The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-08-19
For the r. !. Republican.
INDUSTRY, Nc. III.

"Foriune in men has some small difference
made" Pope
In former number it was observed
that the principle source of distinction
among men is well directed industry;
yet were we to take a survey of socie-
ty, how many thousands should we
ind, who are spending the morning of
their lives In the most torpid and rep
rehensible incidence, and passing on
with total indifference TO, or perhaps,
contempt of, any laudabia pursuit and
who nevertheless are fiattering them
selves with the hope Of future great
ness, and seem really to anticipate the
possession of all the wealth, Wisdom
and influence that industry and perse-
verance possibly could procure, or
knowledge and prudence command.
But if we may he permitted to predict
what will be the condition ofthe future,
from the innumerable examples of the
past, how forcibly shall we be struck
with the groundlessness Of their hopes,
and how precarious will their pros
poets of realizing their anticipati6ns
appear to us !
Indeed were they to examine care
fully the lives and actions of those IL
lustrious characters who have shown
forth as bright beacons to their fellow
men, and Deen as II were the mighty
IN ainsprings of all the great and giori-
Gus transactions of other times; who
have uniolded the latent principles and
illuminated the pathways of science;
who have stood pre-emiaent as the in
ventors and improvers of the useful and
elegant arts, or who have directed and
controlled the moral and physical en-
ergles OF natlons-were they, say,
TO examine the career of such men,
whether barbarous or civilized, wheth-
er of ancient or of modern times, they
would not only be convinced that their
hopes of obtaining wealth, extensive
knowledge and renown, without pay
ing their equivalent in laborious indus
try and application are utterly faila-
cicus, but they would at the same time
be forced irresistibly, to the conclusion
that these are indispensable requisites
to the attainment of any thing that can
be accounted truly great and glorious
or which would be considered by the
wise and judicious as capable of con.
, ferring enyiable distinction.
Let us enquire of the great and the
good of past ages, whose names have
, commanded the homage of all sue
. ceeding generations, and whose pre-
cepts and examples will be obeyed ano
, venerated to the remotest future; let "a
, ask them 1 say, if they have rearet
these monuments and won for them
selves this immortality of Fame" b,
. lettering at ease aud slum5ering IN In
dolence, or by continued care an
ceaseless application.
: The latter if we except those instan
ces I'm which wealth and hereditar
prerogatiye exercise an undue ipfiu
d ence, las mentioned in a former nun
e ber) would invariably be the reply
). and it matters not to what age, cour
n try or nation the position is applied,
!. will be found to hold true, that all th
N intrinsic wealth which we can rightiu
,f ly call our own, whether it consist
,e extensive possessions, in the treasure
,e of intellect, in the eclat of glorious an
70 mighty deeds, or in the '.priceless 70
b. tune of spotless name, is purchase
=. at the expence ofuntiring and well d
ID rected industry--of intense mental
m physical exertion prompted by the stin
y. ulus of some powerful motive, an
guided by wisdom and prudence.
Ii is true that accidental success HI
a in many instances raised men to hi;
places, and for time gwen to the
III names flaming pre-eminence; b
n, such fame instead of gliding down u
..-x. e 49,. a,l cxhaI,nu tho tr