.
clean heart and a pure conscience have
I'd can now, accomplish every and any,