The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-06-02

worthy because he is . maa-And becaus
be promotes that which Is fund nental /,
the advancement Of society Nor can an,
one doubt the impor lance Of self-cuIture i
that class. II may be that The workingma,
Is andistinguis he'd -obsenBed By his posi-
ton and must always remain so. That al
men are TO be distingu 4hed--and great, no
one can reasonably i'm aglne, and yet where
ever you Gad human nature, that which
makes man, you And elements Of greatness
The werkingman has intellect, judgment
conscience; is capable Of Affect ion, sympathy
love, can exercise fancy, imag nation, per
ceive the grand, the beautiful, as well as tn
statesman, the philosopher or student; wha
be wants is inward acknowledgements
and he viii be prepared to put forth out
ward influence Of the highest character.
The farmer to be farrner-the mechanic
to excel-the artizan to rise to high distinc
ton in his department must each exercis,
the selfsearching and self-forming power
These faculties are what distinguish mar
from the bFntes-without them self-cultur,
would be impossible. Every man must lool
within himself, see who and what he is hi.
his capacities, susceptibilities; what he needs
then act on himself, and determine charac
ter and destiny.
of course this selfealture implies cult
vation Of the intellect. The mechanic anc
agriculturist need mental strength-a, ume1
as much as others-need 70 acquire power Of
concentration, of attention Of thought on spe
cIfic objects be able to investigate comp. :,
subjects, relations, reduce to elements, fron
particulars; deduce universal principles
laws. That is what makes philosophers
and there is no man bet should be phil
osopher more or less.
Still what is most needed is practica
knowledge-that tendency that will give
utility to all requirements. Like Newtor
lead % detect in the fall Of an apple the grea
lay that binds in harm )ny-controls til,
whole vast outward creation. Others has
seen the same thing For ages men haC
blindly acted on it-but he alone detected
drew it forth to human observations hi,
name stands immortal. One man sees things
as separate, diSjointed in fragments, anctho
as one grand whole Men and especially
workngmen are 50 absorbed in small details
that they sometimes grow unstable; are Xix,
children who turn from one thing to an
other. What they want is something broad
permanent, something established, fixed
that alone is found only by culture. TO &c
at fundamental axioms, principles-laws--
thus to build up strength OF intellect, is tn,
greatest dignity q mankind, and the work
ngman Is not deprived this high privilege
He only needs to feel his want and act
That al self-cultura- should be practical j.
seen Fl ON the fact that 1t fits men for &C
ton. In all common affairs men are con
stsntly piled with opportunities for exertinl
themselves in some useful way. There are
however, emergencies-hours Of trial, of dif
fculty-peril. The practical man will pos
ssss fruitfu!ness Of resources that will en-
able him to adapt himself to the demand.
Of every hour as no one else can.
There is q sense, perception Of beauty il
all mankind Its germs are in every soul
No one principle within US is more suscept
ible of cultivation. Nor is there any on
influence, power, 80 instinct with the liy
ing fire and Vehemence Of progress. 1t il
improving taste refined cultur e-more ex
quisite sense Of the dignity, grandeur OF per
fiction that breaks up the stupefaction-
blind torpor Of the past, and sets men il
motion for better things. ALI art, invention
discovery, come from thence. Now tn
workingman is as susceptible here as an.
class whatever; and why we speak Of thi
IS because however difficult it may be 70
the laboring masses to get into large libra
ries-come in contact with literary foun
tains, etc, they are always in contact witt
nature. There is not day but they maj
look out upon the wonders in creation tn,
faE travelling magniicence-grandeur, dis
played in the vast temple Of the visible
world, see the gimpsing gIories Of the risini
Or setting sun-the vast noontide SPLENDID
see the blushing rose, the yiolets, ange
smile, and the lily paved with the ambe
and the pearl. The proud earth, the glori
Gus sky with more than miracles Of art
greet all continually with exquisiteness 0
workmanship Of divlnest skill Let tn,
workingmen study nature-cultivate hi
powers by scanning It's models Of excellence
and he will grow inventive, creative strong
To get at this c'ilture-to advance in prac
teal, useful knowledge men must be il
earnest. They must cultivate, resolution o
purpose. twill not come through indiffer
ence, hstfessness or idleness. Thousand
have opportunities but neglect them have
the means but do not en- ploy them.
TRA nEGs WrNWnNS WMW