Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-26
gIisabstb RaiIp alonitor,
PUBLISHED AT 155 BROAD STREET, BY
j. MADISON DRAKE.
THE AMERICAN MECHANIC.

ness and disorder, which we constantly
meet, results from O lack of incentives
to useful effort and honorable deport-
ment, will not be questioned When
worthy Mechanic perceives that more
money may be made by selecting some
popular business, other than his own,
that can be gained by patient labor in
an occupation which is beneficial to So
ciety and when he recognizes the dis
couraging fact that money, however.
basely obtained, more surely wins re-
spect and consideration than the ex-
ample of honest industry and useful
ness set by the father of the family,
who finds all his earnings required to
pay the frugal expenses of his house
hold, it cannot appear to him that hon
est industry receives its just reward.
The honor aud courtesy paid by almost
every one to the possessor of wealth,
without scrutinizing the means by
which it has been gained, and the neg
lect with which humble worth in OBJ
security is treated, may be regarded as
practically offering standing rewards to
every one who will unscrupulously
strive to get rich and the punishment
of neglect and contempt for those who
toll honestly to discharge in proper
manner all the duty they owe to So
ciety. .a..E .aaej+.s
In this the community does great
wrong to every individual, as we'll as to
itself for it drives the most intelligent
man from the work which tends most
to improve society, and increase the
comfort, refinement and prosperity of
the people. A little reflection may
serve to show that one of the great
needs of our country is the establish
ment of some high mark of honor
which money and smart villiany cannot
procure and which shall be given only
to those who have devoted their time,
and have properly discharged the duties
of men and citizens. In order that
there may be constant encouragement,
such honors should be graded. The
young man who, by years of careful
effort, has prepared himself for the
work in some productive department.
of industry, should receive the first
| mark of honorable esteem and distinc-
ton from an association of the most
worthy OF his neighbors and it should
be conferred with such ceremony as
would be calculated to impress others
with the idea that true merit will meet
certain recognition. If he shall con-
tinue for five years in his useful work,
another mark of honor should be given
and so, from time to time, his decora-
tons should show what he has done.
If he should marry, he should receive
another testimonial of respect, for
marriages tend to promote good
morals. If he shall devote his leisure
hours to the study of some important
department of science, or some fine
art, calculated to make him q more
agreeable andsuseful member of society,
for this, too, he should have a mark of
appreciation. As he advances in years,
if he should rear family in virtuous
and useful habits, from time to time he
should receive the proper token of his
merit. When arrived at mature years,
say at the age of fifty, still pursuing a
course of correct conduct, he should
have the honorable rank of Curator of
the public welfare" and all citizens
should be induced to look to the mem
bers of this degree for counsel and ad-
vice and to choose them as umpires to
decide quarrrels, and thus avoid litiga-
ton. When it is intended that men
shall be elected to fill offices of trust
and honor, and candidates are propos-
ed, tho question could properly be
asked "What is his record ?" We
should not ask. "Is he smart lawyer
or cunning political manager ?" but
"What has he done to entitle him to
the confidence of his fellow men ?"
1t is not Mechanics alone who should
have such honors, but those engaged in
every kind of business which contrib
utes to the welfare of society. Farmers,
gardeners, teachers mariners, clerks
and many others who do useful work
should have the same encouragement
and care should be taken to make the
the decorations fairly indicate the
worth of the acquisition or service for
which they are given. 1t requires
much more time and persevering prac-,
tice to make skillful machinist, car
penter, or bricklayer, than it does to
learn how to make loaves of bread, or
to roll tobacco leaves into segars and
there should be careful discrimination
in arranging the amount of honor
which is due to each occupation. The
great idea is to recognize and encour-
age true worth and to induce men to
engage in those occupations which are
most valuable to the community and
to themselves. Much good would be
done if we could satisfy "smart men"
that "honesty is the hest noIinv - and