The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-09-28
WEALTH AND LABOR.
BY HON. II. G. O. COLBY.

There are instances in this country of
enormous individual wealh-frequent in
stances of Independent: individual fortunes.
But who are they that possess, and whence
did they derive from? From some old
ancestors, who won broad lands and proud
titles in the field of batle-or in the Senate
at the bar-or the counting house If
you look for such inherited fortunes as
these, you will discover that they were long
since dismembered-tha with every revo-
luton Of the seasons, they are diminishing
and in a very few instances can one of
their descendants call the rooi-lrec Of his
fathers house his own.
Not These are The fruits Of individual
industry skill, or enterprise. And you
can seldom trace their history further
back than 10 fad them commanding
trading s!oop 10 the West Indies, pur.
chasing fur in small quantities on the
frontier, or selling excellent groceries at
n lirst-rate stand for business They are
sclfmade men-lhe architects of their
own fortunes ; and yield thousand fold
more respect TO such as they, than | can
ever feel for one who owes his wealth and
his standing il. this world 10 the mere ac-
cdent of birth and when their names are
uttered in the marls of commerce, and the
country rings from side TO side with the
story of their success, feel that this, of all
countries, is the best for human labor and
enterprise.
A very important and striking feature
in our political and social system, which,
indeed, is the inevitable result of our in.
stitutions and laws, is, that there is no
aristocracy amongst us-not even an ar
istocracy Of wealth. An aristocracy cam
not exist without peculiar and exclusive
privileges and rights, recognized, sanction
ed, and upheld by law. There cannot be,
in this country, even confedefacy or
combination among the rich men 10
acquire peculiar privileges. They have
none to defend. There is no clanship, no
esprit de corps among them. They are
not like the hereditary mobiles of Europe
whose names are enrolled in heraldic
colleges, set apart from The rest of man.
kind, designated by titles, marked by
badges of honor, bound together by inter-
marriages, by a commonly Of interests
and of feelings, distinct order in the
state nothing of all this, and they are as
mutable besides as the notes that float in
the summer air. Death is ever busily at
work in dismembering all overgrown for
tunes. Misfortunes, too-and, alas they
occasionally rain thick and fast, and do
their part in the ceaseless work Of distribu-
tion. The rich man of to-day is the poor
man of tomorrow.
And, while, from these causes, multi
tudes are passing out, thousands are, in
the land, passing into tins charmed circle /;
for, those who commenced life with no
sjnheritance but poverty, are usually the
Individuals that rise to Affluence. If a
li1a could be drawn between the two
class, at any given moment, and then
five ydQrs pass away, doubt whether
the smaller portion could no, be recog.
nized ae The same. Hundreds and huns
dreds would be found TO have changed
places %4na 10 speak Of clan of men
thus constituted as an aristocracy: is as
sound and sensible philosophy as TO point
TO the insects of summer as the emblems
of eternity.
Yes, ye laborers, there Is no land like
yours. 1t is yours 10 possess, to enjoy.
Here is fair field for all 10 labor, in
whatever vocation they please, and the
rewards of diligence are amPle and Sc
cure. There is not an avenqe % wealth
or distinction which is closedIxnot a post
unaiiainable. There is no ground for
any hostility or unkindness Of fdellABe be-
tween the rich and tho laboring classes,