The Irish standard., 1898-01-01
REV. JAMES N. CLEARY
INTERESTING CONTRIBUTION ON THE
YOUNG MAN OF TO-DAY.
HIS OPPORTUNITIES IN The NoRTHwES
ARE UNEQUALED IN ANY PART OF
THE CIVILIZED WORLD.
QUALIFICATIONS TO INSURE SUGGEST
REWARDS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
FOR THE PROPER PERSON.


An article from the pen Of Rev. ].
M. Cleary, OF this city. entitled The
Outlook Before the Young Man Of To-
day" appeared in the Minneapolis
Journal of a recent date, and is here re-
produced in its entirety rs follows:
70 Emerson, l believe, the credit has
been given Of claiming that America is
but another name for opportunity.
This country of ours is in very truth
the land of opportunity. Every man
can be the architect of his own for
tune. We have no attractive positions
that fall to men as a family inheri-
tancc We have no traditions that can
hold undeserving men in situations of
honor and profit. Every mans claim 10
| success must, therefore, rest upon his
personal merit, upon his industry, tall
| ent and integrity. Greater, or better
| incentives to honorable ambition are
not known among men, The man of
| sterling worth reioices In the golden
opportunity Of creating his own for
tune, and Of building the enduring eti-
| fec of his well-earncd fame
The older Il community becomes tho
more its Members naturally. rely on
precedents, and honor traditions that
seem sacred to them. The bold nno-
vator is regarded with some suspc-
ion. In communities comparatively
| new prGcedents have no weight, and
traditions arc unknown. What wc,ld
| seem to be objectionable boldnrss in
community bound by conservative
lines, is applaudcd in Il new comnrn-
ity, and honored as an evidence OF su-
perior merit, bordering Oh genius.
Hence. in our glorious northwest, the
! opportunities for young men of educa-
tion, talent industry. integrity and
!! ambition, are uncqualed in any part
Of the world. They sllrpass the oppor-
tunltics of older sections of this com
| try as far as these sections s;,rpass tllc
settled conditions of the old world.
The young men who have come to the
Northwest from the New England
village or the New England farm, and
have passed, by leaps and bounds, the
conservatism of their sturdy and In
dustrlous ancestry, and who have done
80 much In the development of this
vast territory. have simply opened the
way, and have demonstrated to the
| young men of this generation what pos-
sibilitics arc within their reach. All
| the good chances are by no means rro-
cmptcd; there is more room for gen
nine ability than ever before The
summit OF ambitions peak is never
overcrowdcd. The young mon of this
generation enjoy many advantages over
the early pioneers of The west. who silr-
! vcycd our prairics. fordcd the rivers
and followed the Indians trial through
| the forest.
The precious time spent by the dar
ing men who "bIazcd" their way to
nome and fortune through the uncx-
| pIorcd wilderness, In necessary prep
aratlon for their lifcwork, can now be
proitably employed by those who rcap
"hcre thry had sown, in building
| fame and fortune on foundations al
ready well laid. We have passed
| through the formative stage of our
| western civilization. State, municpnI.
county and township laws and char
ters have all been well and carefully
established. The rights of property
are protected and the rights OF the
individual are not in danger. Most of
our municipalities and corporations had
no existence a generation ago We arc
but in our infancy. The young mans
opportunity is right at our doors. So
ciety everywhere IS undergoing Il
change. Our Industrial conditions can
not continue ns they are. Sordid greed
for wealth, the spirit of invention. and
the rcstlcssncss Of the American pco-
pie have combined to rcvolutionizc or
social conditions. What the outcome
In the near future may be, the wiscst
prophet cannot tell. But in any event,
the safest advantage to the honest and
industrious man must be found where
nature cOnccals her richest treasures.
The fertility of our SOIL the health
fulncss of our climate, are foundations
Of prosperity and wealth which no
| combinations suggested by selfish greed
can destroy. We cannot long continue
in our present anomalous condition in
this country Of witnessing the danger
| our congestion of wealth in those Sec
tions of the country that do not pro-
duce IT, The wealth of nation should
be ,arnercd where It's foundations are
laid.
More finished scholarship may be
found among the few, in older sections
of the country than we meet with in
the Northwest. But here there is found
a more widely extended mental activi-
ty, and greater Intellectual vigor than
in older sections; condition that gives
far greater promise for the countrys