Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-02-04
A Reply to Mr.. Hilburn.

..
way to Locust Cottage and created
a ''brainstorm" of such proportion
that the criticism which one F. P.
Hilburn ''felt impelled" to offer,
in its turn invites and deserves
censure. In the first place, | de-
sire to state that the innocent and
much abused article was copied
from a journal and consisted OF
wholesome advice to young men.
The only reference, throughout
the article, to drunkenness was
found in the first sentence, which
it pleased Mr.. H. to quote, as fol-
lows: "Young man, did you ever
ask yourself why there are SO
many people in the world unem-
ployed, and why 80 many fill a
drunkard's grave ?" l fail utterly
to find the statement that drunken
ness is responsible for a great per
cent of the worlds idleness, which
MI. H. so emphatically denied. If
l interpret rightly the authors
meaning-and the spirit of the en-
tire article leads me to believe l
am correct-he simply endeavored
to hold up before the youth of our
country a picture of the army OF
unemployed, those idle from
choice, perhaps, or because of un-
fitness to find employment, or the
worthless loafers of which every
town and city furnishes its quota.
Those dregs of civilization, those
parasites, who feel that the world
owes them a living. Then the au-
thor follows it up by his appeal to
the young man personally to make
the most of his life and to realize
that the elements lie within him
self. Thus he would lead him
away from the idler's dangerous
ground up to the higher plane Of
industry, self-respect and inde-
pendent living, knowing that il
not idle altogether because of in
temperance, he may become in
temperate and fill a drunkard's
grave because of idleness. For
"what heart can think, or tongue express
The harm that groweth OF idleness."
But the assertion which wal
made that ''there is employment
for the entire neutrality-suspicious.
BILE employment, called forth
more emphatic deniel. No intelli'
gent thinker will gainsay tina
force of circumstances throws thou
ands out of employment. The
author of these words had NJ
thought of the many temporarily
thrown out of service-the many
who habitually work. Our sym
pathy goes out to him
"Who does the best that circumstance al
lows
Does well, acts nobly, angels could ne more.
Yet, l go so far as to assert tina
even a proportion of this elemen
would find employment could thu
man and the job be brought to-
gether. Conditions seem to verify
such a statement when from thu
towns and cities goes up the cry
Thousands thrown out of en-
ployment," and again from thu
country sections we hear the ur'
gent call for laborers. This ole
world is too big and too rich in
natural resources for her children
to cry for bread. Because they
run off into cities-into conditions
detrimental to sturdy independ'
ence-because they become "the
very slaves to circumstance" il
nc argument in favor of Mr.. HI
position that there is not employ.
ment for all.
The lengthy quotation from May
banks Monthly is foreign to thu
subject in hand and fails to par
take of the spirit for which the w
9. 7. U. insignia stands. Thi'
space is not devoted to literature
which arrays one class against an.
other, but rather its purpose is te
be a means of education and up.
lift to any, especially the young,
be he a pauper or a Morgan.
Believe me, every article pub.
lished in this column, whether or.
iginal or selected, is designed tc
better the condition of humanity
and promote the great cause Of
temperance. 1t is my desire to be
fair, to be honest, to be temperate
in language and life, knowing that
"All zeal for a reform that gives ofiense
TO peace and charity, Is mere p~retense.'
But should some sentiment ex-
pressed be contrary to that of an
other individual, may he have
brains enough in his head TO in
terpret correctly, and grace enough
in his heart to surrender to every
person the privilege Of his own