The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-02-07
SclE-Madc IIcn in Ensiln0 and
America.

Nothing more strongly marks tho dis
,inction between England aud the Uni
ted States than the difference in the ca.
rcers open to the most intelligent and
cnterprsing members Of their working
classes. In England. workman Of
great mental endowmcnts, exceptional
energy and unassailnhlc constitution
may. with rare good fortune, become an
en- pIoycr Of labor and capitalist: In
the present century. some few hundreds
Of Englishmcn have risen from the con.
dition of artisans to bo wealthy manu-
Gacturcrs, contractors, or merchants
But beyond the acquisition Of wealth
and that social respect which accompa'
nics the possession Of 100000, 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 un'
der administrations, to sit in cpblncts.
Here and there an instance occurs where
risen workman in the scramble Of
general elections secures seat in the
house Of commons; more rarely still
cases occur where lucky operatives be-
come permanent members Of the lower
house but such cases are so exception
al that they arc mentioned in good soci'
CITY as the eccentric freaks and noticeable
curiosities of our social system, rather
than as affairs Of course and as matters
for congratulation.
In America, however, all is different.
There, the highest Offices Of state arc
not only within the reach Of clever
workmcn, but We sec risen workmen
filing them with dignity and perfect
efficiency. The last president of the
Union was q man who, in England
would be fairly described as having
q" raised himself from the working class.
cs." aud who, had he lived all his days
in England, might, after n notable run
Of prosperity, have become chairman
of quarter sessions, but could never have
risen to be a party chief in the house o|
commons. On his death he was succeeded
by another risen workman. who, having
begun life as q working tailor, has al
ready proved himself IN able ruler of q
great nation. TO EnsliShmcn who think
that America is only an insufferably : vul.
gar England, Andrew johnson appears
II grotcsquc and altogether exceptional
parsonage. who. moro throus h accident
than. by design, has been placed over
the heads Of his bcttcrs. To such per.
sous it seems incredible that Andrew
Johnson is the representative and nat
ural consequence Of syste'n;iu which
tho cultivated citizens Of the States cor
daily acquiescc ; and that, instead OF
being a sipgularly fortunate nccdletDan,
whose good luck is no indication of the
ordinary course Of events in America, he
ca point to hundred, Of his countrymen,
who, like himself, we're worSmen, and
are public men. In Congress and State
ssemblics, in every department of pub.
lie service. and in The, highest grades :ot
American society, men abound who be,
gan life US artisanssand craftsmen, and
who, turning to good account the high
wages and leisure which labor can com.
mand in America,. educated themselves
to discharge tho duties of,represeutotlse
Americans. InthS country, tho, youog
mechanic who should, declare. bis desire
and intention to, become a leading. poll,
tician, would :bo thought ripe for, ,au
asylum. In America, young Workmen
not only nvow such sagpurposc, ) without