The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-03-10
The Dignity of Labor.

We find in the Wilmington Journal the proceed
ings Of an Agricultural meeting held in New Han
| over county. The Rev. S. Caldwell Alexander Ia
native of Mecklenburg county, addressed the meet
| ing on the Dignity of Labor" We copy below a
notice of this excellent address from the Journal:
The address of Rev. S. C. Alexander ssOn the
Dignity of Labor, was next in order. The following
are some of the impressions OF this excellent address
LETT ON the memory of the writer zone of the great
ends for which created is that he should be
iaborer. He constituted for this, physically,
mentally and morally. Labor is a fixed law of man s
nature and an element of his happiness. He
thus constituted in Eden, and not a consequence
of the fall If labor is one of the ends for which
man was created, and primal law Of his nature, it
IS highly praise-worthy, honorable and digniied
and to disregard this end andaw of his nature is to
set God at defiance Honest labor is honorable and
dlgnifed for the highest of all reasons, God has
commanded it. He argued that natures plan is the
small farm, well cultivated with the garden as its
type. Adam was placed in garden his sphere of
operations-such was his farm, and God planned it.
We should make our farms like gardens, small and
rich. We should beautfy and adorn them with
fruits and flowers, such may be inferred from the
command to Adam in regard to dressing and keeping
the Garden OF Eden. But the farmer must be intel
hgent to accomplish this. Without reading and
study he need not hope to make name in the agri-
cultural world. Without study he viii always follow
and never lead for thought moves the world and
thought drives the pillow successfully but it is intel
igent thought, such only come from reading
and study. The farmer should have his library he
should have the sages of his art; the writings of
great men, sound minded, practical men, of various
nations and countries, SO that he consult them
any and every bject apperaining to his calling
Heretofore agricultural labor and learning have
been separated, and this is great why
such labor has been regarded, by certain classes
disgraceful. Nothing can be injurious to pro-
gress in agriculture than this balefu hallucnation.
At the South this mistaken sentiment must be got
rid of. Our necessities not to mention pros
perity, demand it, Young men must be educated to
honor labor and to dignity it in its actual perfor
To accomplish this must have change
in educational system. The man who does not
honor labor shows a lack of brains he is enemy
to his and his countrys welfare. Like the
senselcss Nero he would fiddle while Rome burn
ing, like more iustrous one Of late, he would
tell little anecdote while his country dying.
An eloquent tribute paid to the machless energy
which is now directing many of our people Of all
professions and calngs to the various fields of in
dustry. .'Nevcr before has the flashed with
such light never has the pillow moved with such
dignity BEFORE Now is the time for agricultural
and mechanical schools to be commenced; for science
put in her hand and direct these energies into
proper channels.
The above is very imperfect outline 1t is to be
hoped the address will be published in full.