The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-01-24
NUMBER 4.
The Working Men.

his nation owes everything to her working
men. ldlcrs, men of leisure or drones. have
been an incubus, which must have held her
back and ruined her, but for the powerful in
tellects, the stalwart arms and the enterprise
o, OF our WORKING men. They are the true nobi-
i1ty OF the land, whose wise counsels, untiring
industry and indomitabe energy, have pushed
her forward with giant strides amopo the matt.
ons OF the earth. In this classification We
include men Of all work whether il he the
labor OF the intellect or the physical man.
Degradation of position does not nb.re ncces.
sarily to either class. The man who lahoy.
with his hands, or delves and tolls under tbo
pressure OF manuel labor is as much q man.
nay as much gentleman, other thibas beiBs
equal, as the man who labors with lis mind
closed in from the burning rays Of sun or
sheltered from the chill winds and rains of
id-wintcr.-Both are working men. and ara
equals, If they be men of sound principles and
virtuous habits; or both are equal if alike doyra
ded by vicious conduct.
The conventional and irrational rules Of
society, unsound as it has become, we know.
make distinctions where there is no difference:
stamping with honor and position men who
belong to that class of working men, whose
employmcnts are intellectual, and too often
branding with disgrace those who labor with
their hands, and from whose brow fows thu
sweat of toll. But who does not sec tho
injustice and basencss of this Does the yoca-
ton OF a doctor, a lawyer, merchant, possess.
any intrinsic exceency per &C. over the yoca-
ton Of a mechanic ! We think not. All are,
essential to lie we-bcing of society, and eoually,
so-yet superior wealth have raised the one.
while the lack of these have depressed the.
the other. Yet the poor aborer is more.
important hXture, IN some respects, than either.
OF the others.-His hands feed and clothe and.
provide the conveniences and luxures of life
ior them. Without him, time and means would
be denied them for the pursuit Of knowledge OK.
wealth Indeed, if there be wealth and inteli:
gence and happiness and prosperity in the land,
we owe it to that class of men who are not too
lndolent or too much ashamed to obey the d.
vine command, to work with their own hands
Every man should work. His own health
and virtue, and happiness, and the good of
society, demand it. Labor in no sense is de-
grading But there are disabilities connected
with manuel labor which often lead to dee7a
dation and rnn. Men whose lot or choice
may be to engage in the mechanical or agri--
cultural pursuits, should be placed in positions
in early life to acquire intelligence, to receive
the bias and bent of virtuous education. so as.
to fit them to take positions in society, uhicEa
they can righttully claim, because of their essen
tlal Importance to mankind. Intelligence and
virtue are as precious in the rude sailor, the
black smith, the shoemaker, the tailor, and all
other laboring men, as in the more privileged
walks of life ; and these should cntite mechan-
les to positions of honor and influence, and as
any other living men. Let the working men ef
the land look to these objects, and labor to
promote them.