Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-10-17

hope TO see them repealed by the next Le-
gislature.
Philosophers, Philanthropists, and many
others who have no particular claim to either
of these distinc tions, have been, and are con-
tinually puzzlng their brains to better the
condition of society. and do away to some
extent the manifold mseries which afflict the
human family. Strange to say, after all the
effort, but little good appears to have been
yet accomplished. 1t would seem that the
right mode had not yet been discovered.
If we were to make any suggestions on
the subject, we should say, keep the COM
mandments," and more particularly keep that
one which says, ''Six days shalt thou labor
and do all thy work. One of the great evils
of society is, that labor does not hold the ell
evated position it should, and that it is dec
med more honorable to avoid than TO enraoc
IN it. The ingenuity Of large portion of
mankind is continually on the rack to enable
them to pass through this life and enjoy, not
only reasonable, but an unreasonable por-
ton of the worlds goods, without in any man
ner contributing to produce them. We be-
hold on one hand luxurious idleness. with
Its train of thousand evils; on the Other.
patient, never-endlng, and poorly requited
toll, with evils necessarily resulting from it.
Six days shalt thou labor, is a command
to all. We find no indication whatever in
the human constitution, that any portion of
mankind were intended by nature TO be freed
from this command. We find that all have
equally back to clothc, a mouth to feed
and pair of hands to do it with; that all arc
equally endowed with a muscular energy.
| requiring activity and exercise to beautifully
cXpcnd. 1t would seem 10 follow then. ma
turally, that if any potion of mankind cvadc
the law, and throw the burden which belongs
to them on others, that the purpose of their
own being is perverted, as also. per force,
that of those upon whom the extra bnrthcn
is thrown. Anatomy and physiology, as we'll
as all experience demonstrate to charm
that exercise is absolutely necessary for a
proper degree of health; and can more IA
t!onal, Or moro natural exercise be conceived
than in producing for ourselves those things
which are absolutely necessary to our com
fort and existence. Man has no wants, but
that he has equally a cap2cityto supply them.
As to the dignity Of labor, how can he or
sac be Il christian who does not recognize
ii to the fullest extent? Is there any ord-
nance of the creator more positive in its cha
ractel? aud are not all his commands high
and ennobing in their tendency. Who SHALL
compare for true dignity TO the honest labo
rcr? Admitting the co0diton of society to
be all wrong, who comes the nearest 10 f.l-
filing his true destiny. Is it the fashionable
iopling who clothes himself in fine linen and
fares sumpuously every day. and vet cams
not his bread or ramcnt by the sweat of his
brow, and labors not during the SIX days of
command? or is the sturdy laborer. whose
hands fashion to permanent existence the
workings of immortal mind, and who is CON
Stantly engaged, whilst he ministers to bis
own wants, in adding to the comfort and ell
cvating the condition of his fellows. The
idea that labor is degrading in its character,
VIC are glad to believe, is rapidly dying away.
That it should have obtained is not surpri-
sing; for how could the laborcr having on bis
shoulders the duty of providing not only for
himself but for others who tolcd not. pay
such attention TO the culture of his mind as
would enable him to take an elevated posi-
ton in society Twelve and fourteen hours
labor day leaves but little time for mental
culture; indeed nothing but und;sturbcd rest
both physically and mentally would enable
the frame to stand up under it for any length
of time. The condition of the laborcr then.
could be but little better than the beast Of
burthon, and as such, has been regarded by
those who have affected to consider them
selves above them. Affected, we say, be-
cause it is those who have taken 10 concern
in the labor Of life, that have given a tone to
society, corresponding with the position they
have assumed for themselves. and cmbody-
ing their view of the laboring class.
And again, have our teachers given us
that view of labor which properly belongs to
it, Is labor really a curse? The construction
| of our constitution demonstrates that exercise
is absolutely necessary to health. We have
been given wants and the material to supply
those wants in profusion around MS. Can
it be possible then, that that labor which sup
plies those wants, and is in addition neccssa-
ry to health, was intended as painful impo-
sition' Perhaps from the evil condition of
society and the unequal manner in which la
Dor is parcelled out, it may be so considercd
but this is the evil which needs to be RENE
died. Labor may be truly said to be a curse
to him who is wasting his energies over the
midnight lamp to keep from starvation his
wife and children: but let his hammered neigh