The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-15

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true SUCCESS, and therefore they did
not seek ease. They knew that suc-
cess comes only TO those who lead
the life of endeavor.
FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF WORK.
It seems to me that the simple ac-
ceptance of this fundamental fact OF
American life, this acknowledgement
that the law of work is the funda-
mental law of our being, will help US
to start Alright in facing not a few of
the problems that confront US from
without and within. As regards in
ternal affairs, it should teach us the
prime need of remembering that,
after all has been said and done, the
chief factor in any mans success or
failure must be his own character
that is, the sum of his common sense,
his courage, his virile energy and
capacity. Nothing can take the
place of this individual factor.
do not for a moment mean that
much cannot be done to supplement
it. Besides each one of US working
individually, all of us have to work
together. We cannot possibly do
our best work as a nation unless all
of us know how TO act in combina-
ton as we'll as how to act each indi-
vidually for himself. The acting in
combination can take many forms ;
but, of course, it's most effective
form must be when it comes in the
shape of law-that is, of action by
the community as a whole through
the law-making body.
OPPORTUNITY THE GREATEST GIFT.
But it is not possible ever to in
sure prosperity merely by law.
Something for good can be done by
law, and bad laws can do an intinity
of mischief but, after all, the best
law can only prevent wrong and in
justice and give to the thrifty, the
~far-seeing and the hard working a
chance to exercise to the best advan-
tage their special and peculiar abili-
ties. No hard and fast rule can be
laid down as to where our legislation
shall stop in interfering between man
and man, between interest and in
terest.
All that can be said is that it is
highly undesirable on the one hand
to weaken individual initiative and,
on the other hand, that in a con
stantly increasing number of cases
we shall find it necessary in the
future TO shackle cunning as in the
past we have shaokled force.
1t is not only highly desirable, but
necessary that there should be legis-
lation which shall carefully shield
the interests of wage-wOrkers and
which shall discriminate in favor of
the honest and humane employer
by removing the disadvantage under
which he stands when compared
with INSCRIPTIONS competitors who
have no conscience and will do right
only under fear of punishment. Nor
can legislation stop only with what
are termed labor questions. The vast
individual and corporate fortunes,
the vast combinations of capital,
which have marked the development
of our industrial system, create new
conditions and n3cessitate o change
from the old attitude of the State
and Nation toward property. 1t is
probably true that the large majority
of the fortunes that now exist in this
country have been amassed not by
injuring Our people, but as an moi
dent TO the comforting of great bene-
fits upon the community, and this no
matter what may have been the con
sciOus purpose of those amassing
them. There is but the scantiest
justification for most of the outcry
against the men of wealth as such,
and it ought to be unnecessary to
state that any appeal which directly
or Indirectly leads to suspicion and
hatred among ourselves, which tends
to limit opportunity and, therefore,
to shut the door of success against
poor men of talent, and, finally,
which entails the possibility of law
lessness and violence, is an attack
upon the fundamental properties of
American ~oitize0shiO
Our interests are at bottom com
mon. In the long run we go up or
go down together. Yet more and
more is it evident that the State
and, if necessary, the Nation-has
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