254 The Labor Question 



the great benefit not only of themselves, but of the 

 whole community. 



A word on the general question. In the first place, 

 in addressing an audience like this I do not have to 

 say that the law of life is work, and that work in it 

 self, so far from being a hardship, is a great blessing, 

 provided, always, it is carried on under conditions 

 which preserve a man's self-respect and which allow 

 him to develop his own character and rear his chil 

 dren so that he and they, as well as the whole com 

 munity of which he and they are part, may steadily 

 move onward and upward. The idler, rich or poor, 

 is at best a useless and is generally a noxious mem 

 ber of the community. To whom much has been 

 given, from him much is rightfully expected, and a 

 heavy burden of responsibility rests upon the man of 

 means to justify by his actions the social conditions 

 which have rendered it possible for him or his fore 

 fathers to accumulate and to keep the property he 

 enjoys. He is not to be excused if he does not ren 

 der full measure of service to the State and to the 

 community at large. There are many ways in which 

 this service can be rendered, in art, in literature, in 

 philanthropy, as a statesman, as a solider, but in 

 some way he is in honor bound to render it, so that 

 benefit may accrue to his brethren who have been less 

 favored by fortune than he has been. In short, he 

 must work, and work not only for himself, but for 



