The Washington times., 1894-08-13

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lived In comparative comfort, owe no man any
J thing, and paid for everything have used. Ny
family consists OF my wife and two children, six
and four years old, respectively. The wife and
| children are always neat and clean and COM
| fortably, If cheaply, dressed.
How is 1t done3 l have kept an accurate ac-
| count Of my receipts and expenses for some
| years Here is an abstract from 1t for the year
ended July 81: Earnings, ss2'50, about 30 cents
per day. Expenses:
| Rent, rooms. Observation-Disclosures. "a 90
SIothlng, % %
ruel-- IL 10
Total. 2sl e5
Besides this have paid my dues as a member
| of the G. A H., have contributed little to
| church, and have taken my family for trip
| down the river twice this summer. But / have
| not had any beer or other intoxicants, neither
have had any doctor bills during the year, for
| both of which blessings am truly grateful. l
| belong to no labor organization, and only ask
| the privilege of being allowed to work where,
when, and for whom please and for as much
j. j. MURRAY
In the course OF his sermon Dr. Kent said
Zone of the first questions that arises in my
mind on reading this letter is this: Is the
spirit expressed by this writer spirit OF
manly eontentment or is ii spirit of uncon-
seious servility? Very likely this question
would not arise in minds unaccustomed 10
dealing with social problems. To most per-
customed to view the subject from the stand
point of the employer, though only the en-
ployer perhaps OF single servant, this letter
will appear to be most sensibly conceived and
admirably expressed.
1t breatbes the spirit employers like to find
in their servants. 1t promises pleasant and
satisfactory relations-relations not likely to
be disturbed by any unreasonable or yaulting
ambition.
Is IT AMBITION OR sERvlLITY.
But how shall we determine this matter?
How shall we decide whether the spirit Of
this letter is spirit of manly ambition or OF
harmful though unconscious servility? SIM
ply by getting clear views in the first place OF
what constitutes manly contentment and
manly ambition and then bringing the letter
to this standard. Manly contentment and
manly ambition are unquestlonabiy that sort
of contentment and ambition that make for
manhood In self and others.
Contentment or ambition that make against
manhood, that carry men bruteward and de-
stroy all desire for improvement in conditions
and character is unmanly. No greater serv-
ice can be done to men than TO arouse in
them a divine discomfort with the present,
considered as the permanent. 1t is all
right to be content with the present as the
present, but men should never be content to
ments OF the present in the future.
Life is for growth. progress, and achieve
ment. and whatever tends to check growth.
to hinder progress, and to prevent worthy
achievements is an injury to manhood. And
this not merely when these results accrue to
self, but also when they accrue to others.
Lie Is not ours for any merely selfish ends
Personal growth, personal progress, personal
achievement are never 10 be sought at the
expense OF or injury to others. In the higher
and nobler sense they can never be gained
when deliberately so sought Such purpose
enters into the very substance of character
and yitiates all thar the man is or does. To |
grow BEAUTIFULLY and normally one must live |
under the influence of controlling purpose |
to promote such growth in others.
NOT A MANLY SPIRIT
Now, in the light of these statements. and |
they are statements that DO man accepting |
the ethics of the Christ life and teaching can |
afford to dispute, what have we to say Of this |
workingman's letter? Clearly that the spirit |
of contentment which it breathes is not a |
manly spirit. In the first place it is destitute |
OF all desire for growth, progress and i'm
provement in self. 1t is willing to make
present conditions permanent conditions.
The possession of comparative bodily COM
fort, of ability to keep out of debt, to pay his
dues In the &. A. R., and to contribute lit
tie to the church ana to give his family a |
couple of pleasure trips down the river is all
that is necessary to satisfy his desires.
Now. l make no criticism of the man for bear
ing these conditions considered as present |
conditions, cheerfully and contentedly. This
is all right What do find fault with, and
as unmanly. is the spirit of con-
tentment that is willing to make these condi-
tons permanent conditions, and SO shut him
self out from those larger opportunities for
growth and progress which it is his business
to see that the future brings with it.
In the second place this contentment is un-
manly because it is heartlessly selfish. The
writer of this letter boasts that he belongs to
no labor organization, that he only asks the
privilege to work when. where, and for whom
he pleases and for as much money as he can
get. To have the privilege to be allowed to
work for whom one peases would in these
times be indeed great privilege. Most men
would be glad TO work for anybody who
would give them employment. The sad fea-
Lure of the situation in this country to-day is
hat millions of people can find no one who
wants to employ them. This man is probably
not aware that he is indebted for his ability to
get even n dollar day to the very labor
organizations of which he speaks SO con-
Let these organizations disband through
,ut the length and breadth of this land and
men of his ability, men who only command
81 day now would not be able to get so
,ents.
WOULD FORCE LABOR PRICES DOWN.
Let individualism pure and simple rule in
he labor market and competition between
he employing agencies on the one hand, and
he workmen on the other, would force labor
iown to the very lowest point at which men
'ouid live and work. / do not doubt that
mere are hundreds of thousands of working I
nen to-day with larger families than that re-
'orted by this writer who live in comparative
'omfort on smaller incomes than that re-
eived by him. When men learn to herd and
Junk as the Chinese do and many have !
llready learned 1t In our larger cities; when
hey can live on hoiIed ricc r-anE .uaaaaa