Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-09-22
Improvement Among wOrklnEmen


We find in the late foreign news4briefal
usions to recent congress of the German
working classes, held at Frankfort, 70 CON.
slider the means for their own elevation
and the Improvement of their condition
The fact OF such convention, uumerously
attended, and sensible and enlarged
views proclaimed by these wOrkingmen of
the proper means to be used for their own
improvement and elevation, increase Our
admiration of the German character. We
fear that the workipgmen of the United
States, as body, although their means of
cultivation are much greater than those of
their German brethren, are not up even to
the appreciation of the aim and spirit Of
this Frankfort meeting. The German work
iugmen passed resolutions as to the i'm
portance of perfecting their knowledge in
all directions, not only in all that pertains
to the occupation of each man, but in po-
litical economy, morals, history and tech
nology; recommending to the various local
societies the cultivation of the higher
amusements and tastes, which would tend
to exclude all habits of debauchery; sdvis.
ing the establishment of savings bauks,mu-
tual societies to aid the sick and unfortu-
nate,aud mutual loan aud fund associations.
They also agreed to cooperate for the re-
moyal of the burdensome restrictions upon
the trades and professions. The Frankfort
papers speak in high praise of the dignity
aud intelligence marking the proceedings
Of this convention, and seem TO be aston-
ished to find their working classes capable
of such demonstration.
The workingmen of this country finish
their education in the public schools, and
after they become apprentices the nsWspa-
per aud the cheap novel constitute their
intellectual food till they arrive at man
hood and assume the responsibilities of q
family, which thereafter engross the time
not occupied In their daily work. Intel
lectual culture does not absolutely stop
when the boy leaves school, for there is
stimulus to thought in the daily newspaper
aud the topics of general conversation, and
education after sort goes on. But how
rarely dove find in young American ap-
prentice or workman the ambition for exact
scientific knowledge manifested by these
German workingmen. II our Young men
could be inspired with such high ambi-
ton, and would but devote to solid mental
cultivation but ous.h half the time now daily
devoted to frivolous or pernicious amuse-
ments, they would find in it~amPle satis
faction and reward. The intelligent and
scientific artisan is always in demand, and
never before has there been 80 wide and
rich'a field opened for skin, intelligence
and enterprise as now. In the evenings
of a single winter an apprentice may OBJ
tain such an acquaintance with drawing
practical mathematics, surveying, nayiga.
ttou. civil engineering, or architecture. a
will give him better position and bettel
pay all his life. And Il he has the industry
and application to go on and master th'
scientific ,knoEledge. connected with hi
profession the best positions in II are opei
70 him. No young man, NO apprentice, NJ
common day laborer, shoald be satisdet
with plodding mediocrity. High success
depends on the faithful cultivation of ones
own powers, aud in this country, Wher,
books and all4hs1msa1so oof -Sducation Ar
cheap and common, no yeung man haI
an excnse for failure 70 make the most o
himself