The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-08-23
The AmerIe AM Mech anie aud Laborer.

The American Mechanic aud LabOPer.
Happily, in this free country, there are no
privileged orders; citizens take position &C.
cording to worth and merit, and not according
to wealth and means. Huge inequalities ap-
pear, however, between men, many of which
are superimposed by erroneous customs-but
they can be surmountsd by individual exertion
by personal character sxacting what is due.
Our institutions are based upon the peoples
capacity to govern themselves, and occasions
occur to awaken men to their vassalage and
subjection to iron customs which gall like
fixed yoke on the neck.
LABoRERs SHOULD NOT HAVE UNREASONABLE
TASKS.
The first subjection that men feel to be un-
Just and onerous, is unreasonable tasks in daily
labor. 1t is just that nll should gain their
bread by the sweat of their brows-it is sweet
bread thus esrned--but the sweat should not
make distasteful the bread. Man should not
DO over-worked.
AMERICAN LABoRERs ARE THE STATE
Laboring men in America are the State.
There is no patent-right issued to any one in
the long alphabet Of names of a free people,
conferring special distinctions not accorded by
the consent Of the governed.
IN EDUCATED LABOR AMERICANS PLACE THEIR
TRUST.
In this xcellency, and in the surety and fix
edness of this principle Of equality, education Is
not only important, but like virtue, is esse"
tial, to secure the poor man, so o.called, proper
place in society.
WE ARR ALL LAB0RERs.
AS all must work to live, oil are laborers,
and, as the commerce we engage in, and by
which we get great gain, is but exchange OF
the products of the labor of the artisan and
the agriculturist, we in America are all
mechanics and laborers.
HOW MANY HOURS SHALL WE LABOR?
As there are large number of the opera
tives mere employees, working for wages for
others, it would seem necessary to agree to a
regulation as to hours Of labor, which would
not break down the aborer, but would afford
him some little leisure for self-culture, and
rescue him from being machine kept run
ming to serve others altogether.
THE TRUE AMERICAN QUESTION.
The cause of the operativeis one peculiarly
American; it is the cause of the one who
votes-of one who may be the President
the Governor-t is the cause of the fathers
of American children, and of the heads Of
American families--it is the cause of those
who are the people, who mould public
opinion.
HOW MANY HOURS?
How many hours, then, should an Amer
can laborer work? We mean 1ork, when we
say work; we mean intelligent work, skill
full work; work that's we'll done when done;
honest work, honest in the devotion of full
time while employed and honest in the COM
pleteness of what is done. How long shall
a sincere, tip-top laborer in his profession
serve his employer?
OVER WORK Is BAD WORK.
Is not service rendered beyond reason
able time, deterioration of the person work
ing, by ignoring the law Of nature, that man
is compound being?
A GOOD RULE TO WORK BY.
There was a day when operatives of an order
that erected foundations and magnificent tenn
pies, "wrought their regular hours" The
admonition, now, of speculative Masonry,
should have an appreciating observance by
American employers and employees. As the
twenty -four inch gauge, or the instrument
made use of by builders, to measure and lay
out their work, is divided into twenty -four
equal parts, emblematical of the twenty -four
hours of the day, we are taught, the more
noble and gloriouspurpose Of dividing our time.
As it is thus emblematic, we are taught to
divide each day into three parts, devoting a
part for the service of God and distressed fellow
men--who all are our brethren; part for our
usual avocations; and a part, for refreshment
and sleep. ....
THE ONE MAN STRIKE.
In the United States, then, the skillful
laborer should not be made a drudge. 1t ia
the desire of the PENNY Press, to favor per-
sonal strike on tho part.of each laborer. Each
one should not esteem himself more highly
than he ought; but every man everywhere,
has certain peculiar endowmsnts and gifts,
which, if cultivated would elevate to proper
distinction him who properly developes his ad-
vantages.
PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE AND REFORM.
Spur up then, each laborer, in field and
workshop, and labor with a will, with the un-
derstanding and with hope. How many hours
should an American operative be called upon
to work at his daily task, it will be seen, is an
important question. Wait not, then, native or
adopted labOrer, for concert, to strike for the
golden mean in labor; perfect yourself in your
art, your speciality, take care of your health,
and declare your own independence, not in
revolt, but in reform.
PLAsTERIYG.-We learn that the following
are the rules of measurement Of work done
| by plasterers in Cncinnati: