Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-06-27
Who is Really IndPpCBdtnt.

/ Who is Really Independent.
In one of the statutes passed in the reign
of Henry the Eighth, idleness is character.
lied, in good Saxon English, as being ''the
mother of all sin" 1t was the philosophy
of those medieval times, in fact, to regard
it as mans duty first to serve and honor
his Creator, and next to be skilled in some
craft or business. so as to avoid coming or
the Commonwealth for support The acqui.
sition even of learning was regarded as but
of secondary importance. A citizen, it was
held, might be good citizen even though
he could not read Homer in the original, but
not il he wanted the ability to maintain him
self, The last was absolutely essential ; the
first as general rule. was not. If thro'
thrift, energy end industry, the ordinary
citizen acquired n compliance, then the
study of the liberal arts night be properly
undertaken But, ill tlicn the FIRST duty
of every one who was not heir to a large es-
tate, was to learn some business. 1t was in
this way, to quote again the words of the old
statute. that our forefathers took care that
their children. when grown up. should not
be driven from want or incapacity 'to dis
hottest courses"
/ We have made great advances in many
things since that time, but we doubt if, in
this particular, we have not gone back. Nor
that our generation attaches too much impor-
lance to schools and sclool-mastefs. Il is
impossible to have books, readers or teachers
in excess But those old times certainly sur
passed our own in the dignity they impartt
to labor. and in the public opinion which
expected every man TO have some craft or
profession by which to earn his bread. Edu-
cation was then considered to include some
thing more than book learning. and was re-
garded. in its true sense, as the forming al
the entire character The first requisite fo,
the respectable citizen was that he should
be able 10 maintain himself, because, with
out this ability, he could not be really indie
pendent, and was liable through idleness to
fall into evil courses. Hence the child, fron
earliest infancy, was taught to look forward
to a life Of active work as the highest dieni
~ Of manhood Hence every citizen, what
ever his rank. pulled ut the laboring oar,
each in his own sphere. it is true, but nr
the less industriously for that. FROM IT,
King GA bis throne to the peasant i'll his hui
all worked and I'LL worked hard. Their
were no drones in those days The class
men with which modern socetY aheunds,th
class that lives only for show, luxury or ple'
sure, was utterly unknown. The rich die
not consider that thei. wealth entitled thpu
to spend their lives in selfish idleness. TIL
poor were not tempted to look on labor u
disgraceful, and to prefer comparative star
Walton to comfort and independence.
At present it is different. At present {;
false notion extensively prevails that il labu,
is not absolutely dsgracefu, it is at least Il
marx al gentlisy to have nothing to do
dreds of parents who have acquired but
moderate fortunes, bring up their children
III elegant idlencss, forgetting that that es
tate which supports one household will not
sustain those of dozen descendants, and
that evon if it would, wealth may take wings
and fly away. Then great cities, in consc-
Iqucncc, are crowded with men educated TO
great expectations, but nov literally penui-
less, and who live, in consequence, from
for more than half their time, the dishonest
practising all the arts of swinlling and final
ly ofsrime. Even parents who have nof,r-
tunes at all, often bring up their sous in lille
ness. 1T is vulgar they say. ito put
them to a trade" And thus a plentiful crop
of shililess, purposeless, sagrant, good-f"r-
nothing yonhg men are annually turned
loose en- society. tie infect other young men
by their example, to live parasitically on the
icomnunty, and to die in the almshouse or
Jail il not under the gallows.
He is only independent who is master OF
his own fortunes. No man is master of his
fortunes unless he us learned handicraft
studied profession, OF acquired a habit OF
business. Such mar, cyeu he shouh. b
rich and afterwards become poor, can never
be otherwise than independent for he is Sc
cure of his daily bread, can keep out debt,
and need fear to lock no fellow being in the
face 1t would be better for modern society
if !. cultivated healthier public opinion or
this sul, ject lit insisted that every ch.l
should be brought up to do something for II
living if it ircnored the worker more than
the drone and rated the honest laborer above
the rich and idle sensudist BnN Sun.