The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-12
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR,

= Raleigh, October 19, 1854.
| "One of the happiest results to be produced
by these associations is the social revolution to
be effected, by the high position to which labor
is to be elevated; by investing it, in the public
mind, with that dignity to which it is Justly en-
! titled. So stubborn is the prejudice of habit
SO hard is it to efface the associations of past
! history, that for centuries manual labor has been
identified with degradation and vulgarity. Iu
the military governments that were established,
| from the very necessities of the times, on the
ruins OF the Roman Empire, aud but Of which
Originated the Feudal system, war was the great
occupation Of ChristenGom Out Of the Church,
mind was directed to its successful pursuits,
either for conquest or defence. 1t the only
passport to honor and power, the only road to
respectabllity. For several centuries, what are
| now known as the "learued professions" occu-
pied an humble position in the social scale
Law, medicine, and divinity were the targets at
which literary humor and baronial merriment
vented their jlbes and sarcasns The leech, the
attorney, and the priest were associated with
| conceit, cunning, 2enuriousness, and the graft
| ication of sensual appetites, in we'll stored
larders and we'll. filled cellars. Merchandise
regarded as the calling Of the ignoble- and the
avarcious. And, although in process of time,
these pursuits rose in dignity and importance;
progressive civilization, the saving of lite was
regarded as more useful than destroying it; when
the dissemination of purer faith extorted the
tribute of respect for its teachers; when the ac-
QUESTION Of wealth placed tho means of luxury
and enjoyment within the reach of its possessors
still, mere manual labor, honest, unpretend-
ing labor, agricultural and mechanical labor, has
continued to langush 10 o5scurity-the bye
word Of the fashionable and the ldle-the scorn
Of the purse proud and pretentious But, in
this respect, new 9ra is beginning to dawn
upon the world. The last quarter OF century
has done more to revolutonize public sentiment
on this subject, than the eighteen centuries
preceding, since the commencement of the
Christian aera. The diffusion of intelligence,
the operations of commerce, and the utilitaEian
tendency of the age, beginning to reach
mankind, that labor is the source of wealth and
prosperity; the means OF Individual comfort and
luxury, the basis OF national strength and great
ness. When we reflect, that the object Of our
association is to enlarge the field OF operation for
labor, to secure to labor the rewards Of its toll,
to stimulate it to still greater exertlons, and to
enable it to accomplish the greatest results, by
economising its powers, it is evident that the
effect must be to dignity, honor, and elevate
labor 1t is the laborcr, especially, that we in
vite and Welcome to our brotherhood. In our
own country, above all others, labor must be
destined soonest to reach its proper position
Our institutions recognize distinctions In 10
dustrial pursuits. The road to horror, to wealth
and to power, are open to all alike. The trainers
OF our institutions were true to the teachings of
past history. Not only the soldiers who fuug ht
revolutionary battles, but many Of their
heroic leaders were laboring men, artizans and
mechanics. Washington was land surveyor.
Green was blacksmith, Wayne was laboring
farmer, Morgan was wagon driver.
Our government, then, in its organic struc-
ture has done for labor all it could. 1t is for
voluntary association then, to elevate labor in |
the social scale. | am pandering to no spirit Of
political socialism, when I say, that have long |
thought society needed radical reformation in |
regard to the estimate placed on labor. Why |
should the laboriDg man be excluded from the |
saloons Of fashion, the hospitable board Of the
wealthy, the com panionship Of the great |
mean merely because he is laboring man ? |
Why is it that the young man VINO returns home
frou College, with education secured by the |
economical savings Of an industrious father, !
thinks it beneath his dignity to assist the father
in the routiLe Of his domestic occupations Or |
the young lady, whose accomplishments" have |
been paid for by the self. denial Of an indugent |
mother, thinks-it reproach to aid that mother |
in the discharge of the duties of dilgent |
house wife? 1t is because public opinion is all
wrong in associating labor with degradation.
Why is this ? Labor is the first great law of |
nature. Nature herself is a great workshop, |
where chance, renovation, and development are
constantly going on. Inspiration tells US that
the Great Author of all things crested from his |
abors' on the seventh day. The Redeemcr of |
the world was known as the carpenters SON.
and it is thought by most biblical critics that he
worked at the same trade until he entered on his
great ministerial mission. The great Apostle of
the Gentiles was tent maker; and all the Wis
dom received a: the feet of Gamael did not
make him ashamed Of his calling. And, yet,
strange to say, how many there who profess
the religion of the Saviour and his Apostles who
think it degrading to associate, even around the
altar with artisans and laborers, whose very
hands may have reared the temple in which they
worship?
How little do the sons and daughters of ex-
travagance, of luxury and of ease, reflect, that
after ALL it is to the mechanic, the artizan, the
laborer, they are indebted for the means Of their
enjoyment How seldom do they think Of the
poor pittance of wages received, and the psngs
of penury and want endured by those to whose
toll, ingenuity and skill they are indebted for
the sumptuons viands On which they regale their
appetites, or the costly habiments in which
they deck :ber persons The Lurse proud coz
comb, who treads on downy carpets, does not
reflect that they are the product of the loom of
the humble weaver-fashianed into beauty aud
softness by bis industrious hand, whilst bis
children were crying around him for bread
The gay and beartless female votary Of fashion,
who identifies labor with vulgarity, does not 10.
feet that the costly gossamertracery Of iaces
and nsedle-work, in which she faunts through