The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-08
From the Pennsylvania Inquirer.
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.
TRUE AND FALSE PRIDE.

2 "Of all the causes which conspirc TO blind
Mans erring judgment, and nsead The mind,
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,
is Pride-that never.fading vice of FOOLS"
"EIere bcggar pride dc frauds her daily cheer,
10 boast one splendid banquet once a year."
a fearful mistake exists in some minds, 10 the
effect that there is degradation in honest indus
try. Generally sneaking, the error is the re-
suit Of false education. Children are taught
that his employment is moi respectable, and
thai not genieel-and thus. at length. they fan.
cr il is better TO be idle pauper gentlemen, if
we may he allowed such an expression, than
industrious and independent citizens. And
what, a(ier all, is gentleman so called, who
has neither The means, the energy, nor the ca.
pacitv 10 earn livelihood? Our great cities
are lhronged with such unaes-for, as
already stated, they are the victims OF erroneous
education and fuse pride. We fear that the
eentler sex are responsible for much Of this er-
ror, The old as well as the young, the mothers as
well as the daughters. Let any one mingle in
n circle of ladies with pretensions to inIc'ii.
cence. responsibility and refinement, and ascar
t:in their views upon this suhect-learn from
he mothers The class of citizens they would
have as candidates for their daughters hands.
and from the daughters the professions and call.
inrs whence they would select their snitors.
The result will verify our theory. A gentle
man in name and by profession, although he
may he an Ider, lounger and dependant, vii
in most cases be considered "betIer Sc ETY."
than store keeper, artizan, a manufacturer, or
mechanic, because these classes in paying due
attention 10 business are perhaps, negcclu OF
some ofihe niceiies and snperhuities Of fashion.
able life. But, we repeat. the error is with the
parents. Children are not made to distinguish
between false and true plide-between the dig
nity of labor and the degradation of idleness.-
The sons of rich men become ashamed of the
employment of their fathers, while the daugh.
lers, as it loo often happens, will shrink, color
and blush, should such employment be especial.
ly pointed out 10 Them. We may we wrong,
but we regard all this as altogether absurd, i'm.
proper, affected and unwise. If man be the
architect Of his own fortune, and from ndgence
TO affluence by the efforts Of his own toll, ener
gy and perseverance, the circumsia nces should
he referred 10 with pleasure and e5uItalion,
rather Than pain and modification. Far better
thus to commence al The bottom OF The ladder,
and ascend gradually and steadily 10 its toPmost
round, Than, elevated by sudden wealth, to be
compelled to descend by idIeness, imprudence
ana pronsacy. The distinction between false
and lrude pride, is not sufficiently apPrecla' ID.
The pride of worth, integrity, intellect and
character is noble and laudabje in its - ,dre,
while that oi mere fashion and money is narrow,
empty and unworthy. Our breihren of the
South, we perceive, are just beginning 10 dis.
cover and appreciate the dignity of labor
They are asce.taning the difference between
| the North and the South, "the why and there
FORE" lha, the hardy sons Of New England, the
Northern Eastern and Middle States, generally
thrive ahurdaaily. ard find themselves filled 10
any section of.he Union: "Whyis it," asks a
leading iournaIis, Of Georgia, "that the North.
ern States, naturally so far inferior TO the gen.
erous and genial climate Of the South, have so
far ouislripped their Southern sisters in wealth.
education, refinement and general improve.
ment % His reply is, that idIencss Is the
curse of The Souh,' that the absurd and r'd!cu-
! ous notion that manual labor is dishonorahle,
has been The great drawback upon that portion
or,hc Republic. 1t has "doomed to the crime
Of idicncss hundreds and thousands OF young
men who, but for it. might have hecome active
and energetic mechanics and manufacturers,
laving up for themselves and their children un.
told wealth, thus retaining in our midst The mo
pey which, under the present system, ibe encr-
ny and industry Of the North righiiulIy acquire
from us. and with which they build their rail
roads, canals, colleges, churches, and magnIh.
cent private mansions. The idea that no occu
nation is respectable but The learned profes:
sions.' has doomed 10 poverty, idencss and
l. p/le of 10
who, rs farmers or mechanic, might have as.
sisted in building up the national wealth, and
developing our vast resources. Go 10 Inc Towns
and villages throughout our Southern States,
and see who are the loalers at the corners o.
the streets? Are they not almost invariably
men who have been driven by this low, vu gar
rreiudire into professions already crowded, in
consequence of which, for want OF employment,
they are forced to become loatcrs-iashlonab
loungers.
This is speaking out in frank and manly
spirit. The South cannot realize and act upon
tie doctrine too promptly. The men who re-
gard Labor as unworthy and degrading, the So
cicty that recognises and incucates such Tear.
Inl error. cannot but become the victims. The
:. Mountain Banner" an intelligent journal pub.
l::hed in North Carolina, takes up the Story ana
follows it out with still more force. "Ihe stan.
dard Of merit says the editor, consists not IN
mans occupation, but in performing MS part
ueU. whatever it may bc-whether he act IN
The capacity of blacksmith or DOCTOR tailor
|, wyer or merchants This is the true doc.
irine. Good lawyers are rightIuy jus, as re-
spcctable as good blacksmiihs, or good farmers,
and not any more so-,hey are all useful and
honorable occupations. and he is The most re.
specialize rho best performs the duties Of his
rOcdiion.
Unfortunately the delusion, the false pride
TO which VIC have advered-is not confined TO
the South 1t prevails extensively IN the
Northern and Middle States. and esocclaly in