The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-01-18
Labor sIae Basis Of Republican
Institutions.

m0IneE III UtlSSutOlS oSSaphttoA atld IA
dustry are the progenitors of virtue and
rood order. The universal haste for
wealth, coupled with unwillingness to
toll for its aquisition, is fruitful of crime
and destructive of business integrity.
Throughout the whole country the cities
and towns are thronged with idle Ma
cawbers, waiting for something to turn
up by which they may become possess
ed of a fortune and pass their lives in
luxurious ease. Such men are the bane
of society. They seem to believe that
labor is degrading, and think nothing
more honorable than sumptuousd depend
erce. And yet society is filed with
them. Not a reader of this paragraph
but can point to those within his imme-
date acquaintance, ."
The folly of the present age is its
want of appreciation of true manliness.
He.is not the best type of American no.
bility who apes the foreign aristocracy
and considers honest labor degrading
and unworthy. The genius of our de-
mocracy is the exaltation of labor and
the laborer; and its triumph is the vim
dication of toll from the contempt OF an
effpte nobility that clings with the ten
acity of life to ancient ideas and obso-
Iete distinctions. We are a great and a
progressive nation because we are shap-
ing out our own destiny by the IRON hand
of labor. We have heen singularly sue
cessful in our experiment of s%elt-govern-
ment because we made it the first prin-
ciple of conduct to depend upon our
selves for results, and not to hope for a.
nythine from ancestral title or inherited
wealth. The founders OF the American
republic were men of Independence.
When they landed on these shores they
shook off the francis Of European Gus
toms, they laid aside forever the pride
of family that had enervated the youth
of their native land, and with an un-
sw1terving fidelity to the great principles
Of Democracy, laid the foundations OF a
government whose cornerstone WA res
pect for honest industry.
It was the law among the ancient
Jews, that every man should learn a
trade. Heswas not bound by any obi
cation 10 followsit, for if his i%nclinations
prompted him to afterward seek another
profession, he was at liberty to do SC,
The wisdom of this law commends itself
to every mind. II, in adverse times,
misfortune should lay its hand upon
them, and they should be compelled to
leave their chosen pursuits, they were
provided with an occupation which was
a safeguard against extreme poverty or
want. Hssach a law existed III this
country it would prevent many of the
evils that now prevail, and render our
people more prosperous and happy.
However .true 70 the principles Of de-
mocracy onr fathers may have been, we
are fast leaving them behind. Instead
Of honoring labor we are attempting TO
degrade it. Parents, ambitious for their
children. often express the hope that
their lot will not be 40 arduous or toll
some as their own has been, forgetting
that by their labor the country has been
blessed. and because Of the industry OF
their sons, generations yet to come will
be grateful that they were born In re-
publican America. ,a. HIM
It is the first duty of parents to instil
into the minds of their children the ne
cessity and the dignity of labor. 70 be
useful in any sphers of life should be
the ambition Of our youth. Our vast
fields of enterprise invite competition
and promise satisfactory rewards. The
producer is he whose loss is most felt
by society. Success in mechanic art is
honorable as professional eminence
agricultural industry is. far more profit
able to the nation than ambitious states
manship. The watchwords of democra-
cy! are that all honest labor is honorable,
IL is not what one does, but the of doing
il, that digoifies the a Nothing can
be more degrading than q quack in med
icine, 4 pettifogger in law, or q block
in priestly garmenfs-no one can
be more honorable than an industrious
and skillful artisan or a faithful and in-
telligent tiller of the soil.
Its q mean and worthless spirit that
despises the garb Of the laborer and
scorr,s To welcome him TO places of equi
Nothing can be more false than our
usual idea and definition of q gentleman
Id is not the dress, it is not the employ
Inens that permits this appelation. II
u the kindly heart, the industrious yir
luous life that makes the gentleman.
A career OF idleness is generally q career
,f crime. 1t Is not family or wealth that
one to honor. It is the %intelli-
rent manhood that entities him to res
,sct. We honor those who have risen
rom humble spheres Of life 70 places Of