Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-03-11
For the Nashville Patriot
Laborers and L0afers.


The reader need not expect lecture on
the dignity of labor" or anything of that
sort, neither useless TRADE Of abuse against
those who are vulgarly called "loafers.p
So, then, both parties, (laborers and loafers,)
may peruse this article with perfect safety
The loafers should not be abused, for this
is a free country, as man, he has right
to "loaf around" as much as another man
has right to work; provided, the working
part of the community see proper to sup
port and encourage him. The fact is, loaf
ers are SO often abused, that it will be an
act of charity to defend them. They seem
to multiply by abuse, and grow bold with
opposition. The young ladyloafers esteem
a male loafer above all things, and for them
their blandeSt smiles are ever ready. They
look upon all men who labor with their
hands or industriously follow any specified
pursuit, with extreme suspicion, for work,
with them, is not to be tolerated, labor be-
ing an antique idea unworthy of the atten-
ton Of the present generation. 1t seems
to be astonishing that 'old time folks"
worked so hard, and so pertinaciously in
sisted upon intoxicating ideas of the respect
ability of labor into the minds of their chill
dren. Poor simpletons they did not
dream of the progress which Young Amer
lea was so soon to attain by learning to
keep from work. If a man or any number
of men consider it to their comfort to do
nothing but walk about the Streets smok
ing segarS and whiting sticks, whose bust
ness is it E? If two-thirdS of the community
see proper to feed and clothe the other
third, "free gratis for nothing" who has a
right to complain? The fact is, it is get
ting to be very unfashiOnabIe to work, and
one had as well be "Out of the world as
out of the fashion"
Some people argue that large class of
our fellow citizens, especially in cities, who
idle away their time, would do much better
to remove out West, where as good land
rs can be found on the globe can be had
for 81 or So per acre; but the argument
falls to the ground when it is taken into
consideration that man out West on new
! soil, would Starve to death unless he labor
| ed-and as the avoidance of labor is the
thing to be watched carefully, it follows
that it won't do to "move away off" for one
might be cut off from the sympathy of his
| fellow-lOaferS by being out of reach of his
comrades | am aware that Franklin in
his day said some foolish things about in
! dustry and perseverance, early rising, &c;
but then it must be recOlIected that Frank
lin lived in the dark age" on this point,
and his teaching must be taken with sever
| al grains of allowance. Even good old
Willie Blount whilst Governor of this
State, endeavored to incuIcate ideas of in
dustry and frugality in a small way; but,
fortunately, little heed was given to his adj
mOnitions. Even Mr.. Frelinghuysen, Of
Onr own day, in addressing some College
lads recently, had the audacity to give the
following advice
Resolve to do something useful honorable,
dutiful, and to do it heartily. Repel the thought
that you can, and therefore you may, live
above work and without it. Among the most
ptiable objects in society is the man whose
mind has not been trained by the discipline of
| education; who has learned how to think, and
the value of his immortal powers, and with all
! 81 oil
for an honorable activity, ignobly sits down
to do nothing; with no influence over the pub
lie mind; with no interest in the concern of
his country, or even in his negh borhoOd; to
be regarded rs a drone without object or char
acter, with no hand TO lift, and no effort ~
put forth TO help the right or defend the wrong
ed. Who can think with any calmness of such
q miserable careerl And however it may be
with you in active enterprise, never permit
your influence to go into active hostility 10
the cause of truth and virtue SO live, that
with the Christian poet, you may truthtully
say that
'n your country stand not BY your skill,
At east your folies have not wrought her ILL.,"
This will do very well for those who do not
know any better but it falls harmless at
the feet of loaferS and idlers.
One class Of loafers, in particular, should
be encouraged, and they are what shall
term political loafers, and are composed of
men who swing around doggeries, claim an
immense influence in election times, and
who periodically devote whatever time
they are willing to bestow on anything to
the success of one or the other parties In
them is concentrated nearly all the wisdom
and all the patriotism which can be found.
The "Old Revolutioners" were fools, in
comparison. A mere mention of this class
is sufficient to inspire the gratitude of the
laboring people in their behalf. As there
are necessarily two political parties. so
there are two classes of persons socially
one the producing class, the other the non
! producing. And it is desirable that the
rights of the latter class should be respect
| ed by the former Hence bespeak for
! the loafers and idlers due degree of con-
Sideration from the opposite class of socie-
| ty. Laborers have so many advocates and
so many friends they need no sympathy
whatever from their antagonists
Van WINKLE.
| Prom Hnyaua