New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-07


would be ex pensive. ana that no"eIei ueS a0'o =
would be- mechanics eaanot Afford IL
avery serious objection truly, and stated IN terms
.-orp enonrh 10 cause Us 10 abandon Ill ensusnt
mon the subject, If the statement DC d"e-
The first remark I would make IN answer 20 'nc
objection is. that there mechanics enoug IA te
State who have their soRs az the various a93oe
mics and colleges in the State at an ananal
of more than enough to sustain such an lnsttueloa
rs we propose. And these sons OF recsanics viii
all mi. expense are not fitted in the institutions
they now attend, in an appropriate manner tor 'Ee
.ctive aad useful pursuits of mechanics. lhey are
better prepared for other pursuits, and are cro"0eu
into the professions, where the community lose use
ful men, the professions are everstscked, ana .iie
mechanics are deprived OF what might otherwise
become ornaments
We think it may be stated as fact, tina, in cos
nection with our other enterprises, there wou'o DC
Young men enough Just out OF their apprentice
sbi, who would avail themselves OF the adsanta-
ges OF such an institution, to give it an ample sup
port. There are, too, great many mechanics
who are parent. that would feel interest enough
in their sons to send them to such an INSTITUTION
during their apprenticeship 10 keep 1t IN ex'stencs
And as a last resort we believe the several me-
chanic associations in the State are aosndantiy
able TO contribute yearly sum sufficient to cover
all Deficiencies say the least, II not to give Tue
school ar adequate support. And they would De
we'll repaid in The increase that would be given to
the spread Of science and general intelligence and
the up-budng of the necRanic interest In respecta-
bility and honor.
There is ability among the mechanics OF Maine
to Sustain such an institution in activity and health
Finally. We have great moral and ntellec-
tual enterprise upon our Misunderstanding upon Us
J ,1trt1- Nr1
| we are bound TO perform independent of our own
decisions. lis the great aim of life for which all
our powers were given, and all other advantages
conferred Shall NC dare, then, limit the means
| given us to accomplish an end, and consider the
| means "a ends. and abandon reaching the true
| end by udiciou. use of means This concla-
ssH would be deplorable. IL, then, the establish
mert of such school as has been proposed Is des-
tined to accomplish the anticipated results, we
ate bound, as accountable agents to humanity and
TO God, to hold our powers, influence and posses
| sions, as SO many means of carrying it forward
| have thus endeavored, in plain and concisd
manner, to present to you simple, cheap and tea
| sibe means for the improvement and elevation OF
| mechanics. They are eminenty conservative IN
their character, and yet possess an active spirit OF
progress. They arc laid upon those foundations
on which rest the purity, stability and efficiency OF
lieence With these the huRan mind over
ceme all distractions, csnqucr all prcjudices and
stand erh upon the great level of human equality
They arc the only true tests of honor and great
| ness-thc only sources of genuine happincss-the
| acknowledged badges Of real respectabiiity.-
They sustain the man in his position, selt-conh-
dent and srre-footed, whatever may be his en-
ployment. With virtuons and honest heart, and
a cultivated and active mind, the hodcarrer be-
comes man-the mechanic is no longer merely
such, but q mana thinking, intelligent mani
equal to any station, superior to all mere place or
| professions and honorable and worthy OF respect,
and sure of happacss, in any profession, station
or place. Profession is accident virtue and
intelligence are principle derived from Jehovah
| The responsibility and honor-the prejudice and
disgrace attached professions, Of the fashions
of this world, that arc rapidly changing and pass
| ing away. But the responsibility and tho advan-
ages of virtue and intelligence remain through all
time, and reach forth into eternity. The time was
when to be known as mechanic was to be con
sidered as matter of course, poor, Ignorant and
mean; while, 10 be known as professional man.
was, in the same way, to be considered wise, and
honorable and Just The progress made in the
Moderation of human condition has not yet quite
reversed the rule, but it has in great measure
DESTROYED it. Other considerations than those of
wealth and profession arc now taken into the &C
count in estimating mans influence and rcspec-
liability; and there is evidently growing up COM
mon sympathy in behalf of the laboring, self-edu-
Gated man, towards whom SO much injustice has
been exercised in times past.
The measures we have proposed, all tend, and
should be considered as so many instruments, to
promote selfeducaton. Our mechanic associa
tons, our libraries, collection of philosophical
apparatus, our periodical, our apprentices school,
what they but many instruments and aids,
to encourage and promote set-culture-the COM
pound lever which shall move each individual to
the highest exercise of his mental and moral pow
ers Upon the influence of vigorous and intense
self-educa,ion among mechanics, by means of the
instruments named, and others connected with
them, we base all our hopes of Improvement and
elevation in our order to higher and better con-
dition. I have no confidence in, and place no
value upon any of the measures proposed or any
can conceive Of as ends. If they have any value
or are worthy of any consideration, 1t must be as
means well calculated to promote self-cu.tlvaton,
to arouse and stir the individual to make advances
in the worthy culture Of the capacities and powers
with which he has been endowed by his Maker
rejoice at the efforts that are making in the
world TO place in the hands of every man the
s,outest weapon of defence, good education. |
see in the movements for extending education IN
the old world and the new, BY kings and republi-
cans, an acknowledgment that man is not mese
thing, but unit among the spiritual creations of
God and that beneath the coarsest rags there
beats human heart, there throbs human soul,
having the capacity and the right to improvement
that shall never end while eternity endures.
What more appropriate place than New-Eng-
land, and among whom better than her mechanics
can th. idea be better acknowledged in its largest
extent, and adopted practical principle The
few every where, and in all professions, and against
the heaviest Encouragement, will make progress
and rise superior to the mass that rank with the