The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, APRIL 22,1880

Temuka Leader, Issue 250, 22 April 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, APRIL 22,1880

y?i3B unexpected success of the Liberals in the Mother Country has paralizeJ the Conservatives; and poor Dizzy, who seemed at one time destined to end a hril-" liant career in the most triumphal manner, has to withdraw from the conflict thoroughly vanquished. There is no denying, however, that Lord Beaconsfield hr an able statesman, and he who writes his. life will have much to relate that will lie useful for all men to know. Although he, m> doubt, is much chagrined at the disasters that have just overtaken him, he luys n v rth> less much to boast of, and it will be a go d thing if the Liberals make no worse show. It cannot bo denied, however, that his guiding star has been self aggrandisement. The .‘-•lights’ho. had to beat in his earlier days led to a firm resolve to \sipe out the effect of ih se slights, and to determine In make his very enemies listen to him with admiration. This is a praise■ on by resolve : it would lie well for our you g men to f liuw his

example Wo have, in ike episode referred to, an insight into one of the .very best traits of his character. In most cases promising young men break down under very slight difficult!- s. If when they set out on life’s journey they meet with those who cheer them on their way, they will persevere, and possibly overcome their first timidity, and make fair business men, or moderately useful members of society. But if they should have a damper thrown on their first efforts, ten to one that they cave in, and become ever after unsettled, undecided, and vascillating men. When tne contrary is the case, success follows their efforts in some period of their existence. The young who exhibits a firm mind wi l sooner or later carry all before him. This was Beaconsfiold’s main point. Like a rejected suitor, who maybe objected to by a wealthy father-in-law because he is poor and has no name—the young man (if ho has a spark of affection for the young lady) will never rest satisfied until ho has proved himself capable of making a name. Many a young man thus put upon his mettle has been put on the highway to honor and glory. If any one could have read the thought of the young representative, when those old steel hardened politicians turned the laugh against the aspiring young man, they would have found burning there a flame of just indignation at the affront atempted to bo cast upon him. There need be no doubt about it, that this inci" dent was iiie making of young Disraeli. This was the turning point in his lifeMany young men would, on receiving such a snub, at the outset of their career, turn aside and drown their sorrows in dissipation ; who then, after tracing.the history of the noble Lord, can refuse him a mead of praise, even although they cannot endorse all his actions. Lord BeaconsHeld’s life has born a glorious Ufa, which ev n England lias cause to be proud of, notwithstanding the many slips of late years. What wo chiefly point out these characteristics of the great ex-Premier for, is to hold them up as an incitement to our young men to go and do likewise. There is an old saying that “ eveiyone has a chance of making - a fortune some time in his life.” Some people are not willing to accept this as a truism, nevertheless it is based upon fact. How many in this world if you could get them to explain, their whole heart would tell you that their want of success was their own fault. How many cases of mismanagement would they point out that if they had done otherwise they would have been welfoff. Many who have been unfortunate at the outset have not bad the courage to try it again, and consequently have given it up in disgust, even at our own doors instances could be given of this being the case. We could point to several young men -who have over and over again, said, ‘Tt in no use of trying, everything goes against us.” This is no doubt the case with many vho have in the end settled down to a life of indolence and crime, who, if they htwl the firmness of young Disraeli, would, like the spider, at every fall, determine to try again If we read the lives of most of our great men, we would find that their success was not the result of luck, < r fatei but the result of peiseverance and indomitable pluck. It would be found that they, oi must of them, had met with many reverses, but the little words “ Try again ” were ever ready at hand,anil with a determination to succeed they started afresh*, and ultimately did succeed. Now, in New Zealand there are many young men who start life with fair promise of long and useful lives, but who, happening to meet with discouragements at the outset, hur e not strength of mind to enable them to overcome the obstacles, and step by step they fall back until they become careless what they do. Now, in all countries there is a class of !®en who sponge upon society. They are called loafers, who are ever ready to fas. ten upon such young men, and, by pour, ing into their ears pitiable tales of woe, lead the unwary to think they have not a chance of succeeding. To ah well meaning young men we say—Make a firm resolve to succeed, and if you adhere to your resolution you will rise in life’s scale, if your conduct is right. Thu adage, “Where there’s a will there’s a way,” has been proved a truism hundreds of times, and we are of opin’on that any young man with.a f .ir education and average ability has only to determine to take up a certain position, and ho will secure it. In this new colony there is a wide field to work upon. Tis true we are suffering just now, through the colony being under a state of depression, but this is only for a lime ; better days will follow, and the young man who bolds to ids resolution will find kga time i oii;u round. The temptations 'hat beset the paths of our young men are manifold, but they are not overpowciing. Let them be omth- ir guard, and they will not succumb to the tempter. The testimony of a good life is tbo best shield tha they can make use of. Allow not the finger of scoi u to be justly pointed at you ; be sober, watchful-aud vigilant, and if you have a clear head, and brain free from the curse of the colonies, you will acquire a name and a fame which, if not as groat a Beaconsfield’s, will be something to b e j proud of.