The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-03-06

OF MS mental power, wes as n matter OF
course, 10 corresponding degree lessen
his physical labor. To sustain ihis po-
siiion, / need only refer 10 the various tri-
umphs OF mind over matter, IN The appli-
cation OF wind. water and steam, as sub
slitute for the labor Of man; for how
much commerce would there be 10 bless
mankind, II our own backs for lane car.
riage, and the strength Of bur arms applied
10 the paddle and oar for water carriage,
were all the means Of loccmotion which
we possessed
Although Il may be true that many Of
the great labor-saving machines Of the
day were invented by men who were not
practically connected with dhe branch OF
labor sought 10 be benefited by the appli-
cation Of their inventions, by men Of sci.
enti6c requirements and comparatively
men OF leisure, | regard this as no reason
why the laborer should not be educated !;
but, on the contrary. when we consider the
manifest inpcrfeciion OF nearly every la
bor.saying machine in use, Il appears 10
me the best proof that can be offered that
the laborer should be an educated person,
for who can be so well qualified. or possess
so great opportunities for inventing ma.
chimes and processes to tighten and facil-
itate labor, or to suggest improvements 10
those already in use, as the person who
is practically engaged In that particular
branch Of labor, and who daily witnesses
the imperiection OF the machine under his
hand, or is constantly feeling the want Of
some new machine or process to tighten
and facilitate his labor, providing his mind
is stored with the necessary scientific at
tainments ? What man would undertake
TO run steamship across the Atlantic,
without having previously studied. the
art Of navigation Who would think Of
trying 10 construct locomotive steam
engine, or undertake to run one on the
road, without previous knowledge Of
the machinist's art, ,and some understand.
ing oil Mechanics and Engineering |
think you are oil ready 10 respond that
, no one, unless fool or madman, would
undertake TO DO it. Just so, only in less
degree,in regard TO running all machinery,
and Agricultural machines are no excep-
ton TO the rule. In fact. in the use Of The
simplest. implement. and the most common
process Of every day labor, the educated
laborer possesses decided adyantage.--
He understands the principles involved 10
,, process or machine; be knows when Il tis
right and when it is wrong, without wait
,, ing for results, and, when machine fails
10 perform what he expects Of it, win, a,
glance. detect The difficulty, and, from
bis knowledge of Mechanics, be able, 81
once. TO suggest the proper remedy.
Many an agricultural Implement, in Il
self perfect, or nearly so. has been con
!, demned. simply because those attempting
to use i. possessed no knowledge Of Me
! chanics, and the attempt was made TO ac
complish that which the machine wa
J never intended to perform. or in man
ner il was never intended TO act. Every
department OF labor, from the highest &
/, the lowest; from the simplest 10 The
most complicated from peeling the po
tatoes for dinner to making the confec-
tioncrv !: from mixing the mortar for q
wall to blending the colors OF the artist
from digging the earth with q sharpened
stick to running steam plow and terra
cullor from making fence-stake 10 the
manufacture Of theodolite; from erect
ing a log-cabin TO the construction ol
+ 81. Peters; from making the log ''dug,
OUT Of the Western trapper to building
the magnificent Great Eastern ;---in short
in every walk Of labor, science is neces-
. sary to tighten the task and insure sue
!, cess.
4 Again, It Is urged that the lnborer i
/; coarse, uncoulh and vulgar; that th'
q refnemenla Of life are unknown to him.
!. This am not ready to admit. But, eveI
i il il is so, where is the wonder ? With nj
n pains taken 10 educate him, how coul,
4 anything better be expected9 Give 4
!. the laborer the education bis position de
s serves, and all of his yulgarity viii b
found to have passed away. True, b.
n deals with stern realizes his hands ant
4 garments, and not unffequenily his face
!. are begrimmed With dirt. Such thing
/. are unavoidable, but show me the edu
! Gated laborer, and, although as sooty a
4 the Cyclops OF Vulcan, ! viii show you
! laborer who is gentleman. and when hi
q hour Of relaxation from labor arrives, and
h cleansed from the grease and dirt Of th
|. shop, the mill or the farm, he is takinI
3 his ease by his fireside. in the bosom 0
/. bis family, or when be joins the social cir
e Gle, his perfect ease OF manner, and grace
4 and intelligence Of conversation. show mos
d conclusively that he Is one of Nature
!. aobisnsen,
Il The need Of an education for the Ia
10 bcrer having been shown, the queslio
y very naturally arises, how shall il be oh
ID tanned? In the frst place, allow me /
m point to our common schools as one OF ih
le most efficient means of obtaining an edu
IS cation by the mass OF the laboring poT
,e ulaiion. II they were rightly conducted
20 and patronized as they should be, ou
q. common schools could and would flrnis
at to the young and rising generation all III
education that is necessaryi but, for thos
who have LEFT the school for the MOI
active duties Of jhe workshop and III
! farm, such an education as they requil
o. mus; be sought mostly in books. Ii
o. very true that such associations as this !,
le yours are calculated 20 perform greI
o. deal, and may be rendered powerful ii
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