Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-08-19
FARMERS AND MECHANICS.

Tho annexed observations on the importance of
educations to farmers and mechanics, VIC take
from late number Of the Cultivator, valuable
agricultural publication issued from Albany. We
commend the writer's prccepis to the serious at
tention of our readers, feeling confident that they
IRE alike wholesome and important.
Land and labor arc the Legitimate SOURCES Of
public wealth. The first, to be productive, must
be cultivated; and the labor ofdong this is abridg
ed By the culture Of the mind, which is to guide its
operations. Blu. labor not only p,ocu,es, the COM
forts and elegancies of life, but it induce, when
aided by an intelligent mind, sober moral habits,
and begets independence ofmn as well as offor-
tune. Ideness, not industry, is the parent of vice
and of riot. This seeks to bring merit down 10
its own leyol whereas industry looks for fortune in
the profits of its labor. and for the enjoyment
oft in the peace T. quiet ofsociety, and the gener-
al prosperity of the state and tends, by its exam
pie, TO ereyate and reform. Neither an intelligent
individual, nor well informed industrious COM
snuaity. are prone 10 mingle in the vices and t,-
unults Of the day. Hence the more intelligence we
jnfuse into labor, the abundantwi be its pro-
duc,s--sho more honorable its call;ng-thc moro
numerous its subjects-and the sounder the con-
dition Of public morals. knowledge and industry
combined, if not synonimous with virtue, arc al
least pretty good indication Of worth and useful
moss. Should not, than, the public mind be more
enlightened, that virtue may more abound.
Ina government constituted like ours, which
confers on all tho same political rights, the same
facilities for public instruction should be extended
TO all, that all may alike participate in these advan-
sass55 and become qualified to execute the public
trusts. And the propfiety of this rule derives par
ticular force, when applied to tho yeomanry and
mechanics ofou. country, who, from their numeri-
cal force must be arbtcrs of political destinies,
and our shield from every danger. They are en-
phatically the sovereingns of the land-their will
mYscontro, be 70 rgood be for evil The char
Actef of the government must receive its impress
from them, 4 its prosperity and happiness be ever
graduased by the measure of their intelligence their
Industry and their virtue. Attempts Of establish
republican forms OF government have failed in Eu-
rope, aad on or own continent, by reason Of the
jgnoraace T. coase, uent unmportance ofthe great
Giiddling classes-of tho rank and file Of popula-
zion. Learning there has bsen restricted to the
privileged few--whls the many haye too oiten been
11ebased 70 serve condition, or resorted TO CRIME
Tor living. PoweT and wealth have tendency
70 corrupt higher ordsn--gnoranse and poverty,
70 dobase the lover classes which have Jointly con-
aribued 70 annhilate Tor to render impo tent, the
geat middling classes, which here hold the blance
Ofpower, and who alone perpetuatc our repn li-
can institutions. Those, therefore, who are dos
fined 10 WELD this power, with us, should be in i
1tructed in the rights and duties of freemon. Ills
dictate Of interest, as we'll MS ofjusce, that our
young farmers and mechanics--thc fortune umpi |
res IL all political coatroyersythe conservato Of
public moraIs--sh0uld be better instructed that
they should be Instructed much Of the sciences
a may be useful in their Calling and aswil enable
4he,n successull TO compete with the products Of
1oreivn labor at our doors--and SO much in general
knowledge as will fit them for the civil duties Of
society-and such az, with good habits, will qualify
thsn for the Offices ofjuors, magistrates, Legislators
and useful citizens.