Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-02-13
Respectabillty Of Mechanics.

The following passage is extracted
from an address by Rev. Andrew +.
Peabody:
There are too many mechanics, who
do not respect their own professions, and
they are in great part to blame, II 9th
ers do not respect them as they ought
Every branch Of industry that contrib.
utes TO the general welfare, ia worthy of
respect and honor and none more so
than the essential departments of whole
sale and retail commerce, which demand
enterprise, intelligence nad skill for their
succ ccessiul management. But because n
me reliant worthy Of the name commands
respect, there seems to prevail the gen
eral idea that, IL a man forsakes useful
labor in order to buy and sell, he rises in
the world. Yet all shop-keeping is not
commerce. And, when | see an able
bodied man standing from morning TO
night behind a counter, with few hand
fuls of sugar plums, and little decnyed
fruit, and some ten or twenty dollars
worth Of groceries, his whole stock int
trade not worth one hundreolh part OF
the capital which his bones and muscles
represent, feel the ludicrousness Of that
mans position so strongly, that l can
hardly buy of his wares without laughing
in his face. And yet there are mechan-
standing in the world by forsaking the
use ful labor, which makes them vital
members OF the body polite, for such
paltry insignifcance as this.
The enterprise of our mechanics is al
so greatly injured by the number Of pet
~ public Offices, for. which they furnish
seekers. If wanted TO benefit an able
and industrious man, would do all that
| could TO prevent him from getting an
office. These Offices belong in all fit
ness To those merchants aud shipinasers,
who have been unfortunate without fault,
and are not IN position Ia resume their
tanner OCCUPATIONS. They have the
requisite business qualification, and, hav
ing al their own risk aud danger con-
tribulri directly to the payment Of the
public revenue, seems cniilled, when
they need it, to The em"'un"nls growing
oul nI It's collection but when n capn-
BILE and cnerprlSing mechanic seeks such
an office, he makes n fatally false step
The very ptnress OF cr.srrkrng un-
settles his habits of applr ,,inn. enroi-
h,m amoug III" political qniL.nuncs of the
day, aud affects inlurInu-ly his business
standing aud character. Aud then, u
h" gets his office aud keeps it two ~
three years, the neN turn "i the wheel
throws him out of II wuhout rrs"u'crs
II He cannot return to his old business
lie has lost the ta,'c. lie has Io-l h,-
industrious habit. II" has dr, lln-d even
IN ph, s,cal visor. Others have tttrd
his place. aud are giving entire saiiSlar-
tion 10 his former employers Improve.
menis have taken place IN his business
and, if he starts anew, he must star, ia
/ the rear ranks where he used Ia Occu
py the front. The probability therefore
~, that he will bid final farewell toI
industry, and make himself for his life
| long a tidc-waiter upon ihe dominant po
Ii!Ical party whatever it be, jumping into
an Office nt uncertain intervals, and,
when out Of office, picking up "A prccari
Gus subsistence by doing what party
drudgery the leaders will not do them
| selves.
How infinitely more honorable the
1 place OF one whose own hands minister
to his necessities, whose well earned
savings are so invested as 10 cherish
and reward the industry of others, and
whose growing intelligence and expert
ence are every year giving him higher
| place among men of substantial influence
and character! ST. Paul gives in n sa-
cred connection an excellent rule, which
applies admirably TO secular affairs.
LET every man abide IN the same call
ing, wherein he is called" Except in
rare cases, man changes not his pro-
lesson without decided loss OF meutal
and moral power, Of influence, standing
and character, without throwing away
the mos, valuable fruits of the best years
Of his life, aud greatly jeopardizing his
future success and usefulness"
II