The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1866-12-15
The Nobility OF Labor.

hHlo1B wv ItN piun0i tH' nIlcslSi
soldiers and scholars we're distin-
guished by particular honorsj but
all professions, TO the mcancsl, had
their share in the public esteem. TO
dcspisc man whose labors, however
mean, was useful to the State, was
held TO be a crime.
There has been too much Of the
aristocrot displayed in political fnan-
cial and commercial circles in Vir-
ginia in years past. Mechanical
trades have been looked upon as
something beneath the ambition of
our young men, and when adversely
overlook the State, since our people
are forced to rely upon their own re-
sources instead Of hereditary fortunes
for a livelihood, we find any amount
of shingles stuck on streets of our
cities, with the names of individuals
thereon in bronze or gold, rs attor-
neys and counselors at law, whose
aspirations have thus led them to
make huge mistakes. The majority
of these would-be lawyers, doctors,
and we will add, editors and writers,
would make very good blacksmiths,
carpenters, masons or machinists, and,
in this sphere, they would become
real ornaments TO the society in
which they live. But they are i'm
bued, more or less, with the idea that
they belong to a higher order of
beings than mechanics or hard-work-
ing farmers and are making an effort
to gain a livelihood, perhaps honors,
in spheres for which they are wholly
untitled. They are aristoeratic, and
occupy pretended positions in life,
from which they look down upon the
greasy machinist with unfeigned con-
tempt. Under this pressure me-
chanical trades and agriculture in
Virginia have been kept down, and
we are forced to conclude that it is
about time the pressure was taken of.
We have studied history, and hunted
the records OF ancient and modern
times for some proof that contempt
for manual labor ever accomplished
anything but final ruin for n people
We have certainly failed in our ef-
forts, and, we repeat, it is time that
the pressure was taken of from labor
Under this regime, Virginia ha,
been held down, her mechanics and
laborers despised, until to-day, the
wealth OF the State consists in mis-.
erably conducted public works, half
= titled lands, unopened mines, ant
fawning politicians. Instead Of me.
chanics, we have lawyers, and any
; ; amount of idleness. Instead of prac
. tical statesmen, as in days of old, W,
have a set of theorists who, in thei
own estimation, are public thinker
and teachers. They have taught tn
people long enough; they have actc,
, In the capacity of public brains unit
the State is ruined, aud now the,
! propose to sell il out TO Baltimore
and put their final seal upon thei
own contempt for labor and tn
= laboring classes. We are willing b
: : see this class of political aristocrat
! take back seats where they belonI
and working men to take their place;
? There never has been that rcspecta
bility attached to labor which belong
TO il. There is no true nobility, sav
y that found among working men. ]
a., is working men who build up marbl
palaces, great cities, trade and com
merce-that fight battles, and Civ
e liberty to the enslaved aud whe
workingmen rule the political desti
. nies Of Virginia-whcn we loo
upon honest toll as an accomplish
mcnt instead Of calamity--we sha
see Virginia, like New York, boas
ing of her wealth by billions, instea
! of a few hundred millions.
Let our mechanics carry the w
into Africa; bear down every obstt
+. Gle, and proclaim themselves the tri
nobility of the soil and We shu
have done with this false show al
4 miserable pride.-Nogoik Old u
: miRion.