The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-12

.THE LABORING CLASSES.
No one necessity is greater, Of g-.nder,
more digniHed consequence than the eleva-
ton and Improvement Of the laboring class
throughout this vast Northwest as well as
all parts OF the country. There is much
talk about Labor-its necessity, ils useful
ness. lis fundamental Gvalues. What Is
wanted is, that the laboring classes should
come u comprehend themselves; that they
should get insight into their vocation, - call
ing,-understand and realize their place in
the social state, aud rise to il. The day is
past, thank Goo, never to return, when it
was deemed advisable that knowledge should
be kept from the laboring classes. II is truly
astonishing this shoulG ever have been the
case, when it is remembered how much So
ciety is indebted ~ the laboriEg classes for
some Of the eranoest improvements inven-
tons that have started new progress and
shed new light on human affairs. Labor has
values. 1t creates the earth into fruitful
ness, adorns it with beauty. But man has
a nature various, cared for in every respect.
The laboring classes TO be Efficient and sue
cessful must have culture. Outward com
fort and ornament are not sufficient. There
is such a thing as force, energy, power Of
will, strong courage, persistsncy, capacity
to do anu dare. With physical toll there
must be joined steady meditation, mental
effort. The lsboring man has intellect, judg-
ment, taste, an. imagination as well as those
devoted TO mental pursuits. The life Of the
lsboring Tlasses should altel. te between
severe physical toll and those exercises that
quicken and brighten his nature as an intel
lectual, responsible being No one thing so
distinguishes civilized from savage life as
division Of labor. While the latter by va
ricty OF occupations sharpens the faculties,
the former has in instances became q mo
notonous round BY confning the individual
10 single detail. To have true existence,
TO attain truly proportional life, occupations
must correspond 10 the variety Of human
faculties. There is and can be 40 true sys-
TEN Of labor established on any other foun-
dations. This opens the whole subject Of
the eievs ion and culture of the laboring
classes, hich We do not now intend so fully
to discuss as perhaps hereafter, and its le-
gitmacy and necessity. The laboring classes
want outward good, as do all. They also
want derth, force Of thought, new strength
Of purpose, and generosity of feeling. To
think is the great duty Of man. 1t is the
duty of the i4boser as much as of the phi
losopher and not merely to think, but to
,hink with energy Thought, intelligence,
and 70 think clearly and iorcibly, that - ~ Z
dignity and grandeur of man This is as
needful to the laborer as for all. To work
toll with success-man must first think
truly. I".ellectual acumen, force and
strength, is what gives true elevation. La
Dor, when penetrated VITA that becomes a
new thing. As the practical farmer quick
ems bis powers by acquisition Of the sci
ence Of chemistry, as the mechanic comes
to comprehend the mect anic powers-the
laws Of motion-with new sense Of utility
and beauty, what quickening Of life ap-
pears, and dc -otion for good.
We want the laboring classes to gain
knowledge Of the principles and laws Of
mind to acquire philosophy study history;
the application of science to the arts to
get culture, mental concentration, enlarge
ment, depth, energy, proportion and force
to become skilled and creative; TO contem.
plate reason, its elements and its relations
to get in communion with great ideas un-
derstsnd the harmony Of thought, new char.
acter, Of dignity, grandeur, and new wisdom
beauty will shine and society from darkness.
will grow radiant with loneliness. There
will be new life, Advancement, and elevation
All special interests will intensity and
brighten, and there will come grand aug
mentstion- dIstinguishment of the public
veal. The general interest, the fortunes Of
each and all will be more effectually pro-
NOTED. To accomplish so great and desr-
able result, there must be some public or.
gan Of communication. through which classes
to be benefited can be reached. The WoRK-
INGMAA's ADVOCATE aims TO occupy
that position. While it has done
something, it has jast starte5 or
its mission. 1t is proposed to add to its in,
terest, to quicken it, to intensity and bright
en- its pages, to give variety to its columns
10 add to the value Of its instructions, BY
solid articles on the dignity and necessity Of
labor, its practical relations, the part it acts
and is to act IN building up, intensifying
and ri, ing just proportion to the great so
cial life. In order to do this there IS need
that the laboriDg classes give it their sup.
port. No laboring man but will assent thai
The interest Of the laboring classes here
about demand just such a paper. But to
build paper requires patronage. If il was
all built up and established, crowning sue
cess, with q reputation enabling 1t to defy
all competition, Why, then, Ill would be easy
Everybody would lave it whether asked to
subscribe or not. But what is most needed
what is most magne. .lmous and noble, is tc
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