New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-07
The Elevation Of Mechanics.
ax Appsxss BEFORE A STATE CosTENTlos Al ~
"a" or TIE MECHANICS or MAINE.
che Mleaus anu Enos.



sa.de Labor re,uruanf and permitted the few TO
,,,ovo successful over the many 1t Is the business
Is 10 correc, these defects of the drow-
~vn.., We call our age busy one Ii compafi'
son !. NTH those that have preceded it. While the
fsndal ase wsuld be building chieftain's castle,
our are would people State, tunnel mountains,
and bind remo.ess points with iron bands ana
,ena the great lakes gurgling at our pleasure IN
an artificial river. The same active spirit is also
visible in the intellectual power and moral enlse
prises of our age. They span across tue siooo
and dive to the remotest regions OF sooiesy, a'I
produce as great changes il the sociai anaifs o,
men, as business enterprise does IN luz Pn'''oa'
condition OF the earth
There needs no apology, then' 1foha U.s. 'nat VIC
r;bIed here, in convention the Representa-
80. &c The Mechanics of Maine. We act in &C.
cordance with the spirit OF our age in coming up
hsra ,o ;nouirc what duties are required OF US, in
,rder that we may improve, elevate'ana refine that
large mass of men with whom we are connected,
and of whom we form part; to leer2 how we
NAV best attain that social condition to when we
would hope all men may arrive.
s The mast presents to US but little that ID attrac-
tive In its grave buried those distinctions IN
society which originate in wealth and blood, with
ont respect to mental and moral culture. Labor
and ignorance are there found toiling together as
hough yoked by the will OF Heaven. The present
ia ~ ms fuil of announcement, and the future OF
hone. A craduaI, but mighty change, IS taking
place in the condition of society. Learning IS not
now confined to the few, but is greatly extended,
and becoming daily more difiused. knowledge Is
now sought as a great practical instrument de-
signed to confer blessing on man IN the every
day intercourse OF life. The means for acquiring
knowledge and spreading 1t over the whole sur.
face Of society, much multiplied, and with
al go cheap, that no portion of society can long
cape from its benign and elevatiag influence. But
is not enough for wait the general progress
of intelligence 1t is for to give the most Pelnt-
ed directness to its inluenceto gather its rays to
a common focus for the benefit OF the mechanics
who have suffered most for its want, and yet who
can make a practical use of all good learning.
The world is rubbing its eyes open in search OF
the useful, and this search has called forth nven
lions in mechanics, that working an entire re-
velution in the affairs Of men. improvement III
the arts il an every day occurrence and unless we
greatly mistake the tendency OF events ihe day Ii
dawping when the profession OF the mechanic VIII
be esteemed as honorable and as desirable too, as
that of divinity medicine or the law. 1t Is moi
necessary now disPreve the idea that tho prolcs
sion of the mechanic necessarily units him foi
making progress in good learning That has al.
ready been done. Proof of this has been furnished
in abundance, and of character that admits Oh
no dispute Indeed, if the world had not per
versely agreed in dcnominating only certain kind
of information, knowledge, we should be led to
conclude that he whose whole labor sort OF
philosophical experiment would be more likely te
acquire true knowledge than the man confined to
books, and paving little intercourse with the world
But the world is getting right upon this subject
The genius OF the arts beckons mechanics on to
certain victory. The few who have succeeded
against the popular opinion, afford examples OF
the highest encouragement to us all, to do more
and better as that opinion becomes improved. We
seek not now occasional instances Of personal Gu!
,iyation among mechanics, but to carry up the ma
nv. TO elevate the mass, to make the profession
honorable, and secure for it general respect.
The enterrrize in which we are engaged de-
mands of us the adoption of such means as shall
secure TO our order the benefits of thorough
discipline of the mental powers, scientific and
practical knowledge of the profession of each-di-
rectnoss of thought and suitable qualifications to
aid in forming more rational, equal and better
state Of society We ought not to be satisfied
with society it is, nor with leaving the world no
better than we found it. There are great many
6cialdstinotions now acknowledged, that should
be removed; there is q repugnance to labor exist,
ing, which is fruitful source of injustice and
crime, which are correcting the vtas of true social
ENJOYMENT There are continual struggles for
power, and place, and pay, that keep the public
mind in fermeRt, without beneficial results
There is a want Of confidence and fellowship, IN
deed Jealousy and bitterRess even among mo
chanies themselves that seem to shut out all hope,
at times, of any thorough reform in the affairs OF
mea. So generally have false ideas prevailed, tha,
every suggestion for reform is, by rnany, consid-
cred as the watchword for battering down all 9th
or professions, and demanding change of places;
as signal for lifting whole class, ana that nu
merous one, into seats Of official station and in
ves,ing them with the exercise of power But not
50 must the rcormer of this age consider it. for this
ia neither practicable, nor just, nor desirable. The
true, meiieIating, genuine reform OF the present,
must be 70 elevate man man; to remove far
away the distinctions of profession, or wealth, 81
BIRTH aud look directly at the capacities, cultiva
ton, virtues, and usefulness OF the being-,he
man; to elevate, cultivate improve and ennoble
the many, to an equality ST mental and moral trea
sure with the most elevated; to bring up the neg
lected, bruised and spirir-broken toiling masses,
tina. have so long been crushed and desolatc, to
level and to common sympathy with those who
have made the highest advances. To accomplish
this should now engage our best efforts
Our object, aim and end therefore, are snch as
every philanthropist must approve, as they COM
mend themselves to every benevolent heart. Did
we purpose less than reform such as have
mentioned, and were we DESTROYS merely ofeieotins
change in the position of classes, our labor and
our anxiety would be less. The reform we seek
will require years of labor, while 8 mere change
could be produced by unien for a day. Blu, of
wha, consequence is it, if unjust and arbitrary dis
,inotions mus, be kept up in society, which party
is uppcrmos, in the exercise of powerl Ii a ineis
be drawn of this arhi,rary character, OF profess
sion alone, as to which party shall rule in public
affairs ardently pray that the minority in num-
bers may rule and leave the great majority to toll
on in quiet. We wish not to Perpetuate these