The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-09-27
The Problem: Of Work, :

j lie, Ueu1OCTatS Ol tue ANVILuS au0 thc,
late rebels Of tho South, who cannot
gracefully submit to tho conqueror, are
telling mahy stories about the idea the
negro has Of Freedom, to wit: exemption
from work, and to be fed at Uncle Sans
expense. .:.-. ">~5'' = -
As to the feeding he has received from
the United States since the surrender Of
Gen. Lce,. We have published abundant
evidence showing that fur moro Of this
Government charity has been dealt out
to tho whites than to the blacks, and that,
too, in spite Of the fact that the whites
own the whole Southern country, while.
the negroes own nothing. +
To illustrate what they would have US
understand as to the negro's idea offree.
dom, tho Southern press publish the re.
ply Of the negro on being told that be
was " rs free as the mule in that dray,"'
to wit: "Oh no, that mule ain't Jrcc,
for he has to uork" This reply was q
very natural one under the circuustan-
ces Of the ucgro's education. They
have been brought up, to believe that
work is the special mission Of the slaves
and the servile classes. They have sup.
posed that freedom was only the boon
Of tho rich who could either; own nc.
grocs or hire "poor whites" to do their
work, and it is to bc expected that the
more thoughtleSs Of them would believe
that freedom was to bring exemption from
labor. Their former masters have no
reason now to complain if the false doc.
triuc they have taught on this subject
should =" return to plague the inventor"
The war conquered that abominable idea
when it conquered sluyery and Southern
philosophy. 1t will tnkc brief time to.
reconcile both the aristocracy who never
worked, and thought it degrading to
work, and tho lato slaves. also, to the
Northern idea that work is the first duty
Of all mon and women, that it is enjoin'
ed by tho first commandment given on
high, ,~"in the sweat Of thy face shalt
thou eat bread" and by the teaching of
the greatest Of the apostles she thatwill
not work neither shall.he eat" Nine
tcuths Of the slaycs doubtless knew bet.
ter than their masters taught them, and
fully understood that work is the bust.
ness Of all freedmen, while under the
Shareholders philosophy it is not the
business Of respectable people, nor, in:
deed, Of any one else except as he is
driven to it by the lash. . .'.."
Wo think the slaves will far more read.
lily than the whites accept the truth on
this subject and adapt themselves to the
new order; and the fact that they ask
fewer rations. from tho. Government
proves thu. FREQ institutions are moro
col genial to the blacks than to their late
m astors and those who have, felt them
selves too good % work. -. :.
The Northern Democrat and his south
cru coadjutor in this crusade against tho
negro, because he isfree, may quiet their
fears, for the respcctability,- OF work, as
the duty of all men, must prevail every
where in this country. The truth on
this SUBJECTS mighty, to-wit: that every
man shall work to be respectable; that
no extent of gentcel education con ex'
cmpt him from this preliminary duty;
that no amount Of wealth can excuse one
from stirring himself in this busy world
and contributing his share in sustaining
the great system Of things in which he
exists. No one who is able bodied and
nble minded can plead any excuse what:
soever for abstsinins from work. 1t is
necessary to enable him to "pay as he
goes" for what he consumes, and save
him from the ill fame Of livins$as q
spoDge upon the industry Of Others: If,
however, mnu finds, utter he has pass
I'd middle life. that he has done. more
than his fair share Of work, and by such
extra diligence has laid up q sufficient
store, he onn venture to beg pardon Of
mankind for taking life more at loose
eDds for the balance Of bis days J. r.
This is the Northern idea-that no
man shall live in the world as if:he were
of no use; and the useless man better l!
translate himself to some other sphere,
than persist in clogging the wheel OF
progress. This idea triumphed win
the old flag, and it is the principal; one
to which the people Of tho South ofboth
races haze to adjust themselves. We
shall. watch the progress Of the Two clus.
ses in learning this, to them, strange
gospel, with interest, to sce.whieh is tho
more apt and willing to learn, the white
or the black man: In tho NJ oantiuc tho
people of the North. are anxious to help
them both, till they shall BIO fully able
to help themselves. .,,:. 4,,s,.::.l. /,