The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-13
The Enquirer and the Mechanics.
RIoHMoNp. VA, May IL, 1S

RICHMOND, VA, May ~, 1871.
| To the Editor of the State Journal.
My attention has been called to an edi-
torial which appeared 10 the Enquirer OF
to-day, entitled "Who's Who 2" which
strikes me as deserving some attention, in
order that men like myself may. see the
true position of such as the Enquirer.
For one to talk Of aristocracy, is to con-
denim himself to infamy, in the opinion of
Mr.. Enquirer. This has been the ruling
power Of aristocracy SO long, that it ina
gines its lease of it eternal This is not
SO, we are happy to say, and this old grey
headed, selfish sordid man, must go down
before the advancing tide of popular indig-
nation, or be torn up by the roots.
The Enquirer denies the existence of
aristocracy here, because nobody is
wealthy. Tho difficulty is that it seldom
boasts Of wealth, but plants itself upon
other and less deserving claims.
It's claims have been based upon so
many silly ideas that it has almost univer-
sally had applied to it, "Cod Fish," Who
has not heard of this fishy tribe ia Vir-
ginia and elsewhere in America 2 Who
so blind as not to see daily Haunted before
their eyes the boosted superiority of the
Jcneses, the Smiths, the Robinsons and a
host of other honored names, many of
whom are bankrupt in pocket as well as
in morals and character ? Because we say
we will not strip off our robes and spread
them for their tiny feet to walk upon as
they pass, with their noses always SMELL
ing something, we are to be called kDaves.
Such nonsense passes us UNDECIDED as
the summers breeze, and we shall 20 on
pursuing past wrongs and injustice regard
less of their polished epithets.
These men, to whom the Enquirer re-
fers, who wear coarse clothes, plough
their own fields, and earn their food BY
the sweat of their brow, have nothing to
fear from the startling cry of justice, even
though they are presumed to be under the
especial care of the Enquirer. Such men
are not theirs to protect, and need no en-
dorsement from them to prove that then
are not artist ,crats.
Our war, if any, with capitalists is, that
they may not demand all the profits of
our labor, but only that to which their
money entities them.
To be consistent, the Enquirer will have
to pronounce all of Us knavish, if we re-
fuse to support their worthless lawyers to
make laws for us; we say worthless with |
out any dsrespect to the profession, but
apply the term to such as usually put
themselves before the people for office, as
lawyers of ability generally prefer the pur-
suit OF their professional duties to railroad |
and other legislative speculations.
We intend to ell their places with men
of honesty, of thought, and purpose, in
capable of and untutored in the art of |
fraud and corruption--men who will not |
demand six and eight dollars a day to en-
able them to drive fast teams, wear kid |
gloves, support gambling and bawdy |
houses, besides thinking it necessary to |
meet at IL and adjourn at o'clock, in
order that they may indulge in such pleas
ures, for which these coarse-clothed, field |
brow sweating men are taxed
to pay. If this be knavery, make the
most Of it MECHANIC.