Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-21

AA'0''' y. Aoser, Il. Colder and keutz were ad-
mitted to citizenship
LABOR, TIE BASIS OF NATIONAL
WEALTH The secret of American prosperity
is found in the fact, that an immense majority
OF the people Of this country belong to the
iaoor'ng classes. This laboring class is BY no
means confined to those who toll for their daily
bread. at SO much per day. but it includes .
large class Of those who are Independent in
wealth, who own farms. estates and pr ,perty Ct
their own, and labor, like their employ ess. with
their own hands. This regard for labor. which
elevates 1t to its true dignity. by placing en-
ployer aud employees upon the same level. is
found In no other country on the globe. 80 that
here almost the entire population is composed
OF that Democratic equality in labor move
ments. which excludes the formation Of an ex.
elusive aris:ocracy Of non producers. to eat out
the substance and become pensioners upon the
labor Of the country, as is the ease in Great
Britain. THE dignity of labor ,s therefore fully
recognized. This also inspires feeling Of con-
tempt in the public mind, towards those who
neglect or refuse to enter into industrial pur-
suits. which in measure ostracises them from
the public regard. The laboring classes are
therefore the most intelligent, upright. PROF.
perons and digni6ed of ell men in this Repub-
lie, and produce wide spread prosperity.
that reaches down to the lowest depths of hu-
man society. with an elsvating power that
produces inevitable regenerati and reforma.
tion. Ia England, labor is menial and undig-
nifed pursuit, and the laboring classes are re-
garded as tac property and under stratum of
the aristocracy, necessary to its support. but
disqualified for social, political or personal
rights. with those who boast of gentle blood
Here, the farmer and his employees swing their
sythss in company. each feeling the dignity of
labor and the equality Of men. Here the man.
ufacturer is the best workman in the establish
msnt. and personally supsriutends the labor of
bis business So in almost every pursuit Of
life. None but q small class of nincompoops
are ashamed of the soiled hand and vigor ous
muscle of the laboring man. Each feels him
self peer Of the proudsst, whether employer
or employee. Hence the Nation is Nation of
taborers. and prosperity, happiness and wealth
attend every pursuit in life, and producers out.
number ron-producers as nine to one.
A nation of lsborers ia self.sustaining and
Independent of all foreign assistance 1t is not
dependent on commerce for its prosperity, if
the departments of labor are rightly adjusted
and evenly distributed. In . new country
like our own. this nicely adjusted balance is al
most impossible. The agricultural pursuits
aud production. will prepondsrate over the
manufacturing interests. creating a surplus of
productions for the emp. oyment of commerce
If the producing classes could be equal to and
not greater than the manufacturing and other
classes, 90 that productions would be REQUIRED.
exchanged and consumed at home, and manu-
factories should be just equal to the supply OF
manufactured articles, commerce would dwin.
die into insign6cance, and the United States
might initiate China, abandon commerce for
want Of surplus articles for expectation. and
our people would become absolutely independ-
ent in every department Of business. But we
cannot expect to arrive at that deeirable inde-
pendence, SO long as the vast facilities for pro-
ftable production employ . large majority of
the people in producing an immense surplus
above the consumption. This surplus must
be exported for that which we need, and
which we do not produce at home. If We
could adjust labor SO as to supply all the vsr-
led wants of the nation from industrial pur.
suits within the country, there would still be
surplus for the employment Of commerce in
expectation, and specie would then flow into
the country in exchange
We shall ultimately attain that sublime con-
dtion of National independence, when our
productions will be 80 varied as to supply
every want, and the surplus be exported In
exchange for cash. Such division Of labor
would complete perfect National indepesd
ence. We have the territory. the soil, the cli-
mate and means and material for such des;-
rable cousummation.
In Eugland, the manufacturing interests have
become the all.absorbing business Of the Nation
and the expectation of Manufactured articles in
exchange for the importation of raw materials
and productions. create and sustain powerful
commercial trade, drawing specie iato England
and enrichipg the capitalists and the Nation,
without elsvating labor or improving the con.
dition Of the laboriog classea England's
strength is in her manufactories; our strength
10 10 our lAborere, who create productions for
exchange. Therefore, labor in America 10 hon.
orahle while in ENGLAND it in Damned