The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-10-23
Stin1uat ater, Minn, Thursday, Oot. %, 1890.

special horde of chronic malcontents-in
dividuals who never did an honest day.
work themselves, and have determined
that no one else should, if it were in thei
power to help it; and hence their active an(
ceaseless PRONUNCIATION of that mOnstrOu
absurdity, "One man is as good as another.
But these ''wasps of society" make them
selves an exception to this free and easy
law, and proclaim, with appalling audacity
that they alone are capable OF directing anC
controlling mundane affairs-and elec
themselves to fill the places of power anC
influence. They exist in every section O
society. even now, when we are approach
ing the close of the nineteenth century. L
is. therefore, our duty. to endeavOr tt
cOunteract this tendency by demonstrating
the fact that our only hope of permanent
prosperity and progress as a race is in the
inculcatiOn of the principle that mutually
of interest and action, and careful, patient
performance of our respective duties. ac-
cOrding to our several or respective Qualifi
cations is the only practical solution of the
great social problem. Life should not be 9
perpetual fight between individuals for SUI
premacy; but united effort, by all the
members of the community, to promote
those measures which best contribute to the
common veal.
We know that in the eye of the law,
lone man is as good as another" theOretic
ally; that is, justice is supposed to be i'm
partially dealt out to rich or poor. learned
or ignorant, prince or peasant. regardless OF
social status or influence; but our daily eX-
perience unfortunately demonstrates the
fact that it is only legal fiction; and that.
as rule, what is called justice can only be
obtained by those who are able to pay gen
erOuSly for it.
Now, seeing that. in fact. no two indvid-
uals are equal in intellectual ability. in
physical strength, in moral forces. or in
adaptabilty to the requirements of the COM
munity of which they form part. it be-
hOoves each individual citizen to first dis
cover what his special talent may be, what
particular duties he is best fitted for-and
to at once take his proper place in the
municipal hive. contributing their proper
quota to the national prosperity and prog
ress. Any man who develops special quail
itications-signal ability to fill honorable OF
responsible positions, will soon be dis
covered and appreciated-the ''Office will
seek the man." not man the office.
We would not dare to assert that man
must have no ambition, that he must not
seek adequate and larger fields for the talent
he may possess. On the contrary, we argue
that every one should make the best of his
skill and ability, that his motto through life
should be ''EXcelsior'; that his course in
the community should be onward and up
ward: but we most emphatically insist that
this pushing forward should be strictly con.
fined to legitimate means, and should be
based only on his personal merits and tech
nical fitness for the Office sought.
Nature abhOrS all violent transitions.
oh fob ;,, he
mineral vegetable. and animal world are in
matters of growth or time. So it is in oul
social economy. He who would mount
fame's ladder must begin at the lower
round. We have, it is true. many instances
of mushroom growth" in modern society;
but their term of existence is very short
''they 90 UP like rocket, but they come
down like its stick" But how different the
careers of such men as Faraday, Watt,
Stephenson, Fulton, and scores of other
celebrities in art. science and mechanics.
They studied hard. they labored indus
triously, and did their work we'll; and,
what was better than all, they were con-
tented to do one thing at time. They did
not leap from one point to another in their
onward course but stepped cautiously and
securely, keeping their one Object-the
great work of their life-in full and con-
slant view. But we must not deal in vague
generaities; there is practical, common
sense issue to be arrived at. They are
amongst our number, representatives of al
most every trade. profession or calling
who, will, sooner or later. be seeking field
of operation in the outside world.
Some amongst us. for want of education,
or opportunity, have at present no specific
skilled handicraft by which to obtain a
subsistence. TO such we would say: Do
not waste your time and energy in flying
around from post to pillar" spending a
month or two in one shop or the other get
ting superficial knowledge of some three
or four different 'trades-and imagining all