Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-05-05
Support Your Mechanics.

There is no truth more undeniable than
that it is the bounden duty of every commu-
nifty to support its mechanics. They are a
worthy and indispensable class Of men, and
we find no town or village fourishing with
out their aid. Indeed, their presence or alb
sence is always a true index of the condition
of the ~place-whetber 1t Is advancing in
wealth and importance or sinking into decay.
Whenever we pass through a village aid
hear the frequent sound of the carpenters
hammer, the. clink of the h~lacksmith's anvil
that villag', we say to ourselves, Is -four
ishing. 1t cannot be otherwise. for the pro-
ducers are actively employed, and outnumher
the consumers. Whenever this is the case.
the people a'e growing wealthy, and at the
same time training the rising generation to
habits of industry and morality. When. if
a city or village pursue the opposite of this
course eglectS its mechanics and supports
those of some foreign town-thoSe who can,
will be compelled to 60 10 some other place,
and those who are compelled by the force of
circumstances to remain, will become idle
and profigate-they will cease to produce,
and become consumers-in a few years they
become beggars, and their children ignorant
and vicious.
If there is any truth in ,he assertion that
!. we ought, as a nation, to give the preference
to domestic manufactures, tn fact is equally
: true With regard to the community both are
sustained by the same arguments. If a mer-
chant would have aroundhim substantial Gus
toners, let him by every means in his pow
&c er support the mechanics of his village, and
. as they become more wealthy, their custom
q will Increase, especially in those articles on
which he makes the greatest profits, for it
is undeniahle, that as men become more
wealthy they also become more luxurious,
and no merchant will deny that articles of
luxury always afford the greatest profits
20 The habit of importing large quantities OF
:, cheap and half made articles of competition
>. with our village mechanics, is short-sighteC
and wrong, both as regards the mechanic and
! consumer if the merchant would look furth
er into the operation of things, he would fin,
that he crossed the path of his own interes
by doing so. Let the merchant bring tn
case to his own door, and he, perhaps. ma,
er- better understand it. Suppose that every il
eg- dividual who possesses the means, and VIII
po- uses in his family four or five hundred do
lars worth of goods per annum, should, il
at, stead of buying of him at retail, go to SON
ard city wholesale establishment and purcha,
ed, his years ~supply-would he not in bitternet
condemn such an illiberal course, and wouI
ON he not say to him with truth, hat he vi
ted warning against his own interest. by destrO
his ing the business of his town and giving it
ct; another; and that his littleness would rea
lnd upon him in double fold by decrease of h
ape property and business! So, in the case abo'
OUT instanced, could the mechanic say the san
- to the merchant. We say, then, let al! elias
pre- es support each other, and by mutual G
VI" changes keep that wealth at home, which.
'"- necessarily expended abroa.', tends to dcstr,
'aS- the business of your neighbor, and which
turn destroys your own.