The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-03
OTTUMWA IOWA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER g. 1857

acquainted with the alphabet is hardly per-
ceptible. How much disipline of mind and
expansion Of thought does the mere ability to
read and write afford? estimate. the number
Of those who have just learning enough to ex-
cuse them, including professional men, at one
and half million, and shall insist on this be-
ing high estimate. These are the thinkers
Of the nation, and include all those who have
the command Of their powers, can look into
the essence Of things, and can reason logical.
| ly. But one and half millions do not consti-
tute the people Of the United States. Low,
then, exceedingly low must be the state Of
education among the mass of the "intelligent
people.'' What are the causes of this deplo-
rable ingnorance9 They are, 1. Want of tim.
and money: 2. Want Of self appreciation
All then, are not supplied:-and this brings us
to second branch Of our subject.
Why are not all supplied with the means Of
tne enjoyment? We cannot suppose the sou,-
ces of wealth inadequate to provide every one
with all that is needed, because the amount Of
wealth in the world is abundant. How many
millionsires are there in our young Republic,
and how many persons can million Of wealth
support, with due labor,i dignifed manner9
How many are there in England whose in
come per diem is from FIVE to twenty FIVE hun
dred dollars per diem? And how many in
this country from twenty FIVE to two hundred
dollars per diem? These masses of wealth
account for the apparent deficiency !of means
among the people.
As far as the fair reward of labor, is con-
cerned, there need not be single individual
deprived of any kind of virtuous enjoyment.
Schools, colleges, libraries, laboratories, gar
dens, museums, and all that can refine and emo.
BILE, might be accessible to all without distinc-
ton in city, town and country. Music, paint
ing, sculpture, poetry, literature and science,
might daily give to all their delight, inspira-
ton and discipline. No-nature Is not guilty
Of the deprivation among mankind, for she Of
fers to all enough. As long as the sun shall
continue to rise and set, and spring time and
ha, vest continue to return in order so long will
| nature yield to labor an abundant reward
Neither can we assign the destitution of man
kind to want Of industry in physical TOLL
All the wealth OF the world was produced by
labor. and il there be enough, as none can
doubt there Is, then sufficient labor is per-
formed. When learn tina. poor men, women
aud children, in England labor from twelve to
sixteen hours per diem, with scanty break
fast, with nothing for dinner but bit Of dried
bread, and with supper as poor; when /
know that our ewn female as well as male la.
borers are compelled to work from twelve to
fourteen hours per diem. and, az soon as the
task Is done, retire exhausted 10 rest; when
see our farmers even laboriDg about the same
length Of time during three quarters Of the
year, am convi iced that at least one fourth
more labor is performed by the mass than they
should be forced to do in order to obtain eve-
| ry thing desirable. There may be an occa-
sional able-bodied man who is indolent and
hesitates in deciding whether il best to toll
or starve, but few such are found, and they
have as much right to 1--we in incidence as the
rich man of leisure.