Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-04-21

VINO gain livelihood by labor II Yuu look
round, you will readily perceive that all the
learned professions are crOwded-many who
profess TO live by learning receive no profess
slonal employment-to labnur, is with them out
of the question-for this, they have neither the
disposition nor the necessary practical knowl-
edge. And what is the inevitable CONSEQUENCE,
and DO we not witness the mortifving spects-
Gle every dav; many of them have resources To
fraud, OF such means Of subsistence as bring a
reproach upon learning. 1t is TO this that the
old prOyerb, with many of our farmers. NAV
Justly be attribuled--that few quarters al a
grammar school units their sons for labor. and
makes them spendhrills and rogues-vour
mode most effectualIy guards against this-it
unites manual labor, with science-il prepares
the man Of labor and Of business 10 shine in
the highest circl, of eminence-it prepares
them TO grace any profession which they NAV
choose, and TO fill honorsbly TO themselves and
profitably 10 the country. any important station
10 which they may be called by the choice of
their fellow citizens. II they do not prefer
profession and seek retirement in life, ihey are
still the better prepared TO acquire competency
for themselves and their families. by the hon
est industry of their own hands This presents
advantage with double aspect; it, on the one
hand, takes from learning the reproach that ii
makes men proud--extravagant---an indolenl
--while on the other, it entirely wipes away
from labor every degree Of disrespect and
proves, beyond all question, that neither is un-
congenla with the other | however, deem its
great benefit to consist in this, that il prepares
men for active business life--it, if successiyelv
carried out, would make all scholars business
men, and Introduce science upon a more en-
larged scale into all the purposes of society,"
every branch of business would then be filled
with men of enlightened, correct and liberal
sentlments-whose manners, intelligence, and
spirit would wisely guide in the management
of the political, civil and religious Interests Of
man.
When, you ard the audience, reflect on this
subject you and they will be satisfied that it is
one which is in the strictest accordance with
the genius of all our political insituticns---il is
the policy Of monarchies and aIistocracies, to
keep up distinctions in property, rank and
learning; offices are there conferred by birth or
estate---it is far and widely different here.
Another, and more just principle lies at the
foundation of our government. Here office is
given by the choice of the people, and should
always be awarded TO virtue, competency, hon
entire success, knowledge should pervade all
classes of sociely-this would secure an equal
ity which is most essential 10 every free gov
ernment-not by bringing down those who occu-
py the higher ranks Of intelligence and worth,
but by raising up TO level with them the hum
BILE, honest but uninformed man, and thus pla-
clng him upon high and proud equality with
the most intelligent in the land. Every man
who IS at all acquainted with the nature Of our
free government, viii at once perceive the i'm
portance of this-the laboring classes are now,
and always must be by far the largest portion
OF our citizens. In all our elections they must
determine the majority--he purity Of elections
is the great anchor of hope, TO the prosperity
OF our people, and the permanancy of our in
stitutions. To preserve this purity, the people
must be placed by intelligence, above the intu-
ence OF designing men. Our very institutions
are based upon the supposition that in the ag-
rlcultural, mechanical and indeed in all ranks,
men will be found capable of filling honorably
all public Offices Our sacred principles Of
equal right and equal representation promise
that each class of the community shall have
their proper share Of office, confidence and in
fiuence in the councils Of State. The great
question is how is this to be secured! If you
put in Office an equal number of each, ilby no
means follows that the influence and power
will be equal
Equality in this case may not consist in mere
numbers. few men of enlarged understand
Ing and towering intellect may; and often do
overshsdow and entirely control whole legisla-
tive bodies. Thus, particular interests may be
forgotten, or at least neglected This will al
ways be the case when particular interest IS
represented by man ofinsuffcient Information
This Is obvious and inevitable. Thus yeu per
relve that there may be, and often is an aris-
ocracy Of knowledge as well as wealth. The
influence of the former, in many respects, rN-
7rIs much greater power than that of the la'
er. Indeed, 1t sometimes destroys that edual-
ty, which is so very essential in our govern
meht. The remedy for all this is most plain
and easy. nfuse knowledge into all classes.
Let the farmer, mechanic and manufacturer ae
luire habits of thought and of study. Let them
but employ their leisure hours In YOUTH in read