The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-18

the dignity of labor. 1t is significant how
ever, that one delegate was greeted with
Kisses when he said, 'But suppose 1 did not
do a hand-stir, but labor mentally. 1t is a
great deal harder on the constitution. can
not understand this sort of thing of working
meaning one kind of labor. 1 hold that
man if he labors at anything is a working
man." This stray gleam of common sense
amidsuch amass of pure bathos was refreshing,
but it was evidently not in accordance with
the leading ideas of the Congress- and
disapprobation was therefore expressed in
marked manner And yet it is evident that
the ability to do little mental labor is just
what the majority of the delegates to this
convention, and the labor agitators generally,
most stand in need of.
The main idea in all the discussions on this
subject appears to be, that the "ancient rule
of thumb is alone entitled to be called labor,
and that the man who digs and delves, and
never tries by his own efforts to do anything
better, is the only workman, and that man
who can earn more money by using his head
instead of his hands is an oppressor, an aris-
tocrat, and a bloated bondholder very
large majority of the wealthiest men in this
country commenced life as manual laborers
of the lowest GLASS; they worked hard, how
ever; they saved wherever there was a chance
to save, and they availed themselves of every
opportunity to push ahead in the world.
They were not satisfied with their condition
in life, but they did not whine about it, and
attend conventions and offer resolutions but
set themselves seriously to the business of
m i II Al.
selves to eight hours, but labored day and
night, and undiscouraged by defeat they
made their own opportunities, and without
waiting for something to turn up, they con-
quered the situation by their brains no less
than by their hands. The course of the re-
doubtable Brick Pomeroy is an example to
the complaining workingmen of this
country. However little he is to
be admired in other respects, he is entitled
to commendation for the way in which he
won his way to fortune. His biography,
published some time ago. told how after his
regular work was done, he sat up the best
part of the night to learn the niceties of Job
type setting, in writing in studying books,
and in fitting himself by every possible
means to rise above the position of a mere
laborer. He established paper after paper, which
failed or passed out of his hands, leaving him
as poor as before, until at last he made hit,
and acquired a fortune which doubtless many
of the delegates to the LabCc Convention
would like him to divide with them.
The fact is the American workingmen as a
class have nothing whatever to complain of.
Our social and political system does not admit
Of fortunes 1a1
being transmitted unbroken in certain fami-
lies. The accumulations of the millionaire of
to-day will, in few generations at least, be
divided up into a number of fragments, and
its benefits enjoyed by a great number of per-
sons. Wages, too, are higher here than any
where in the world; and if the average work
ingman cannot support himself comfortably
on what he earns, it is either because he idles
away portion of his time or because he does
not practise reasonable economy. Even for
those who complain that the various trades are
crowded. and that it is hard for a man to
make q living at them, there is no proper
cause for complaint when immense tracts of
fertile country, capable of supporting mil
lions of people for centuries to come, are
standing in our Western States and Terrific
ries waiting for settlers to come and put them
under cultivation. Nothing has been yet
said at this convention to indicate that the
workingmen there represented have anything
but a sentimental grievance to complain of,
and they will scarcely gain anything but ridi-
cule, even from their own associates, unless
their sayings and doings display little more
practical wisdom than they have done as yet.