The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-30
From The Herald o. ire Anti Usrry Reform.
The Dignity of Labor,


This phrase has fallen somewhat int1 dis
repute from the use that has been made u
it By the demag0gues FOR their own selfish
purposes, but the honest conscience Of man.
kind has at all times recognized It's truth.
In the early days of Rome, when the wealth
and weu-being Of the state was founded up-
on labor, and before an aristocracy obtained
power, and following the natural bend w
all aristocracies, corrupted the state BY max
ing its chief dependence rest upon war ana
plumber, instead Of upon industry, the dig
nifty Of labor was recognized ia her inst-
buttons.
In the middle ages, when the church 49,
the leader in industry as 10 learning, the
dignity Of labor was piously expressed IN the
motto: 80 labor is to pray"
During the centuries III transition. how
ever, through which our civilization has
been passing, and IN which Tue governments
Of Europe have been The oPpreosors, instead
Of the servants Of the people, labor has been
ground down BY taxes, the income from which
went 70 support the eKtraTaganca OF the
rulers, that ID has become despised. The
strongest evidence Of this d iounl in our
language. We speak ~ the "porking class
es," the "lAbOriug classes a. though Id
classes who did not labor, did not work a.
though industry was not as natural to man
as TO all created beings AS though it was
not the foundation and necessary basis WV
an advance IL culture and refinement.
so far has this gone that though modern
science has shown that motion il the law OF
Development 81 All nanimate A. wen AZ or-
ganlc matter in the universe, We fnd doc
trine preached In the majority VIZ the
churches to-day, which would shut man out
Of this universal law, and by making Min na-
turaliy idle, maintain that he Is an execution
TO the rule which We find runs through ey-
erything else in the earth, the sea, to air,
the heavens.
While this Is so, how can we expect any
thing but corruption in our politics. inius-
tice in our legislation, frivolity in our htera-
ture, falsehood in our press, fraud ana adult
iteration IN commerce, the valgarity and ex-
travagance Of fashion ia society, and selfish
ness prevailing in all the relations Of men.
An idle brain Il the devils works. :.
IL remains then for the labor Of this coun-
try, BY dignifying itself, 10 make the dignity
Of labor no longer a mockery.
Wealth must not be used, A. wealth u
now used BY those Who get il in every other
way than by honest labor 1t must not M
expended 10 the foolish display, the empty
vanity and the wicked eXtravagance Of the
idle, but as men, conscious 81 the dignity
and responsibility Of their position would
want to spend it. BY being industrious, "
using the mental and physical powers, which
nature has given US, and only thus, W. az
carrying out the law of our being. And by
using the wealth thus gained BY industry,
IN securing and diffusing 10 the entire race
Of mankind the Aeans OF happiness, and the
cultivation Of all their physical mental, and
spiritual powers, we are equally carrying OUT
the destiny Of the race upon this planet.
The task is vast, but the means are an
quate. Ii will not be fully accomplished un-
til It Is impossible that any child should
grow to manhood, without enjoying the
means % such q physical and mental educa-
ton as shall develop every faculty he pos
sesses. Let labor then comprehend and en-
gage in this task, and the dignity Of its aims
will extort respect and admiration from even
the siliest Of those whose pride now il in
being idle, and the dignity Of labor will again
become the foundation Of all dignity.