Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-01
A Word to Workingmen.

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, in a re-
cent address to young men, thus illus
trates the honor of sticking to your
trade:
Il always honor man who emo.
bles his calling, whatever it may be.
Franklin made it nobler and easier
for men to be printers in all time to
come because he remained printer.
| presume you have all heard of the
Dowse Library. 1t, with fine col
lection of paintings, was once the
property of an old tanner, who deter
mined that his friends and neighbOrs
should know that he could be a man
Of taste, a scholar, man OF culture
tanner that he was. So he collected
his books a few at a time, and what
is more to the point, he read them,
and being a tanner he had naturally
taste in the'line of leather, so he
waited patiently until he could have
them all bound as he wished. And
as he grew older he became very
wealthy, and had before he died the
best library of any one in that section
of country.
When | go to Boston, whatever
else | fail to see, | always go to the
Atheneum, and pay my respects to
that old library. Men determine their
own status, and no voting or influence
can change them. If you put man
who is but five feet high on a table,
you don't increase his stature; you
may send a man to Albany-that
wont make him wise; you may send
him to WashingtOn-that wont make
him a great man A man may be
sent to Congress and not be q sage
He may even be President and make
some mistakes. This rule of educa
ton, of ennobIing the manhood Of
men, is applicable as well to the clerks
as to the laboring man. Importantly
may secure to them a remission of
time, Or slight increase Of wages
but the vital necessities Of these young
men, the volume Of being and the ele
walton of character, are secured in nc
such way they are the normal result
of education, and follow appointed
paths. In ariStOcratic societies the
tendency is to elevate the few and de
press the masses, but in this country
and wherever true Democracy has its
way, the tendency is to elevate the
many and depress the few. 1t may
be true that the tens are more scarce
than in earlier days, but it is certain
ly true that the thousands are more
|plenty. There are not so many
geniuses and great men, but there are
vastly more true men, worthy men
intelligent men than ever before
Here we are jealous of the few, an(
prominence is not SO readily granted
to the ambitious as where the societ,
lis low.
| The tendencies of our time are ia
higher and better than formerly
The natural temptations remain, t.
be sure, but it seems to me that in al
industrial and professional callings
there is purer, more generous ant
higher ambition than formerly. Vii
tue is more honored, dissipation i
reprobated, and Christian characte
is tar more common among youn.
men than in my boyhood. Twent'
Years ago, if one should speak in
lpublic assemblage it would be takel
for granted that he was a clergyman
a lawyer, or at least professor; bu
now it is no uncommon matter to hea
men talk intelligently aud interesting
| ly matters of law, of ethics, of various
subjects, whose hands are yet hare
from the holding of the pillow, who's,
skin is yet grimed with the dust of thu
forge. Labor is honorable among us
idleness dishonorable. Men will b,
free in Europe as soon as the masse,
are intelligent and moral-not before
Make much then of manhood; max,
ITS wrist too long for manacles, it
hand too strong for prisons. Oul
lYoung men are those to whom W,
must look for help. They are strong
er to-day among US than ever. They
are strong for war, are strong, too
for good. They may help society il
many ways. They may help by al
ambition of intelligence. rather thar
or pleasure. Let them read. study
educate themselves, thereby making
true men for the State, true men fol
their calling, true men whose wit anc
wisdom the country can rely on il
Time of trouble and embarrassment
lhey may help by redeeming thei
occupation from vulgarizing tenden
cles. A trade is what man sees Fl
to make it-not what other men thinl
best to call it. They may help b,
glvlnng men power; not to escape from
certain callings, but to ennoble them