The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-21
A REPLY TO EDWIN MARKHAM


lshed his famous poem, The Man With
the Hoe" Sir. Coils P. Huntington offered
prize of 500 for the best answer to the
poem. Mr.. Huntington contended that
Mr. MarIham's poem did injury to a great
class of agricultural toers, and he thought
that the statement made in the poem that
they were brothers to the OK should be
resented. In answer to Mr.. Huningtons
offer, poem emitted THE Man Without
the Hoe was written and published. This
Sun anonymously, and 1t was not known
until after the death of Mr.. Huntington
that he was The man who made st.
Mr.. Markham has since been interviewed
by the New York Herald, and he says
that as far as he can see he agrees with
Mr.. Huntington in all that has been said
about the dignity of labor But he in
sists that his poem was no reflection on
the laborer. and that it has been misunder
stood 1.-The principle al the basis Of The
poen'' said he, sis the fact that man is
largely shaped by his environments He
insists that his poem does no man wrong
and insults no man, but is simply an ar
raignment OF The masters. laws and rulers
for their ruthless betrayal of The rights OF
the people That it is q protest against
monopoly and special privilege by which
the people are robbed of their right 10
labor. their right to work and their right
to prosper in their labor.
But how can Mr.. Markham or anybody
else deny that the people of this country
enjoy that right in an eminent degree?
AR. Huntington himself began life as 4
poor mans son, without prestige, without
dollar of capital, with nothing but his
own brain and energy and pluck, but he
pushed ahead and became not only a very
rich man, but the protector of q number
OF great enterprises. Mr.. Huntington knew
well enough that the poor man in this
country has a chance, and that he viii
get along in spite of his environments
if he will only apply himself. There never
WAS an age when the working man was
50 generally respected, was such force
and factor in the affairs of the world, and
when he received so much for his labor.
But ii is the business of Government"
Mr.. Markham insists. 'to maintain equali-
ty of opportunity among her people. and
TO prevent the strong from over-reachins
the weak
1t is undoubtedly the business of Gov
ernment 10 see TO it that every man has
the same right that every other man has
TO pursue happiness and to accumulate
property and enjoy the fruit of his labor,
and when one man trcspasses upon the
rights Of another man st is the duty of
the Government 10 lay restraining hand
upon the trespasser and say, thus far
shalt thou so and no farther. The Gov
eminent has no right to enact laws for
the benefit of one class to the detriment
of another. II has no right either TO help
or hinder any CLASS Of men in pursuing
their lawful vacations. But MIR. Mark
ham goes step too far when he says that
it is the business of Government to pre-
vent the strong from over-reaching the
weak. To Apply that principle were TO
destroy competition and reduce all men to
a common level. BY pursuing such
course you would not lift UP tha weak
man TO the level Of the strong man. but
YOU would reduce the strong man to the
level of the weak man. Whenever the
Government says that one man Will not De
permitted to outstrip another man in BUS
mess, then the Government destroys the
incentive to action.