Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-05-26
The American Mechanic.

The labors and influence of the Alneri
can mechanic is rapidly extending, and I
spirit of independence is manifesting
itself among and animating this class O
our countrymen to greater degree, a
the present time, than at any previous
period of our history. The question il
often asked-does spirit of self com
handing and unconstrained spirit ami
mate our American mechanics. Go Il
the scene of his labor. Let his untirine
perseverance and successful industry an
swer the question. What has perfected
our mechanical artp What has caused
it in all departments to equal, in most tt
excel the Wanted productions of foreign
skill Personal, natural, original indie
pendence, which neither the paralysine
pressure of private distress, nor the cal
r 'itous contamination of executive expert
meat has been able to discourage.
The private and public building, the
ponderous machine and the delicate fab
rio whatever ministers to convenience OF
comfort attests the mechanics prominence
Our annual exhibitions of skill and in
dustry, national, state, or local, never
shine with more radiant beauty than
when the thousand products of mechanic
genius are gathered there. The glory Of
the past exhibitions of this character are
destined to fade, before the increased
splendor of the kindred spectacles, that
await us in the coming years
Who is more ready to maintain the law
by the influence of his example than the
mechanic, or if need be, to enforce
obedience by the strength of his arm
Whose charity is more enlarged? Whose
benevolence is more active Whose en-
terprise is more daring2 In youth should
poverty oppose or temptation assail him.
Should he have no friend but the stoutness
of his heart, and no reliance but the
Providence of his God, difficulties vanish
before the independence of his soul; re-
speoted in manhood and revered in age,
he stands memorial of the power of the
national spirit of our country, in that
noblest of its works-a self-made man.
American ingenuity what shall fetter
itp Endless combinations of matter are
yet undiscovered. The power of steam is
only in it's childhood. Science already
points to the subtleties of nature. She
calls upon the American mechanic to
write her story in letters of living fire !;
to gather in the lightning and chain it to
the spirit of modern invention. New in
ventions from the skillful artisan daily
romantic enthusiasm, and now seem more
like the melancholy madness OF poetry"
than the sober aspirations of philosophy,
so appeared all startling discoveries be-
fore use had familiarized their wonders
Let none despise novelty because its prin-
oiples are obscure, nor condemn the off
spring of ingenuity because its aspect is
strange. The impossibility of yesterday
becomes the well known agent of to-day,
the mighty machines of this generation
will yield to their mightier rivals of the
next. The genius Of the mechanic in
this land is unclogged by antiquated GUS
toms, but urged on by the spirit of indepen-
dence of our institutions and retarded by
no reverence for the follies of the past
"the range OF the mountains is its pasture
and it searcheth after every green thing"
in the field of knowledge.
The American Mechanic finds within
our own borders the elements of his skill,
physical or mental. Why should he care
were an ocean of fire to surround him
securing him in the safety of solitary
GRANDEUR Even then would he obey the
energy within him. In arts and arms, in
enterprise, in the struggles for the preserv-
alton Of our institutions, against the dar-
ing assaults of ambition and the treacher-
GUS stratagems of faction, under the in
speration of the national spirit, the mo-
chanios of our country stand as bull
wark, which neither internal commotion,
nor foreign assault can ever destroy end
are fit representatives of the industry of
the nation.