The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-13

So. AuneFtCNA
Nothing more stt6hgly marks the
q!istlncuon between England and the
United States than the differences In the
careers open to the most intelligent and
enterpr1stng members OF their working
classes. In England, a workmanI of
great mental endowments, exceptional
energy and unRssailable constitution
may, with rare good fortune, become
an employer of labor and a capitalist.
,d5eds Of Englishmen have risen from
the conc dition of artisans to be wealthy
manu- lecturers, contractors, or mef-
chants. But beyond the ACQUISITION of
wealth and thntsocial respect which ac-
comp panies the possession of &IOO, 600
the most successful British workmen
rarely venture to aspire. They do not
SO much as dream of rising to take
place among the governing classes, to
| hold office under administrations, to
sit in cabinets. Here and there an in
stance occurs where a. risen workman
in the scramble of general election Sc
cures a seat In the house of commons. !.
more rarely. still, cases occur where
lucky operatives become permanent
members of the lower house; but such
cases are so exceptional that they are
mentioned in good society as the
eccentFtc, freaks and noticeable Curl
BOsities OF, our social system, rath-
or than as atfairs of course
and as matters for congratulation. In
America, however, all is difTerent.-
! There, the highest offices of state are
not only within the reach of clever
Yorkmen, but we see risen workmen
filing them with dignity and perfect
efficiency, The last president of the
Union was a man who, in England,
would be fairly described, as having
''raised himself from the working class
es," aud who, had he lived all his DAYS
in England, might, after notable run
of prosperity, have become a chair
man of quarter sessions, but could
never; have risen to be a party chief in
he was succeeded by another risen
workman, who, having begun life as u
working tailor, has already proved him
self an able ruler of n great nation. To
Englishmer' who think that America is
only an insufferably vulgar England,
Andrew j Johnsont appears a grotesque
and altogether exceptional parsonage,
who, more through accident than by
design, has been placed over the heads
of his betters. To such persons it seems
incredible that Andrew johnson is the
representative and natural consequence
of a system in which the cultivated citi.
zens of the States cordially acuui-
esce; and that, instead of being n
singularly fortunate needleman, whose.
good luck is no indication of the oFCli-
nary course of events in America, he
can point to hundreds of his country
men, who, like himself, were workmen,
and are public men. In Congress and
State assemblies, in every department
of public service, and in the highest;
grades of. American. society, men
abound who began life as artisans and
craftsmen, and who, turning to good ac-
count the high wRgesand leisure which
labor can command in America, educa-
ted themselves to discharge the duties
of representative Americans. In this
country, the young mechanic who
should declare his desire and intention
to become a leading politician, would
be thought ripe for an asylum, In
America, young workmen not only
avowj such q purpose, without incur.
ring ridicu1e, but they often persevere
till their ambition closes in achieve
ment. Tofender themselves fit leaders
for their fellows is the constant aim of
these men, who may be called the
"flOwer 'oof the American working
'classes;" and though many of them fail
to accomplish their purpose, the bravest
and strongest of them triumph over ad-
verse circumstances, and win distinc-
ton amongst the orators, diplomatists
and statesmen OF their coIntry.-Lon7
don A thenRttNg, .-'.,, -s7 d. :,