Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-11-05
Frnm Nilca, Register.

The last number ofthe North American
Review, saysa Boston paper, contains an
excellent article, which is said 10 be from
the pen of T.. Washburn, OF Worcester,
in thi. state, on the subject OF "the labor
ing classes in Europe" This article We
commend to the especial attention OF all
who are discontented with our republican
institutions, who act upon the principles
OF modern sgr . lanism, who are such sire
nuuus sticklers for reform, that they would
willingly overtnrn the government, and ~
troduce anarchy and ruin. provided they
could bring down others 10 d iertl with
h tmselyes. The writer gives a detailed
and accurate account of the condition Of
the Iaboring classes in ell the principal
countries of Europe, and which furnishes
an astonishing contrast with the state OF
the laborine classes in this country. The
following is a portion Of the preliminary
remarks Of the writer:
"There is no more universal character
isiic of human nature. than a disposition
to find fault with our present condition,
whatever it may be. Every body praises
the age that has gone by, and looks for.
ward TO a future day ms one which shall
bring relief TO all present inconyeniences.
Ii is this propensity 10 discohtent, OF which
modern reiorlners are SO ready ~ SEIZE,
for the purpose Of disseminating their pc
culiar doctrines. They assume the exist
cnce of acknowledged evils and thence
enGeavor 10 draw the conclusion That the
cause of these evils ID what they would
pretend TO reform. They depict the hor
-. If .anA.fy Tho f.r,1a and itxIElalE
incidence Of the rich, and forthwith preach
on a crusade against wealth, and the laws
by which il is protected. Ia this way co.
vert attacks are daily made upon oof own
institutions and laws and as their cencln
sions are apparently drawn from acknowl
edged facts, honest minds are often decei
we'd, and discomfort is excited. when no
cause Of complaint in fact exists.
s'Jhere is no more cotnmon mode oil at
tempting to mislead the public sentiment,
than by describing a state OF things exist
ing in other Counties, and assuming that
It exists also in our own. Men talk very
correctly Of the evils Of an established ar
isiocracy. with its hereditary wealth; IFS
vices and its power and. having done so
they stamp the picture with an American
name, in order to excite jealunsies among
our wi citizens; when, in fact, the de
scription is no more a delIneation oil Anne
lean manners aud Institutions, than a NOT
wegian landscape rcstmbles the vine clad
bills of France or Italy II is thus that
the out cry shout the rights ofthe WORKING
men has been raised so loudly in our coun-
try. We are told Of The condition Of these
classes in England; Of the starving me
chanic aud the oppressed manufacturer (;
OF the poor houses, crowded with healthy
laborefs. destitute Of the ordinary neces
saries Of life /; aud in the same breath an
appeal is made 10 the mechanic and the
manufacturer here, TO subyert the laws,
which grind down the laboring classes to
the dust as il there were soue real anal
ogy between our condition and That Of
England, in respect 10 the laws which re
gulaie property, the means oil subsistence
or the reward Of industry"