Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-07
TRUE NOBILITY OF LABOR.
ny REV. oRvILLE DEWEY.


How many natural ties are there
between even the humblest scene Of
labor, and the noblest affections of hui
manity? In this view, the employ
mcnt Of mere muscular strength is en-
nobled. There is central point in
every mans life, around which all his
tolls and cares revolve. tits that spot
which is consecrated by the names
Of wife, and children, and home. A
secret, an almost imperceptible influ-
encc from the spot which is like no
other on earth, steals into the breast Of
the virtuous laboring man, and strength
ems every weary step of his toll. Eve
ry blow that is struck in the workshop
and the field, finds an echo in that no.
w shrine Of his affections. IL he who
fights to protect his home, rises to the
point of heroic virtue; no less may he
who labors, his life long, TO provide
for that home. Peace be within those
domestic walls, and prosperity beneath
those humble roofs! But should it
ever be otherwise; should the time ever
come when theinvader'sstcp approach
es to touch those sacred thresholds, l
see in the labors that arc taken for them,
that wonds will be taken for them, too;
Isee in every honest workman around
me hero.
So material do deem this point
the true nobility Of labor, l nean-that
/ would dwellupon it a moment longer,
and in larger view, Why, then, in
the great scale Of things, is labor ordain-
ed for US? Easily, had it SO pleased
the great Ordainer, might it have been
dispensed with. The world itself might
have been mighty machinery for the
production ofall that man wants. The
motion of the globe upon its axis, might
have been the powerto move that world
Of machinery. Ten thousand wheels
might have been at work; ten thousand
processes, more curious and compiled
ted than any man can devise, might
havebe going forward without mans
aid; houses might have risen like an
exhalation,
Ofdulcet sympothies, and voice sweet,
Built like temple;
gorgeous furniture might have been
placed in them, and soft couches and
luxurious banquets spread, by hands
unseen; and man, clothed with fabrics
Of natures weaving, richer than i'm
perial purple, might have been sent to
s.at himself in these Elysian pala-
ces. "Fair scene!" ! imagine you
are saying; fortunate for us had it
been the scene. ordained for human
lifew But where then, tell me, had
been human energy, perseverance, pa
thence, virtue, heroism1 Cut off with
one blow from the world, and man.
kind had sunk to crowd, may far be-
meath crowd Of Asiatic voiuptuarics.
No, it had not been fortunate. Better
that the eartl, be given to man as a
dark mass, whereon to labor. Better
that rude and unsightly materials be
provided in the ore beds and forest,
for him to fashion into splendor and
beauty. Better, | say, not because Of
that splendor and beauty, but because
the act Of creating them is better than
the things themselves; because exertion
is nobler than enjoyment; because the
laborer is greater than and more wor-
thy Of honor than the idler. ] call up
on those whom address to stand up
for that nobility oflabor. It's heavens
great ordinance for human improve:
ment. Let not that great ordinance,
be broken down. What do l say? II
g broken down; and it has been. bro
len down for ages. Let It then be