Year: 1872




vice 70 youn9 men," Every gray
haired sire WHO hes son that's q lit.
tie wild attempts To correct the evil
habits Of bis boy by writing homily
against the sins Of young mon in gen.
eral. Tho minister having used up
his "supply," and tho season being
uniavorable 10 study, conceives II 70
be his divine mission 10 pitch into tho
young folks. We haven't particle
Of faith in this kind Of reformation.---
The young men and maidens of to.
day are just what You gray haired
sires have made them Just what So
ciety wants thom to be, and II any
body 10 to blame for tho present state
of things it 10 tho old, and not the
young people. A short time since an
eminent divine read young men
lecture about the sin OF not being able
to do anything. "Why," sayshe, in his
grandiloquent way, "you can't mako
a chair, build steam engine, or con-
struct house." and dear only knows
what be didn't say.


Now suppose all that's true,
who is to blame? Who was it
taught those young men that toll is
not respectable Who is il that to-
day will pass the laborer on the street
without SO much ms nod or recogni-
ton, while he always extends his hand
whero'er he approaches young man
whose clothes are Of the latest sty 10 and
whose locks are dripping wet with oil
and greasey The very men, we aver,
from whom comes this terrible howl
about dcgeneracy are the very men
who are responsible for the present
condition OF society. The young man
who browns his hands ut daily toll
is less respected, less noticed on the
street than the well dressed idler who
reddens his nose with beer Tho man
who handles the mallet and chisel is
excluded from social gatherings at
which he who makes his living by
shaking the dice box, or shutting the
cards, is welcome guest. What is
tho result of this practical teaching
that labor is dishonorable and unbe-
coming man of culture and refine
mentH Why, very few young men
are willing to apprentice themselves
TO any mechanical pursuit, because to
do SO is 10 lose caste and be compelled
to occupy an inferior social position.


We admit that there are to-day
more lawyers than clients; more doe
tors than patients; more clerks than
customers more book keepers than
books but this is only so because
society demands it. And now, these
model reformers shrink in holy horror
from the inevitable result of their
teaching, aud ondeavor to throw the
blame on somebody else This is only
another exhibition of that moral COW
ardiee that characterizes all their ac-
tions. If these chronic fault finders
cared less for pomp and show, and
more for truth and right, these evils
would soon be remedied But so long
as rich drunkard or millionaire
gambler is more honorable than tho
men who toll for living, things will
90 on in the old way. The plain truth
of the matter is our practice gives the
lie TO our teaching, and our eloquent
homilies about tho dignity of labor
are regarded as rich jokes That the
very men who first taught the young
of the nation that labor is not reputa-
BILE should now turn round and deliver
them another lecture on the impro-
priety of following the lessons they
were so early taught is as cool piece
of impertinence as we have heard of
lately.


Young men who are so soundly
abused ha'e had nothing to do in tho
formation Of society. Thcy have
simply accepted the situation, and
taken things as they found them.--
They are not the. culpable parties, and
can, with clear conscience and clean
hands, plead "not guilty" to the in
dictment. We really think there is a
very good cause for an "acton" on
tho other side, for instead of these
young men making society, society
made them what they are, and if they
are not what they ought to DO society
is to blame. So long as tho society
remains as it is at present constituted,
so long will young men crowd into
the "learncd professions" and useful
employment be neglected. There must
be some practical, tangible recognition
of the "dignity of labor" before any
radical oh anua oop raoenp bl,, bn 80
pected, and it is the easiest thing in
the world 10 bring about reformation,
If eilly desired, which we very much
doubt-treat tho mechanic with tho
same respect and courtesy that you
bestow on the gambler in stocks, or
the brainless son Of your arstocratic
next-door neighbor, and the result
will be accomplished. We don't mean
to apologize for the "indiscretions' of
our young men, We only desire 10
place tho blame where it properly be-
longs. Let the work of reformation
begin at tho foundation purify the
whole building. 1t will avail naught
TO white wash the attic while the Gel,
lar is full of rottenness. Make merit
tho only passport to social ppelerment,
and permit no invidious distinctions
in favor of wealth to influence your
conduct and bearing toward your
fellow man. SO long rs you do
this you preach in vain. These
invidious distinctions are obtaining in
our religious societies. Men will
kneel side by side AT the same altar,
receive the holy sacrament from the
same hands, and yet because one is
SO unfortunate as to bo compelled 10
toll for living while the other is
blessed with wealth, social equality is
ignored and social contact studiously
guarded against. II won't do to say
with tho tongue, "Young man 20 to
work." and say by your conduct,
"But remember, there can bo no social
equality between u.s."


Again we ask, 'who is to blame for
the evil which causes so much com.
plaintY Not tho young men, for
they are only following out to its le-