The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-12-20
From the Maryland Farmer.
TO OUR YOUNG MEN.
No Superiority but that of Age,
Worth and Wisdom.

MEssRs. EDITORS IL think the
world is not only growing wiser, but
better in many ways; and among
those things in which it is growing
(better and wiser) one is, the throw
ing or beginning to throw aside the
miserable, petty distinctions which
have, to a greater or less degree,
existed among our fellow men. But
| thank fortune that the prejudice of
the dark ages, when false aristo~
crazy condemned labor in any form
as a "diSkonorqble necessity" is pass
ing away, and should have no place
in philosophical or republican mind.
Why; to determine mans position
in society by the honest calling he
follows in life, is as contrary to the
justice of good sense as it is to the
genius of our political Institutions
Indeed, the petty distinctions which
have obtained in this country, excite
the deserved ridieute of calm obser>
vers of other lands. And let me ask,
what can be more absurd than pride
of family in people who can scarcely
know the birthplace of their ances-
tors or, if they should run back,
they would soon encounter "cobb-
ler's bench or blacksmith's anvil!'
Or, again, what can be more absurd
by an assertion of one of superior
nobility" by one who sells clothes
in packages, over another who sells
ribbons by the gard! or, by the i'm
porter of bristles in h0gsheadS, or
hides in cargOeS, over him who
makes brushes and shoes ! or, by
the professional man over either,
since he is in reality but the paid
servant of all The simple fact is
we are all members of one body, me-
cessarily dependant upon, and con-
tributive to, each others we'll being
To look down upon neighbor be-
cause his way of serving the commu-
nifty differs from our own, is to de-
spise ourselves. We should &C
knowledge, my young friends, no SUI
periority but that of age, north and
wisdom. The highest officer in our
government is entitled to honor only
as he faithfully ministers to the
peoples good.
But now, no one, however talen-
ted, can ever attain to the first C lass
of standing, in anything. without a
cultivated intelligence this is abso-
lutely necessary to real respectable
ty. Indeed, the mere uneducated
merchant is'littIe botter than a COM
mon carrier; and the uneducated
mechanic than an animated machine,
convenient and useful, in supplying
the wants and Injuries of the com
munity. Hence, my young friends,
you will see the necessity of improv-
ing your minds with ae liberal an ed
ucation as possible ; spend all your
spare time in cultivating tase for
graceful thought, habits of philosoph-
zeal observation, and correct notions
of political and economicle ethics
If do not this, you will soon come to
regard dollars and cents as the gods
of your idolatry and, embracing
the maxims of cunning selfshness
which prevails around you, make
your personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, or
indulgence, the rule and aim Of your
endeavors. But far different will
it be with him who has improved
himself with study, whose leisure
has been spent with the books and
intellectual converse he learned in
early years to love and appreciate.
Such an one carries with him where
ever he goes wise reflections on the
past, large views of his social res
possibilities, and inspiring hopes of
a future reward such an one sue
cess will never make insane with