Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-07-15
rHE nIGNIrY on LARoR.

To be sure no man is worthy of respect mere
ly because he labors. Bad men labor. No
more is a man respectable because he does not
labor. Bad men live without labor. And yet,
other things being equal, the man who labors
is better than he who labors not do not speak
of labor of any one kind. And yet it is un-
doubtedly beneficial to every man to labor
physically part of the time at least. In this
country of democratic institutions we profess
to believe in the dignity of labor. And yet
there is everywhere tendency, more or less
strong, to elevate the man who does not labor
above the man who does. This is not right
The rich man ought not to live in idleness.
Many rich men are the hardest workers we
have. And they owe their true worth not to
their money, but to their tolls. They, as well
as others, have the experience of true labor,
and their character is formed partly by this ex-
perience.
There is a tendency to make distinctions
among different kinds of labor, placing some
species above others. And indeed kind of
labor which does not promote the common well
fare ought not to be esteemed respectable. Ev-
cry man is bound to do what he can to help So
ciety onward and upward. A kind of bust
ness which tends to injure society, to make men
worse than they would be otherwise is not fit to
be followed. 1t is true moreover that some
species of labor are of higher grade than 9TH
ers, because they require longer preparation,
and larger use of the intellectual powers
Therefore they command a more abundant re-
muneration. Thus the mechanic ranks above
the common laborer, and the professional man
above the mechanic. But, notwithstanding all
this there is no difference in the real respecta-
bility of men who labor in any honest callings
and with equal faithfulness. If the common
laborer is faithful, and intent upon his own i'm
provement he is as worthy of regard as anybody
else. His station may be humble indeed. But
he will adorn that station. He will elevate it.
The style of society in which all honest labor
is done by freeman who are virtuous and lntelli-
gent is far above that style in which certain
kinds of labor are performed only by slaves
One of the points which American civilization
is striving to establish is the respectability and
dignity of labor We are fighting Just now
against slavery, or that doctrine which teaches
that labor is fit to be done only by degraded
race of slaves. Our doctrine is that all honest
labor is the fit employment of freemen.
Probably the greatest fault of the laboring
people of our country lies in the want of intel
lectual ambition. Many hard workers are con-
tent to live without seeking mental discipline.
They do not care TO read and learn, consequent
ly the few who have true ambition rise above
the region of their employments into something
higher Let a true ambition for improvement
pervade all classes, and we shall find the whole
fabric of society elevated. And to this, it is to
be hoped, we are coming. We have made great
advances already in this direction. Our labor
ers are far above those of the European coun-
tries. And the style of our civilization is APP
preciated. When the tide of emigration sets
back, and begins to flow from this country to
Europe then we may begin to think that the
idea of the dignity of labor does not commend
itself to the people.
1t behooves us, however, to give the laborer
his due consideration. He who works faithful
ly and intelligently in his avocation, however
humble it is, if he be honest and worthy, is en-
titled to the highest respect. B.