The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-09-25
MISCELLANY.
THE MECHANIC.

1.-THE dignity of things may DO measured
by their Importance to manki ind there is moth.
ing, perhaps, can rank above the Mechanic
Arts. In fact they may DO called tho loyer
the fulcrum, and the power, which moves the
world. They do not want the " whcreon tn
stand" ofArhinedes; they have a sufficient
foundation in themselves.
What givos to civil nations their superiority
over the savage. IL 10 chiefly the mechanic
arts. By them the beautiful and coavenen,
mansion is substituted for the rude and un.
comfortable hut; and "searlct and hne twlned
linen" supply the wardrobe, u place OF the
skins Of wild animals. They are tho founda'
Zion of nearly al the Improvements and com
forts Of life, ehd further, we NAV say, OF the
glory and grandeur Of rho world. By them
the iarmsr ploughs tie land and by them the
mariner poughs ths ocean; by them the mon
arch is adorned With his crown, and by them
tho peasant is clad in comfortable garments !;
by them the tnumphal arch is raised to the
hero, and by them the temple ascends TO the
Deity; by them the wealthy roll in chsriots
and l,l on couches;by them the table is spread +,
che bed decked, and the parlor is furnished
To them the poet owes the perpetuation of
his fame. Homer sings and Cesar triumphs
10 all ages. through them we are instructed
by the wisdom Of PLATO. and charmed by the
eloluence of Cicero: through them we admire
the Justice OF Aristides and the heroism Of Le-
onidas
Aud much Of this is owing 70 two single
arts, that ofprinting, and the manufacture OF
paper. BY the former, learning has boon res
cued from the gloom oi the dark age; but with
ou, the latter the benefit of the printing would
he circunscfbcd 10 very marrow bounds. "
is by means Of the press, chiefly, that so muc
Of CHI lstendom owes its escape from tho thral
dom OF superstition
But in spanking of the dignity of the me.
chanic arts. We could not confne them TO the
mere hand tha' executes, without thinking al
the head that plans; for without tho latter but
little more credit would be due to tho person
who exercises these arts than To- the automa
Con Turk, who mechanically astonishes the
word at the game Of chess To produce the
great effects we have mentioned above, to do
So much to enligbten,. TO bsautify and i'm
prove the world, to labor for the glory and
happiness Of others, and yet bo ignorant ofthe
springs by which the important movements
are carried on, would i'll comport with the dig
nifty ofthe mechanic. Tie would be, (''if we
may compare small things with grest,") like
the sun in the Heavens, which renders iigh,
and warmth, and comfort to mankind, with.
Gut itself being conscious thereof
There is a philanthropy in the mechanic
arts. The mechanic who brings to his oecu'
patton an inventive, enlightened, and inquir.
ing mind, who Is master Of his craft, in theo'
~ as well as in practice, has more Of real PHI
losophy in him than twenty Of those minute
philosophers who spend their lives in puzzlinp
tho world with empty metaphysical specula.
tions, and Of whom Cicero speaks with %
much deserved eon,erspt
The nschanic who perfectly understands
dis trade, as we'll in the principles % the
practice oft, gets himself degree Of NO in.
considerable rank and honour, and that with.
oct the intervention of college, or the for.
NAL vote ofa learned corporation. To become
~ iRgsslpw end salighlspsd mechanic, Il ID