The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-30
Work ] WorIk!!

upon the world, and every effort to
thwart this decree on the part of man,
has almost universally resulted disas-
trously to the race of Adam. In this
degenerate-so-ca called civilized-age,
tho rebellion to this decree is most
prominent. "Work" is esteemed dis
honorable to the position of q gentle
man, especially that which apper-
tains TO tilling the soil. Young men
will seek employment behind the
counters of dry-goods sellers or
grocery stores, or even behind those
of bar-rooms, rather than go behind
the plow, Qr take up the spade or
the hoe, to cultivate the lands, which
in this country at the present time
cry aloud for laborers.
The New York Tribune, in an arti-
Gle urging the idle young men in the
Northern towns and cities to go to
the West as farmers, where q compe-
tency is sure to follow industry, says:
"From many, the reply is, % yes;
this is very fine; but I was not brought
up to work, or if I had been, I am
not going to be a clod-hopper.' We
will tell you another secret. Within
ten years, great change has taken
place regarding labor. The majority
of mechanics make more money than
the majority of profe ssional men; and
common laborers gee more money
than clerks. In ten years more, the
difference will be still greater. We
look to see labor rise to the dignity
of the professions, when, perhaps,
as much will be paid for splitting n
hundred rails rs for preaching SER
mon. Every age differs; but in every
age, work is the key to Success"
The T1'ibnne is right; but whether
the progress of the great change to
which it refers, as to the dignity of
labor, enfo' ID rs it has been, for
many years, W the energetic appeals
and logical arguments of the press,
will produce the natural result, re-
mains to .c seen. In the South, it
would appear there is some slight i'm
provement in this respect, yet it is so
very slight rs scarcely to deserve note
or comment. Her people, thrown on
their own resources, their iands de-
spoiled, their labor demoralized, and
they themselves stepped in poverty,
have not, Notwithstanding all this
pressure, gone to work with that ear
nestness and alacrity which their
situation demands. There are still
too many drones, and even after
making allowance for the sad reverses
which have come over their former
social condition as u people, either
through utter prostration of energy,
or what we fear to be the greater him
drance-false pride-the work of re-
cuperation proceeds but slowly.
We may talk about military rule,
Congressional usurpations, unconsti-
tutional legislation, and descant upon
theses theme (eloquently, as we may
think, from sunrise to sun-down,
yet we do not find, in any of the po-
litical movements, or in the laws en-
acted by Congress, any principle or
any enactment that prohibits any
man from going to work in the field,
manufactory or workshop. "We
won't register" eve won't vote"
''we will not be accessory to our own
degradation" "honor forbids it,"
and all that sort of fippant political
CAB, sounds very patriotic to some
ears, and especially to the spouters
themselves; but the species of pa
triotism that the South II ow requires