Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-30
DAILY EVENING STAR.
The Dignity Of Labor.

The Dignity Of Labor.
Professed philanthropy is very cheap
and common commodity. There is an
exceedingly plentiful amount of wordy
sympathy at the present day for working
people, hence great swelling articles about
the " dignity Of labor" are paraded with
extraordinary frequency and in polite
abundance. Being the professed advo-
Gates OF industry, we at once say that
there is neither dignity nor disgrace con-
nected with labOr-mental or physical
in itself apart from the object of labor.
Hphysical labor is of dignifying nature,
then the horse, OK, and steam engine
possess greater amount of it than man.
fmere mental labor is of identifying
nature in itself, then forgers and plotting
gamesters must stand on very elevated
positions on the ladder of dignity. The
majority of articles which we have read
on the dignity of labor are calculated to
deceive or working people; it is for
them they are intended, and their tenden-
cy Is injurious. Idleness is an evil, and
industry as its counterpart is righteous
duty, but at the same time, intense labor
In any cause, at any business, whereby
evil is done, cannot dignity the actor, how
ever assiduously he may toll to accom-
plish his infamous ends. Mechanical and
mental toll are honorable and dignifed
only because of the aims and objects of
the laborers the noble man mot titled)
confers dignity upon the labor in which
he is engaged-the labor cannot confer
dignity upon him.
We know it is no uncommon feeling
among all classes of rich and poor, to
make wide distinctions, one looking down
or up to another because of its particular
profession or trade. Great excellence in
mechanism, skill of hand, and mental
ability will always command admiration,
but the feeling we would desire to see
generally cultivated, is respect for all
wise and honest men, irrespective of their
kind of labor. At the same time let us
say that this feeling is more prevalent
than some frothy philanthropists would
have us believe. The great difficulty
with many men, is to make them respect
themselves-they have not the correct
idea of true dignity. A man cannot al
ways choose his trade or profession, but
he certainly can choose his character. 1t
is as easy for mechanic to be gentle
man, and work amid oil, steam, and iron
every day, as it is for man who is
worth his tens of thousands. It is also
as incumbent upon every American me-
chanic to be gentleman, as if he were
minister or professor; there is no excuse
for any of our mechanics being less than
gentlemen, and certainly some of them
are much finer gentlemen than many who
ride in their carriages. "'Tis worth
that makes the man." and nothing else.
Every man should live in such an atmos-
phere as to feel independent of his kind
of labor, his dignity lies in his character
the man.
10 every working man we would say,
look upon yourself with respect be in
telllgent, honest, industrious, with grace
in your speech and conduct, and never
give yourself thought about the dignity
of labor. Ifyou are poor, none but fools
Will look down upon you as wanting in
dignity because of your kind of labor. If
q man is poor, not by his own fault, it is
his misfortune; he cannot help that. A
man may also be very illiterate from the
lack of opportunities to improve his mind,
tnat Is also not his fault; If he strives to
do well, he labors with dignifed aim,
and for this he should be respected.
In civilized communities, intelligent
and moral worth exert the greatest influ-
ence; it is law of the mind, that the
civil qualities command respect, and for
this reason We often, as part of our duty,
have to direct the attention of many of
our readers to those qualities which dig
nifty the man. in order that they may not
be led astray from the true path of duty.
At the present day there is no excuse for
ignorance on the part of any young man
in America, whatever his occupation NAV
whether mechanic or merchant if
he is not intelligent he is wanting in an
essential element of true dignity.-Scien-
t,fc american.
Foul, ASSASSIN ATJON-0ne of tho moot