The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-01

u LOT IL ndHDS ANtW
~ has never been a more sat
isfactory state of business.
More wage-earners are now employed
in productive industry than ever before
and their earnings, as measured in the
comforts open to purchase, upon the
average were never higher. This means
that the widest diffusion of prosperity
which it is possible to achieve under
the prevalent Industrial system has
been accomplished Nothing so dis
courages a man or menaces society as
enforced idleness or labor performed
at scale of remuneration insufficient
TO meet the unavoidable expenses of
life; and on the contrary. no condition
this side of paradise is so satisfactory
as that which enables every industri-
Gus man to apply his ability in Il
manner productive Of a comfortable
income, under circumstances which do
not discourage hope of appreciation
and advancement.
Applying this standard to the Ameri-
can people as they cross the threshold
of the new year, we find that from the
economic standpoint there is infinitely
more to be thankful for and infinitely
more incentive to encouragement than
has been true for a number of years
past. There are perplexities and injus-
tces, to be sure, but the proportion
which these bear to the situation as y
whole is relatively to other years a
small one. The man who has no other
resource than his labor is not in all
respects to be envied; if he is wise he
will this day firmly resolve to lay up
Of his earnings, week by week and
month by month, enough to protect
him and his against an always possible
period of adversely. Yet one year ago,
two years ago, or. in fact, at any past
time, barring abnormal intervals, the
laboring man would have experienced
more difficulty than he experiences to-
day in securing satisfactory work and
wages. The Industrious, intelligent and
proficient workman begins the year 1900
with the happy fact confronting him
that more men are anxious to secura
his services and make a profit out Of
them than ever before; and the enor-
nous diversitication and expansion Of
American industry and commerce now
in progress insure that this condition
will be likely to continue for con-
siderable period to come.
That which is true as to labor is of
course true as to capital, with the
qualification that men OF means who
possess to large degree the specu-
lative mania are at this moment reap
ing a small portion of the inevitable
harvest of folly. Money abounds for
legitimate and intelligent investment;
the real wealth of the country was
never greater, and the men who pos
sess generous portions of this wealth
are as a rule ready and willing to take
the steps which will result in their
possessing more, provided that the
steps impress them as being safe steps
and not missteps leading to disaster.
But If the gamblers are not so active
or prosperous as they We're during the
stock-watering era of a few months
ago; II some Of the gas in these in
flated big capitalizations which we
used to read so much about is being
liberated under the pressure for money
needed in honorable channels, those
will chiefly lose who were figuring upon
making others lose, and the recoil of
their projects will illustrate poetic jus.
tice.
Materially, then, the New Year be-
gins underneath a bow Of promise. In
tellectually and morally the outlook is
equally cheerful. Opportunities for
self-advancement by means of culture
were never SO numerous or so avail
able as today; and they are multiply
ing rapidly enough to keep up with
the demand. Nothing prevents the
poorest child from securing a good edu-
cation, from associating with influences
tending to develop him morally and
spiritually, and from finding a place in
life In keeping with his merits. So far
from the door being harder to open OF
the ladder harder to climb, because OF
the alleged multiplication of great for
tunes and of the favorites thereby SUD.
piled with pulls" the reverse is true
for the very reason that the poor boy
has both better chance to aualif,
himself to rise in life and a larger field
OF selection than ever before; and now
as always, 1t is the strong man tha,
counts. TO the man in mature life thi.
day should be significant because OF
the privilege which is his to see tn
high standards of welfare characteriz
ing this time; to the youth it should
be pregnant with inspiring possibilities