New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-25
A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS.

Last year the Christmas gift to the Nation was
the hope Of better times. After the dark and
weary years Of disaster and depression the hope
was precious gift. This year the fruitage Of
that hope loads the holiday tables with COM
fort, and greater measure Of prosperity than
many dared to anticipate year ago has already
been realized II as yet 1t falls short In some
RESPECTS of the best and happest past years
there is still abundant reason for rejoicing. But
each glad Christmas time of goodwill and peace
brings It's own new gifts The material relief
for which the Nation hoped with such longing
year ago has prepared millions Of Americans,
perhaps. to appreciate and welcome blessings
Of higher type AS the starving man needs
not sermons but food, so the Nation which
year ago craved only fair chance to make a
living may to-day be better able to comprehend
its higher needs.
The best gift which any Christmas can bring
to Americans is c spirit Of mutual helpfulness
and consideration We stand in our own light
by striving each too nercely for share Of the
countless blessings which are ours II we only
work together The most obvious and familiar
application of this truth to many is that capital
and labor can only destroy their hopes of pros
perity by unreasonable strife. The worker cnn
close the factories. and perhaps ruin the en-
ployers, but that is no blessed Christmas gift
to him. The employer may perhaps exact
little more profit by cutting down the earnings
OF labor too far. but has no not learned In these
years Of prostration that working millions who
10 not earn cannot buy, and that buying only
ran make his prosperity real and lasting? There
was no improvement In business this year. be-
yond the speculative operations Of few, until
better employment for the millions began to
bring larger business for the stores and the fac
tories. II the men on both sides could once
fully realize that they must go forward together
Or not at all, must share gains with each other
or have none to share. that idea carried into the
dealings Of the coming year would mean for all
1 richer blessing than any imagination has con-
ceived.
But mutual helpfulness and consideration are
needed as much In relations less direct as In
those between wage-earners ard wage-payers.
The man Of the East and the man OF the West
are bound together by ties which neither can
break, and no blessing can come to either which
does not come to both ls there reason for O
spirit Of hate and bitterness between those
whose first need must always be to help each
other7 Senator Wolcott, with the eloquence Of
which ne Is master. spoke at the banquet the
other night Of the sincerity and honesty Of West
ern men. But has he found at the West more
ready and cordial hospitality for the thoughts
Of another section, or more disposition to meet
Their, fairly with full knowledge that one sec
ton cannot prosper except by measures which
benefit both, than he finds in Eastern States?
1t does not follow, II both are honest and pro-
foundly convinced, that either must be wholly
wrong. The East has q paternal feeling; II may
not In all points lack paternal wisdom born OF
long experience.
In no other quarter are mutual helpfulness
Aad consideration more needful than IN ths a.