The old Abe eagle. (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 189?-189?, 1894-03-08
1T WORKS HARM.

A very mistaken notion has taken hold
on the minds Of large portion OF the
people OF this country within the past
few years, one that has done much harm
to their best interests and will do much
more likely before it is abandoned. This
is the absurd idea that it is the business
of the general Government to gee that
every individual under its protection
prospers. This idea that the Government
is responsible to the individual for his
success or failure in his private business
is most pernicious in that it takes away
his self reliance, courage and ambition
and makes whining baby of him. 1t
would be impossible, even il it we're desir
able, to make laws that would cause mon
ey to flow into every mans pocket regard
less OF the degree ofindustry or shiftess
ness, good "luck" or bad management,
that characterized his conduct Of his af
fairs, or to guarantee success to every
man who earned it. Natural laws over
which legislatures and congresses have
an exceedingly limited influence, are the
governing forces here, and he who con-
suits them most and understands them
best succeeds best.
There is never time 30 prosperous
but that some men fail, and never so hard
but that some men make money in legit-
innate ways. But the latter are men one
don't hear much from; they have set out
to win success. They keep their eyes on
the goal and their business well in hand;
and if they tiud one road to it cut off
they lose little time in finding another.
And they generally pay little attention
TO what kind Of laws are being made or
unmade.
1t is not intended here to say that all
men bring their msfortunes, or that laws
may not have any effect at all on the bust
ness OF country. But it is well known
that only about one man in twenty who
embarks on business career on his own
account goes through life without fail.
ure, whether times on the average be
prosperous or the reverse. This fact is
not chargeable to legislation. 1t is up.
parently an inseparable and inevitable
incident to business undertakings, and
enacted law cannot relieve HIM who ven.
tures on the sea Of business from liabil
ity to shipwreck.
At the present time there are too many
who disturb country with doleful walls
over misfortunes that are aggravated in.
stead OF bettered by the vociferous
charges recklessly hurled at the Govern
ment, which they denounce without I'M
derstandlng in what way it affects their
interests. They have organized them
selves into party whose only well-de
flued principle is opposition to the Pow
ors that be, whether it be Democrats or
Republicans who administer or make
the laws, or what may be the purpose OF
the latter. They would pervert govern
ment from its primary Office as genera
bond, conservator and regulator Of soci
oty to q particular watcher over the in
diyidual, for whose prosperity 1t should
become responsible, They want pater
naIism and that for themselves.
The party now in power is distinctively
anti-paternal, and does not believe that
II ls theprovuce of Governm mt to make
business SUCCESS for m M in any line or
division OF ndustr ii activity. but would
place all on plane OF equality in tn,
race for success, giving each free scope
in the choice and pursuit Of it under th,
operation Of natural laws.
Hard times" is, and always has been
a periodical visitor to every civilized
country, in which the comploxity OF tn,
business system ronders it subject to de
Tangement These periods OF re.adiust
ment and depression correspond approx
imately with the advent on the stage o
apreponderance OF young business men.
Self.rellauce, courage, study OF tho el
ements that enter into business life, an,
its environments, will otten show ma
the gateway to su,s,sl while rail- : an
cursiug the Government aud laws onl.
intensides conditions and makes re I'D
iustment more diiIi,ult as has been don
during the present time OF financial dis
turbance, 10 the beginning OF which wa
most vigorous was mIis on public con
tidence aud all enterprise was killed be
cause capital was withdrawn or withheld
And now that capital in vast amounts
looking FOR safe investment it will /
wise to declare truce aud invite IL 1
como again into use TO the profit of al
II should be recognized that no ma
gets his start to wealth by law. but b
bi,iuesi ability IA enterprise. Jult Law
can only operate IN general way IN
where interests vary ~ widely as in ih