The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-02-04
Che Casol1lst.
For The Cecil Wing.
'ThG NGYId Owes nc a Living"

How often we hear this expression. an(
We see men rcsortng to all kinds of eXpe
dicnts to obtain living without work every
power Of their natures is taxed to devise some
plan by which, without the performance OF
any Of the employmcnS usually embraced in
the term ldbor-mauual or intcllcctual-they
may make a livelihood. No business is too
low or degrading for them, 50 it answers the
purpose. This we see all around us, in its
high and low forms. High and low, | say,
because there are pursuits which arc acknowl-
edged by a great majority Of the people as
morally wrong, and there are those which are
looked on by equally as large number of
pcrSonS-thUsc who do not investigate very
closely into things--as all right Principal
among the higher modes is speculations, in
all its varied forms.
This thing Of trying to avoid labor. is a
growing one: the professions are crowded
with men of second and third rate talent and
the means by which men and women are cor
rnpted and destroyed are becoming almost
| innumcrablc.
| That many persons have so narrow an idea
OF the purpose OF their creation as to think
that the world does really owe them living
is a fact indiSputablc. They entertain the
| idea that the world is place without an
owner; that they are responsible for thcil
actions to no higher authority than that OF
man, and are only amcanabe to that because
they cannot help it,-that they have right
to, and are determined they will, have money
by any means; provided, that in the pursuit
| thereof they do not come within the pale OF
human law. Perhaps some may doubt that
there are many persons who entertain such
views. To all such ] say look at the conduct
Of people around you, and actions spral,
| louder than wOrlS.'' Mems conduct is gen
orally governed by their real faith. 1t is nc
denial Of this that persons profess one thing,
and practise anOthgr their professions are
| only aSsUncd.
That the world owes no man a living, fun
| tier than he earns it, is easily proven: and
that man is entitled TO nothing, but what he
| gets by fair and honest means, is equally as
easily proven. On the contrary, man is the
debtor: he is depended On the laws OF nature
for everything, even the breath h. draws.
Any business in which there is not an
equivalent rendered for what is received, is a
dishonest one. Viewed in whatever light i,
may be. there is no diSputog this. 1t is no
rcfntation to say that the article can be pro
cured no where else for less price; it only
| shows there is a combination to cXtort.
know this is a broad and sweeping assertion
| but it is one that is proved by reason and is
taught from the beginning to the end of the
| Bible, and is one Of the main principles in all
true religion. No man has a right to ask a
| price for his merchandise or labor that will
cause suffering to his fellow men no right to
offer iorsIIc indiscriuinatcly an article which
by its use, will produce misery and disgrace.
Though it may not be punishable by human
law, it is by Divine decree.
1t is the province Of man to labor; and it i,
also one Of the beautiful laws Of nature that
he shall receive due compensation. And he
| only is MAN, in the true sense OF the word
who gets his living hy the pursuit Of honest
and honorable labor, either manual or intel,
| lrciull X