Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-03-04
The Dignity of Labor.

lie, than the estimation in which labor is held
among them.
10 the ruder stages Of society, personal Prov
ess and physical vigor constituted The standard
oi worth. AS civilization advances, skill in
arms and moral accomplishments became the
chief efreeommendations TO honor and distinction !;
and finally, The march of mind through multi
,Gde of agencies, The chief of which is The press,
establishes the great truth, that excellence con-
sists alone in a combination Of mental power
and moral vgor. Il may provoke smile to
think lha, mere physical power should have
ever been the measure of man, and that his
character should have been estimated by the
number Of pounds he could lift, The distance he
could jump, or the force with which he could
hu,l stone. Ye, ooiions far more ridiculous
il possible, prevail al the present day. How
many young men are there, who estimate their
geniliiy by the smoohness and whi,eness of
iteir hands " hose standard Of manhood is The
time they can wasle in idleness, the number of
cigsis they can smoke, the quantity OF Cham.
paisn their heads will bear, and whose hehes,
idea of worth is the amount of money they
squander! How many young ladies are there,
have no higher standard of worth than the
amount Of costly silk and lace they can exhibit,
The quantity OF jewe!ry with which they can
catch the vulgar eye, and dazzle the perceptions
Of The weak and ihough,less /. may appear
matter OF small consequence what opinions such
persons may entertain of labor, or those who
perform it /: bat the disesteem Of labor, is the
unerring mark cf ,yrants; in every period of
the world, contempt for labor and The mos.
ahject slavery on the one hand, and The mos,
oppressive tyranny on The other, have existed
serse US one example. No person ever more
utterly despised labor; il was consigned to the
hands Of their Helots, who were in consequence
the most abjec' and degraded slaves.
Persons who thus despise labor, and condemn
The laborer, may no' know or may not care,
"ha, miseries 'hsy inaIc, upon society, by thus
striving TO overiusn the basis of republican lib
eriy and social prosperity, but neither their ig-
norance, nor willuluess, can pailale the guilt OF
such efforts. The direct tendency Of their ex-
ample, is TO degrade The majority of mankind
aud render labor less honorable than their own
" mastery inactivity And suppose, for mo-
ment. that il should prevail SO far as 10 make
4 4;
,cnounce his trade and lorsake his shop; how
are bis wants TO be suppled! Evidently by
compulsory labor; The poor driven by necessity,
must become slaves 10 the rich thus widening
The inydIous distance between them until the
reward Of latorer's toll shall be scanly SUBJ
stance al The discretion OF the master. This j.
one effect; and 1t is easy TO see wha, others
must follow. Perhaps one of The most cutting
rebukes ever given 10 this spiri, OF aris,ocratic
arrogance, was administered by lha, great man,
Chief Justice Marshall. gentleman recently
settled ia Richmond as a merchant, wen, TO
market carrying his own basket. He observed,
however, other gentlemen attended by servants
making purchases, and fell il'le ashamed Of
his position. Tuning 10 an old man, whom he
saw rather rusiiiy dressed. and Juggling a we'll
filed basket, he asked him 10 take his also.--I
Certainly, Sir said The old man. and taking
The merchants basket, carried il TO his resi-
dence. The gentleman offered him quarter
for hs .ouble, " hich was refused.
This created some surprise, and led the mer
chant TO nolice where tie old man went Pas
sing on. the old man stopped a, a. house which
had been painted out 10 him as the residence OF
Judge Maishall. 'Ahp said he, that accounts
for the refusal Of he money. he is Judge Mar
shall's serysn,.' In lilie while, the merchant
received polite note requesting the pleasure
of his company 10 dinner a, Judge MarshaIl's.
On arriving al the door, The very same old man
answered his summons. and showed him into
the drawing ronu', but Imagine his surprise.
when ihe odd man seated himself on sofa. anhi
commenced one of his enmaed and delightful