The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-10-05
THE pIGNIrY OF LABoM.

VIZ are in the habit Of hearing great
deal of nonsense about the dignity Of Ia
bor," especially from stamp orators during
political excitements. According to their
statements no occupation is so honorable %
that Of the mason or ho1 carrier; but when
we examine the nature of the legislation Of
these same men, we are forced to ono OF two
conclusions, viz that they are demagogues
Of the first water, or that they do not believe
a word Of what they say. While We insist
that every member Of society who does not
earn his living by physical or intellectual
labor, is ulcer the body polite; we
have never been able to see the dignity or
necessity Of bricklsyer or blacksmith en-
baustir his physical energies in working
from morning to night, thereby incapacits-
ting himself from attaining that status which
intellectual culture alone can secure.
What is true Of our political is also true os
our social relationship. There is no dis
guising the fact that SO far from being re-
garded as digHifed, the fusuan coat or horny
hand is looked upon as badge Of degrade
ton. In our public assemblages, and even
in our churches, the social position OF the
members is decided by their raiment or the
depth Of the purse while, in many In
stances, we have heard it denounced as an
act of presumption for greasy mechanic to
intrude his company upon the better class
Of society" So much for practice Us. preach
ing.
But while we have no desire to SHE Id the
guilty, duty compels us to say that th,
working classes have themselves, in great
measure, . blame Cor the sIisssncs Of. this
feeling. Those who do not respect them
selves have no reason to expect others to res
pect them, aud that this is pre-eminsnfly the
falling Of laboring men is too self-evident to
require proof Of any character. A man who
has no ambition, no desire to rise above his
fellows, to better his condition; whose
highest and only aim is to spend his surplus
earnings in bar-room, and croak about the
aggressions Of capital or the unequal distri-
button Of wealth, is the last man il he world
10 exemnlify the "digniy Of labor" Those
who Gi.snPt great things generally aehisve
great things while the drons, the chronic
grumber, no matter the circumstances by
which Is surrounded, seldom, if ever reaches
the second round of ne ladder. Labor has
been appropriately styled tho intelligent
application Of power to use" and its dignity
is derived mainly if not altogether from the
objects, character and calibre OF those engag-
ing in it.
1t has been said, doubtless with q great
deal of plausibllity, that workingmsn are
ignorant. ,grovslllng and reckless, because the
system under which they have been educated,
has made them SO, but even were this true,
instead Of furnishing an excuse for inertia,
II should nerye them to . stronger resolve to
break down Che barriers, while the removal
Of the evil is -
These rema1 S4aed forth by
a visit we paid the o.her evening TO the
Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank OF
this city, where the workinsmen wen depos-
iting their earnings. While there We were
forclbly impressed with the appearance and
character Of those who preferred battling
their way through life manfully, and took
the proper means to achieve success, and
could help contrasting them with those
thriftless denunclators, who only look at the
dark side Of the picture, with folded hands
And yet we have no doubt many Of them
are unpopular among their associates are
regarded as stingy, diyhonorsbIs men, who
we're never known to "treat fellow in
their lives. But unless appearances Grove
deceptive, in few short years the results
will be apparent. The frugslity, industry
md foresight Of the "stingv cuss" win have
placed him on the high road t. Independence, |
while Obscurity and want Will a. certainly |
be the fate Of those who loitsr by the way
fail to avail themselves Of the ep- |
'ortunity which God and nature have placed |
within their reach.
/" He that hathears to hear, let him hear" |
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