The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-10-20
Working Men.

men, so-called are circumscribed within the
sphere of the mechanical trades and the labor
ing class, technically so-called. The exclu-
sion Of all the professions and other pursuits
of life in our civilization, from the class called
working men, because forsooth, they do not
labor with the AK, the hammer, and the 9TH
er tools used in strictly manual operations,
discloses a very contracted view Of the legit-
mate meaning of the term.
Not only so, but it has become a favorite
theme to attribute to the class of so-called
working men, we'll nigh all the evidences of
refinement and progress which characterize
our civilization This hattery of the class to
which it is designed exclusively to refer is
prompted by various motives which we have
not at the present the time to examine Our
only object in referring to the subject is to en-
ter our protest against the loose manner in
which the term working men is used, and the
limited number in society to which it is made
exclusively to refer. Society is really divided
into only two great classes, the working men
and the Id efS, or men Of leisure.
The first includes the three professions, law
physic and d.yinity;the school master, the mer-
chant, the agriculturist, the manufacturer, the
capitalist, the mechanic ,thelaborer and all otl-
er pursuits whatever which occupy the time,
the brain, or muscle of men whose position in
life renders the pursuit of some occupation ne
cessary to the procurement of subsistence; who
are not drones in the great social hive, hut
industrious workers, and contribute in their
degree to the well being, order, harmony,
progress and prosperity of the whole
These compose the working men of every
cline; and all who do not belong to this great
social brotherhood of laborers and workers, are
to be classed among the oilers and drones Of
society, who produce nothing and contribute
nothing to the general prosperity. Hence,
it will be seen that according to our view,
mechanics are not the only working men 10
this world OF ours. They are portion, and
q valuable portion, as every other portion is,
of the great body Of workmeu, who are all
linked together, in their diversified employ
ments, by common interest in the prosper-
ty of each and who, like the members of the
physical body, when one member or class
suffers, the others suffer with it,
The mechanics Vhorefore, are not exclusive
ly the working men, so-called. The profess
sional man, the statesman, the merchant, the
agriculturist, the manufacturer, the mariner,
the capitalist, are as truly and really working
men as they. All these and the others COM
bined, are the working men, and not any one
class of them. And it is this combined class,
working together towards the attainment ola
common object in their several spheres of ac-
ton, which has contributed to the present
attainments in social, political, Intellectual,
and material life, which characterize the pres
ent condition of society. When therefore we
read of the marble palaces, the magnificent
structures, the great cities, the trade, the COM
merce, the agriculture, the manufactures the
arts, the sciences, the intellectual culture, the
progress and improvement, the material pros
perity, which have been built up and accom-
plished by the working men, let us give to
that term more enlarged significance than
that in which it is vulgarly used not confu
ing it to single and exclusive class Of socie
ty, but to all the classes which are Justly
entitled to it-ever remembering that all are
working men in our social system, except the
cumberers and drones in the great social
hive-and that there is reciprocal Deepen
dence pervading the entire classes which can
not be disregarded without social crime.
To array class against class, is likely to
cause the same result that John Randolph
said would happen. The social pyramid can
not be made to stand upon It's apex. The
true interests and prosperity of all are to be
attained only by the forbearance, the harmony
and the united action ofal. The law is full
filled in one word. even this Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite
and devour one another, take heed that We be
not consumed one of one another.
The only contest which should ever be
waged, should be that carried on by the bees
the contest of the working men against the
social drones-thus fulfilling the Apostolic
declaration, that he who will not work should
not be allowed to eat the bread provided by
the sweat of the brow of others.
Cost of Dancing
A curious statement has been made of the