The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-04-27

No impression of society, says the Nes
York Ledger Is more false or fatal 10
manhood than that which measures a
mans worth by the field of labor he occu.
pies, SO long as that labor is useful and
bonest--snd no dishonest toll can be use.
full. The nobility Of man in this country
does not depend on wealth, birth or title.
Nor does it take color from the nature of
his profession, but from tho spirit which
animates him---the spirit by which, with
or against the smiles Of temporal fortune,
he shape his career among his fellow men.
He is'a truer man who turns chimney
sweeping to an honest, independent ac-
count, than he who, scorning the rough
tolls Of the humble an needy, is willing to
live an idler--howevsr proudly caparison-
ed-upon the industry Of others.
Now and then we hear of "the most
respectable classes" and find on examina-
tion that this respectability is. credited to
peculiar professions an labors What
could be moro offensive to that spirit Of
reputlicansm which discards the theory Of
''divine rights" and special nobilities Of
blood and caste? Yet this sentiment Of
distinction exist and increases among us,
We see it in manifold dispalays of pseu-
do aristocracy, who, gloryfying in tie
possession of superior wealth, won, most
likely, by the hard handed industy and
prudence of a former generation, or by
some successful speculations, look down
with vulgar scoru upon men who eclipse
them in all the attributes of manhood
That man is base who fails to remember
with pride noble minded or noble acting
ancectry, but baser is he who seeks to
hide his own mcanpess or weakness under
the mantle of reputable forefathers. The
proudcst coat of arms ever grav'n on
mans shield, or fitted to his shoulders. is
the homespun coat won by honest toll.
Subtract from the worlds history the record
Of such toll, and the earth is stripped Of
it's most substantial glories. The patent
nobilties have none little more than to
rust and corrupt the fruits Of heroic labor.
What matters it whether one car les the
hod or the plumb line-wlcther one mix
es the NOR er or handles the trowel-so
long ms each ia ess ntial to human welfare
Not that we would have any man seek
grsde if higher be at his command.
What we hold is that the shepherd and
ploughman are as noble in their place, as
is the Secretary of State in his.
To the working maitland he who tolls
not usefully is drone among men and an
abomination in the sight of God We have
but few words Of advice. Heel not the
false scntim'nt that would deny you
dignity or rcspectability, because your Ia
Dor soils your hands md swarths your brow.
Better have soiled hands and swarth brow
than the corrupt heart and vicious brain
of the two extremes of society who prey
on your labor-the vagabonds Of the gut.
ter, shameless in their mendicty and
crime, and the vaunted aristocracy,
whose wealth hides their corruption from
the public sight. Aim high with honest
hurpose, holding true soul better than
gold, and the approval of conscience swee-
ter than the worlds fattcry, and you
will triumph even in the humbeest voca-
ton. Your daily labor shall not be the
guage of your manhood, for you will havo
over and above that, for self communion
and for society, heart and brain which are
not tied to, nor bound up in, the toll Of
your hands.