Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-03-26
From the Camden Journal.
MANUAL LABOR NO DISGRACE.
BY j. W. &.


tive of the above affirmation can array a.
gainst us the theory and practice of some
very important men, (in their own opinion
we feel ourselves free to combat their theo-
ry, and to discuss the policy of their prac-
tice, we'll assured that should it be found me-
cessary, we can establish the contra of their
ill-founded position, by illustrations or in
stances where some of the most brilliant
characters enrolled in the page Of history,
have attested their appreciation of the olgnl-
ty and honor of manual labor, by plain and
unmstakeable matter of fact evidence, in
the shape of fearless participation. But a
few thoughts as to the effect of these diane
trica] principles upon the character.:-
! The man who in good faith dofs his coat,
and regardless of the contempt which some
seek to inhict upon him, resolves to "earn
his bread by the sweat of his brow" at once
assumes position invulnerable to that spirit
of idleness which is so prevalent at the pre-
sent day, and which is the foster parent of
principles dangerous in the extreme to the
moral interests of society. He becomes one
of Natures noblemen, uutarnishcd by par
ticipation in any dark.lantern operation to
procure his maintenance, or corrupted with
that principle, emanating from false or
purse. proud conception of what constitutes
true nobility of character. He holds him
self aoof from principles which are nourish-
ed and kept alive by the almighty dollar,
whose properties consist of such degree of
magnetism upon the souls of some, as to
lead to a remuneration of every element of
moral principle for the sake of pecuniary
gain, and to invade the scantity of the hu-
man heart and despoil it of its sacred lrin-
ciples affection to secure the favors of dame
fortune, who dances on every side as an ignis
fatuns to delude the victim of its choice into
the vortex Of moral ruin. He posses a spirit
of independence far superior to that which
overAowing Golfers impart to their misery
possessor. This spirit of independence is
unalloyed with the corroding thoughts that
plague the possessor of ill-got treasure. What
though one possess unnumbered treasures of
infinite value, and yet that thought of ill-got
treasure greets him at every social assembly
and in his private abode? Does he realize
any real happiness from their possession?-
Let your better judgement, acted by obser-
vation, decide. Such narrowing thoughts
ne'er disturb the spirit of the honest laborer;
his earnings, for which he tenders an equiva-
lent of mental or physical labor, are possess
ed of no power to rob him of his domestic
and social happiness, by insinuations of dis
honest gain. Such characters as his are the
van guard on all practical demonstrations
Labor, bold and free, should be the watch
word of every community, for by labor alone
is society to attain to any degree of moral
excellence. No gale of chance, however
propitious can e'er awake the slumbering en-
erges of correct code of morals; but labor,
uuremiting and we'll directed, can revive the
expiring spark and fan it to blaze. How
can man ever attain knowledge of his men
tai and physical abilities except by address
ing himself to the attainment of some practi-
cal end 1t is the surest way to test the
strength of our natural and acquired abilities
and to develop the genius Of our nature, if
any we possess.
Let us take miniature view of the char
acter of some who profess to have a sort of
holy horror towards anything that savourS
of manual labor, for to take full portrait,
would require a useless expenditure of time,
together with delineations that might induce
some over sensitive individual to make per.
sonal application of our remarks, and call us
out to vindicate our position by an exchange
of courtesies in the shape of-powder and
ball.
That man who looks upon manual labor
as fit only for the participation of degraded
characters, will not, according to our opin-
ion, bear close inspection. We look upon
an idea of this stripe an evidence of a vitiat-
ed conception of what constitutes honesty and
dignity of character, and think the sooner
its possessor gets rid of it, the better, for we
look upon principles as iuherent-particu-
larly bad ones. More especially is this prin-
ciple to be condemned in those who have no
pecuuiary possessions to warrant them in the
practice of this contracted theory, from the
fact that chey are compelled to resort to the
employment of some dark lantern operation
to secure their mantainance, and we assume,
IL Ill fbof in n
general way, are not scrupulously exact in
regard to the employment of means too hon.
est. Such principles as these naturally en-
gender code of morals at variance with
every element of truth and honesty. Aside
from the engendering of principles at varl-
ance with the moral interests of society, i!
has another effectupon society, which, though
not as criminal as the first noticed, is alike
to be regretted. We allude to the inAuen-
cling of the young to crowd the professions,
which are already filled to overaowing, the
consequence of which is, that those who
could have ranked as first rate mechanics,
occupy but third or fourth rate position as
professional men. True, weneed statesmen,
we need lawyers, we need physicians, but
that is no argument why all the young men
of the present day should force themselves
into these positions, for the qualification OF a
spirit of contempt for manual labor, irrespec-
tive of their qualifications, for we likewise
need mechanical genius to keep the car OF
progress in motion. Subject your abilities