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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL. 10, NO. 41
Lincoln, Nebraska, October 21, 1910
Whole Number 509
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LABOR
CONTENTS
" ' LABOR
MR. ROOSEVELT IN MISSOURI
JOHN A. DIX
PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS ,
POPULAR GOVERNMENT SPREADS
' ' STITCHES IN TIME
"WHAT THE TARIFF HAS DONEFOR ME"
THE PERILS OF COMPROMISE
"ASK YOUR CONGRESSMAN"
HOME DEPARTMENT
MR. ROOSEVELT TO JUDGE PARKER
OIL AND TOBACCO TRUST CASES
WHETHER COMMON OR, NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
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Tho following essay was written by William
J. Bryan in his sophomore year and was award
ed first prize:
From the smallest thing that God has created,
to the heavenly bodies that perform their revo
lutions through unlimited space, there is nothing
that was not made for some purpose, nothing
that has not something to do, and nothing that
does not cheerfully perform its work. The
tiniest herb sends out its roots, puts forth its
leaves and draws its nourishment from earth
and air. The fish of the sea and the fowls of tho
air gather their support from tho elements in
which they abide. All brute creation goes to;
and froin search of food, while the earth itself
moves in harmony with other spheres.
Of all the works of God, man, and man only,
is willing to be idle. If it were true that he has
been developed from the lower order of animals,
even then we might be, surprised that he has not
more nearly followed their example in provid
ing for his wants; but when wo consider that
he was made in the image of One, all-wise and
all-powerful, astonishment takes the plaoe of
wonder.
We know that, in tho lower animals, labor is
not only good, but necessary. Is it not also truo
with man? His physical being demands food;
his mental and moral faculties also require
nourishment, though of a different .kind, and',
their sphere being. higher, the privation is more
. felt. Hence the necessity for labor is greater
w;ith man than with the lower animals.
The world Is large and wonderfully varied in
kb productions; wo find here Is a rich abundance,
not only of the necessaries, but also of what are
termed the luxuries of life. But all 'of these
blessings do not fall from the trees or rise from
the ground ready for use; much toil is required
to prepare them for the many wants of man.
The cotton must be planted, cultivated and
gathered; nor is tho work done then, it must
be woven into cloth and fashioned into garments
before it is ready for wear. Coal lies in the
ground, but it must be dug up before it can be
used o benefit mankind. Gold and silver are
of no value as they lie hidden in the .earth, but
can be formed into articles of beauty and use.
God has given the material. Man must shape it.
It Is possible to grow in size, but strength comes,
only with exercise. No one can become strong
in body without much patient, and, we may say,
continued labor, for no sooner does he relax his
efforts than the receding tide bears him back
whence he started. The talent, which is hidden
in the earth, will soon be taken away. Intelli
gence is necessary to direct physical force, and
the training of the mind, like that of the body,
is accomplished slowly and steadily. He must
be diligent who desires spiritual growth. "My
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Courtesy of Baltimore Sun.
father worketh hitherto and I work," said our
Saviour; every true Christian should say tho
same. That is not worth having which Is not
worth toiling for; there is novdistinguished vic
tory without hard fighting to win it; great hon
ors do not come without great exertions. Suc
cess, glory and honor have been placed as tho
rewards of tho diligent; defeat, misery and
shame are the lot of the idler.
If It were necessary to refer to history it must
be easily shown that all the nations which have,
-from time to time, swayed the scepter over tho
world, have risen, while their people were in
dustrious, and fallen, when idleness became the
law of the land. The splendor of Greece and
Rome departed, not while their great men lived
and guided the affairs of state, but when these
were gone and luxury and avarice prevented
others from rising to take their places. With
Idleness comes luxury, with luxury avarice and
vice, and ruin and death are not far distant.
Though there have been wonderful changes
throughout the ages past, yet this has ever been
true, that excellence is the result of earnest
labor. From the time when Homer wrote until
now, the same patient Industry has been re
quired to produce the masterpieces of literature.
Demosthenes spoke with pebbles in his mouth
to overcome an impediment of speech and ad
dressed the raging seas that he might- learn
to conquer the tumult of the forum. Today
there are Impediments to be overcome; today
the tumult in the market places is as great as
then.
r If it were possible to rise in the estimation
of our fellow men without an effort, honor would
lose its charms. What pleasure would there
be in a title which all claim, or in an, honor
which all enjoy? We value that most which
has cost us more of toil, or of Its equivalent,
to obtain. Gold is 'more precious than silver,
because it is more difficult to procure; marble
brings a' higher price when polished than when
in its crude state, becauso much labor is neces
sary to bring it to perfection.
Natural talent does not remove the necessity
for labor. Even the flame of Genius burns moro
brightly when fanned by busy hands. Indeed,
it would cease to exist if not employed.
"Tho lamp of Genius, though by nature lit.
If not protected, pruned and fed with care,
Soon dies, or runs to waste with fitful glare."
Man's work is not dono when he has provided
for his own wants, nor is .his hupplness secured.
Often the greatest pleasure comes, not with tho
gratifications of our own selfish desires, but with
tho thought of bringing happiness to those about
us.
The common weal demands that every one
should bo employed. Men are dependent upon
each other. All were not created for the same
work.
"To some, we find
The ploughshare's annual toll assign 'd:
Somo at the sounding anvil glow;
Some the swift-sliding shuttle throw;
Some, studious of tho wind and tide,
From pole to pole our commerce guide?
While some of genius moro refin'd,
With head and tongue assist mankind."
No.class of men can cease from labor. There
is a place for all, there is a work for all. No
drones are needed in the human hive. -
The idle are not only unnecessary, but danger
ous to society. From their ranks come all crim
inals. The industrious have neither time nor
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