Greeley, Horace (1811-1872) to R. L. Sanderson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00608 Author/Creator: Greeley, Horace (1811-1872) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 November 1871 Pagination: 2 p. ; 19.5 x 12.6 cm. Order a Copy
Serving as editor of the New York Tribune, Greeley offers advice to Sanderson: "...I say to all who are in want of work, Go West!" Written on New York Tribune stationery.
New York, Nov. 15, 1871.
dear Sir:
So many people ask me what they shall do; so few tell me what they can do. Yet this is the pivot wherein all must turn.
I believe that each of us who has his place to make should go where men are wanted and where employment is not bestowed as alms. Of course, I say to all who are in want of work, Go West!
But what can you do? and how can your family help you? Your mother, I infer, is to be counted out as an effective worker. But what of the rest? And you - can you chop? Can you plow? Can you mow? Can you cut up Indian corn? I reckon not. And in the West it is hard to find such work as you have been accustomed to. The conditions of living are very crude there.
On the whole I say, stay where you are; do as well as you can; and devote every spare hour to making yourself familiar with the conditions and dexterity required for the efficient conservation of out-door industry in a new country. Having mastered these, gather up your family and Go West!
Yours,
Horace Greeley
[docket]
R.L. Sanderson,
[illegible]bury, MA
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