Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-13
THE wORKfNGmEN or NASH
WILLIE.


Their Merits and tsleir Advantages.
True as it is, every ons does not think
how universally indispensable to the
rise. progress and development of city,
are the mechanics and the workingmen.
The polished marble the fine cornice, the
elegant fresco, the adornments of the city,
come from the hands Of the honest working
men. The machinery that runs our facto-
ries and speed our locomotives, the rose
wood and mahogany doors that enrich our
parlors, are from the skiilfdl touch of the,
woriingInen's hands. The very velvet car
pets the feet of fashion tread, and the dia-
mond that bejewels the more favored Of
fortune, as well as the watch that ticks in
the vest pocket, is furnished by the work
ingman. On them, rich as we may be, We
are dependent for every comfort. Kings of
the Universe are these workingmen. They
who read this article as they sip their fra
grant coffee this morning, owe. even
the luxury of morning paper
to the tireless mechanic and working man.
All of our comfort, the clothes we wear,
the food we eat, the fuel we burn, the car
riages we drive, come from the mechanics
and the workingmen. They are to us
comfort, help, happiness, progress, deyel-
opment, locomotion, liberty and even life
itself. Without them and their trades and
their arts, gold would be valueless, and en-
terprise would rot into stagnation- With
their stronger arms, and stronger hearts,
and noble impulses, true lords of creation
are these working men. OF more value IS
one drop of their honest sweat than is the
coronet of worthless scion of wealth.
Nowhere has their usefulness been more
clearly shown than in Nashville. Six years
ago, torn by the ravages Of war, the city
and environs presented an appearance d.
lapidated as Goldsmith's Deserted Village.
Now, under the magic touch of the me-
chanic and the workingman, she is a city
Justly ranking among the glories of the
Southwest.
They are appreciated here, too, as they
should be. The mechanic has advantages
here that are presented at but few places
in the South, and which are seldom found
in the North and East, and which IN the
Old World could not be procured at all.
They deserve to be appreciated. They
are of those composing our best, most
industrious, honorable and thrifty popu-
lation.
Yesterday evening we visited several ex-
tensive manufacturing establishments, and
some corporate companies. We saw there
stalwart, hardy men receiving the wages
for their honest labor. We noted that
they received it with that degree of cheer
fulness, indicating that they had faithfully
obeyed the Scriptural mandate in earning
their bread by the sweat of their brows.
We noticed, too, that it was given cheer
fully, as though the owners and managers
were proud of the noble armies that had
marshaled under the ever conquering
banners of industry.
While writing this we picture many Of
them realizing the delights of, Burns
''Cotter's Saturday Night and on this,
their day of rest, we see them in fancy en-
joying the sweets of their homes, humble
though they be, the presence of their loved
ones and their nestlings. With courageous
hearts and buoyant steps, they will so
again to their several avocations to-mor-
row, and blessings attend them-the me-
chanics and working men of Nashville.