Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-17
SATURDAY MORNING, April II, 1869.
MECHANICAL PURSUITS AND
WORKINGMEN OF THE
SOUTH.


pursuits and the operators in that field 1,
the mechanic and workingman, we wish
it distinctly understood that we shall
endeavor to tell the truth in all cases
with as much force as possible. We
know that the workingmen, as class,
have as much vanity as any men on the
earth, and they like to have that vanity
tickled. The workingman is used to
it, and it pleases him better than any
thing else and the demagogus knows
| it pleases him-kr rs it is his weak
point-and he has always tickled him
when be wanted his vote. But in set
ting out, we wish Mr.. W orkingman to
know that we don't want his vote, nor
anything else he's got, except his aid
and assistance in building up the pros
perity of the State, and if he don't want
to read cur paper he is at perfect liber-
ty to let it alone; though we think for his
own sake, be should read some home
made newspaper every day, while they
are SO cheap, and many to be had for
nothing. We think so, because it would
give him some insight into what is 60
ing on in the world, and possibly pre-
vent him frequently from becoming
| the dupe of the demagogue Or the de-
signing politician as often as he has
heretofore. He should not only read
some newspaper himself every day, but
he should be sure that his family reads
one. There's more economy in it than
| he thinks.
However, as we have said, we don't
care whether be likes it or no, we are
going to tell him some few truths after
our own fashion, and we hope they
may do him some good And we wish
him distinctly to understand that we
shall talk to him with the same freedom
and independence We have been talking
| to Mr.. Bourbon lately. If they are
truths and they CRATE harshly, he must
be patient and reflect that possibly they
are suggested for bis own good, and not
from any other interest the writer has
in the matter than to set him right in
some things that probably his vanity has
led him astray in heretofore, and in
which the tickling of the demagogue
has kept him astray.
Now there are quite large number
OF mechanics and workingmen in and
about our two cities, not one-tweatieth
of whom ever read newspaper. Go
North and look at the same class of
people there, and you find that not one
mechanic or work iugman in fifty but
what subscribe to and read their regular
city daily papers and sometimes two or
three weekly papers. When you are
continually made dupes of by dema-
gogues and political tricksters, and ths
above is the fact, what more can you ex-
pect? When the same game is tried on
the Northern mechanic and working
man it don't fit. Why? Because he is
posted. He reads the papers and knows
his man " like book"
But that is not all, "by long
chalk" We don't like to hold up to
you as pattern your Northern brother
mechanic, seeing you have lately had a
muss" with him, which you were
drawn into by the Bourbon, but in some
things we feel we must do so because
by some mcaus the Northern mechanic
has got the start of you in always hav-
ing plenty OF work with good wages.
1t occurs to US, particularly, that these
means have been accomplished in great
measure by his education, for we are of
ton is not finished when he leaves
school, but just then commences his
manhood's education. The Northern
mechanic finds time to read, his reading
gives him insight into the ways of the
world in making money by the various
improvements in his peculiar line of
pursuit, and he studies intelligently
with the view OF using the knowledge
the world has stored up in newspapers
aud books, with the object of promo
ting his business prospects. His books
furnish him the experience of the wise
men who have gone before in the same
profession he follows, and his newspa-
pers furnish him everything new in that
dine; and thereby his reading is direct
ed in a profitable channel all the time
Ito keep from being duped on the one
hand, and to learn to make money by
adapting the very best sources of infor-
nation in regard to his profession on
the other.
The Northern mechanic and working.
man believes newspapers to be an in
dispensable requisite, and heis not with
out them-nor will he suffer his family