The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-06-03

hold at best but secondary place with the
citizens OF the world! Is 1t indeed so ?
We would repeat the question, Why Is i
that we who uphold those that rank high !
est among the sons Of men should be de-
graded below those who are dependent
upon us for their very existence That il
Is the case in despotic governments will be
readily allowed, but why it is so, perhaps
not readily answered. Is it because we
do not possess the will to claim equality
with the highest rank Is it because we
do not possess the power? This cannot be
the reason. We rank far the greatest
| number among the productive classes. Is
it because we fall below those who call
themselves our superiors in natural intel.
lect; or because that mind is uncultivated,
and springs up barren waste? This,
probably, is the chief cause. Born in q
secondary station in life, and destined, like
the Hindoo, never 10 overstep the bounds
of his caste; bred in the belief that those
bounds are prescribed unalterably by IA
| power he cannot. dare not compete with,
he contents his perhaps soaring and ambi.
tious mind to languish in the station in
which he Is born; never daring TO look De
yond his humble lot; gazing, perhaps, with
| longing, upon the wide and luxuriant field
Of literature, the strong holds Of power; yet
ever feeling his "casie" hanging like a clog
upon his heels. But IN this land Of free
dom and equality there is another cause
combining with the former, which renders
it still more difficult To raise the the tone
of tins class OF itiLens, and still more dan.
gerous to attempt it. 1t is the want OF uni.
| IN and perseverance,.
The laboring classes have only 10 unite
| and claim even pre-. .eminence among their
fellow beings, and as the most useful, so
have they the greatest right to pre-emi
nence. We repeat it; let them unite, and
equality, pre- emncnce is theirs. Perhaps
you may ask what will be the advantage of
empty rank and honor? II is not to ,hat
we would urge you. You apparently have
a voice in the choice Of rulers and Law Civ
ers: and when exerted, 1t is acknowledged
all powerful. 1t is true our rulers are all
of our own choice; to us they are indebted
for the elevated stations they hold: we have
no wish ourselves TO occupy their places :
we have other concerns to attend to; our
business would suffer materially by our alb
sence. For what purpose are these rulers
chosen? Is it TO benefit themselves, or Is
1t TO labor for our benefit? Assuredly the
latter. We ask you then to point out a
single law, single act passed during the
last Session ofthe Legislature, OF general
benefit to the people Of this state, (leavlng
out the BAN, bills, the utility Of which IS
still disputed question: We doubt
whether you can. But we point you to Pc
titions avowedly from the laborIug classes
we point you in staring capitals, lMPRis.
oNMENT FOR DEBT unabolshcd- the
LIEN LAW wi,hheld-the AUCTION
SYSTEM still upheld, aud MILITIA
TRAININGS unabollshed Petitions IN par
tcular for lien law upon buildings to salts.
fy legal demands have been poured in from
almost every village of magnitude in the
state signed by the most respectable names
What has been the effect? The bill has
been Ianguldly acted upon in the House
met with violent opposition, and finally pas
scd. confnlng its effects To a single city ,
In Senate il yet remains unsettled. Wheth.
or even in this state it will pass or no, is
very doubtful question.
Such, then is the answer to the general
voice of the producing classes. Comment
is unnecessary.
1t is to unity then--and for purposes cal
culatcd to benefit the community generally.
and the productive classes in particular
that we would direct your attention; but
more particularly to the education of the
rising generation. Education enlargcs the
mind deveopes the dormant faculties.
That knowledge is power was iavorite
maxim Of Bacon, so eminent III the ranks
Of philosophy. Let this maxim be impress
sed upon our minda while we II rive IN at.
tain, or rather recover that station which
superior education has given those who
rank before us.