Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-11-24
THOUGHTS FOR MECHANICS.

~ Ia - OR Mk<OnANlCS.
Old Ben franklin vas one OF the
wisest. shrewdest and greatest mechan.
les OF his day. His Poor Richard
will make any poor man rich. What
Is the secret Of his success i-msnv q
mechanic may ask. Ali this 10 the
thing. When we find out this secret,
we can all be Franklins, and we can
all be rich.
We have often studied the character
OF this great man, from the time when
ne was sticking types in Boston. TO the
time when he wandered through the
streets Of Philadelphia with loaf OF
bread under bis arm, or sat with Kings
and Queens in Paris, or brought down
the lightning from heaven by bis kite.
The secret Of his success, I have tho't.
IN part was industry, which very many
hsve-frugality. q virtue very many
also have; but above all. he thought
and acted for himself. His head BE-
longed TO himself. He was no man
man, but he was Ben Franklin's man.
He wore no collar. When he acted
with party. he 90 acted because he
thought IL was right.
But, says some one. ''you say indus
try and frugality are common virtues
with mechanics. Why then are not
all mechanics nch % The reason IL.
that there are very many who viii not
think for themselves. In m affair OF
business for example, instead Of sitting
down and making their own calcula-
lions, they trust others to cit down and
calculate for them. Instead of en-
pioying their leisure hours in studying
out for themselves, and reading for
themselves how the world is going,
they SIT down and listen to others, and
take their say-so that this il right, and
that is wrong. Again, very many are
deluded by names, and are forgetful
OF things. 81 am democrat" per-
haPs some one says--"l have always
been democrat. and have always act
ed with the democratic party" But
has this man asked himself, read for
himself, and proved for himself that
the party which now calls itself the
democratic" party, is as the demo
cratic" party was Perhaps men call
themselves democrats, who are the
greatest aristocrats in existence. Per-
haps men assume this popular name
for the sake Of making fools Of others.
Perhaps Il may be popular horse to
ade, which every political jockey,
when he wants an Office. iumps upon,
and trots of with this very demo
craft at the horses tail. "An the
tool Of any manP' Old Ben Franklin
always asked himself, before he listed
IN party, and when be did list, he
never took the yoke.
II 10 in vain to disguise that this
world is divided into men Of two ex-
tremes of thinking. with very many
men Of many minds. forming links be-
tween these two extremes. Men for
Popularity's sake call themselves demo-
Gratis, as Robespierre did in France,
when he was cuttiag off peoples heads
By regiments, till the very streets OF
Paris were clotted with human gore
Now mechanic who has eyes and
ears. will not take this upon trust, but
will do rs old Ben Franklin did, and
demand. is this so Well, is il sos
Again. Ben Ffanklin judged men
by their acts. and not by their profes.
stone. II he had been called upon "a
decide, which Of two candidates wa,
the democratic candidate, and which
was the friend Of the people, he would
not have looked to the pyofessiOns OF
either, but to the acts Of both. II BY
democracy is meant love Of our felIow
men, he would have asked which had
shown the greatest forgeifulness Of
self, and which had done the most fos
bis fellow menl Which, in bis man.
ners. in his conduct and his life exhibit.
ed the greatest regard for the people
and the peoples interestsl Which
placed himself upon his own bottom
depending alone upon himself. regard.
lees Of bis own interests, when il wal
bis duty 20 consult the interests ol
others Old Ben Franklin would
never have believed that 9 man was {
democrat, because some one said 81
told you So" but he would have open.
ed be eyes 70 see, and his esgs 10 hear
The great obstacle in the way Of the
advancement Of the poor, and Of the
WoEkingmen Of the country, is, sha
they do DOT always think for themselves
and that they too often suffer others e
think for them. Bot LET them Femem.
Der, thst the very moment they suffer
another man 20 think Coz them, thai
very moment they cease 70 belong d
themselves, and beiOag 70 bin % whom
they have entrusted their thinking
powers. For what elss hes God given
us our eyes and our ears bot 70 sss and
% hear Tor OuFBeivesi y ~ aess'
these eyes and these ears 20 others, We
ere slaves, white though We be-. Above
eli then, Think for youyssivss--AcT POS
YOURSELVES. Wear no man's collar
BE- no mans, and no paFty's dog. II
others choose 10 bark, add 10 howl
wben leaders pinch them, and eel
them 20 20 do, be Independent. ns N,
Deity made you, end thiok and act foI
yourself Newspapers may talk o
party allegiance. party collars. "ihs
usages Of party" "Reguiar nonina
items" sid Ell ihal TignaFOls ~ psAy
bot "a indepeedant maH viii thini
and aGt a. ke pieanes,e-- porfkzad .4ds