The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-07-09

Dor is not industrious. The human
family may be divided into three class
es Those who will not do days
work, those who will do Just days
work, and those who will do q DAYS
work and more too. The first class
produces our paupers and criminals.
the second those who are liable TO be-
come such, the third our men Of wealth
and our statesmen. Honesty and in
dustry in the humble duties of life are
in'great demand and the market is not
over supplied.
Labor to become strong must unite,
not to violate the laws OF supply and
demand, but 10 take advantage OF them
as capital does. Not 10 advoid work,
but TO do more and better work. Each
individual laborer must elevate himself
by his own exertions and not what the
state can do tor him. He must learn
that the laws OF nature are opposed to
his getting high price for common la
Der, aud that they are just as much in
favor Of high price for superior labor.
David Dudley Field would receive a
greater fee in legal suit than I, sim
/ ply because his would be superior labor
and worth more. This is universal
law in every department OF labor under
/ the sun. IL is the laborers most vital
| interest to make his work superior in
! quantity, quality and intelligence, and
his character known for steadiness and
| honesty. These secured, and his re-
ward is certain, il not immediate or
magnificent. Industry, economy, in
telligence and honesty are the sure aud
only foundations for permanent pros
perity or success. Without these fun-
damental principles no man has ever
yet or ever can attain any honorable
prosperous position. Disregarding
these precepts, Deity itself would be
failure. Are we not told that Almighty
God labored six days before he pro-
nouDced his work good, and what is
mans life time in comparison with Him
to whom single day is as thousand
years.
The men who gave body and form to
our government were thoroughly imbu-
ed with these principles, for they con-
stitute the life blood of personal inde-
pendence. They we're believers in the
efficacy Of individual effort. 1t has
hitherto, and must still be the idea of
American government TO secure safety
to person aud property, and then allow
every man TO look ont for himself.
Undoubtedly in this way the weak are
put at disadvantage in rivalry with the
strong; but this must be the case un-
der every system that has any pretence
OF freedom. On the other hand IL de-
vellopes individual enterprise, aud that
sturdy self sustaining manhood which
has made America our pride and boast.
II is perhaps the greatest virtue of our
government that IL recognizes all men
as equal and not that any class are un-
able to care for themselves without aid
/ from the governing authorities. That
class which seeks protection will soon
have masters. Once let the idea of
class legislation take shape in America
and democracy in its true sense is de-
stroyed. IL matters not whether the
privileged class are the rich or the
poor, the republic ceases to be a repub-
lie the instant that il legally recognizes
class distinction. OF the two the tyr
ranny of a privileged mob is more to
be dreaded than that Of single des-
/ potic ruler.
That the relief sought by certain
modern thinkers is fraught with the
/ gravest dangers, is only too abundant
/ ly proved by the history OF mankind.
/ To meet and overcome this evil tenden-
/ CIV should be the desire Of every pat
riotic citizen. The danger apprehend-
! ed is not perhaps immediate; but it is
in the fearful possibilities Of the fu-
\ ture, when those ideas nave obtained a
mastery over the ignorant in our land.
. -. 80 I,f
/ that industry, economy and honesty,
guided by intelligence, are the only
powers that grant success in practical
\ life. The Common School is the bull
vark Of American freedom. Colleges
are for the few, the Common Schools
I for all. / would not say one word in
derogation Of American Colleges. 1t
must be confessed however, that ex-
cept in those institutions teaching
specialties, the graduate emerges from
his Alma Mater almost child in the
practical duties and realities of life.
OF the fundamental laws by which we
are governed, or the principles of polit-
ical economy which regulate the values
of the world, he is almost as ignorant
as the day he entered its classic precincts.
His mind is stored with ancient my
thology of Greece and Rome, which is
as useless in this practical age Of the
world as the keel of Noah's ark To the
modern ship builder. Colleges may
make men polished, but they never
made nation great. IL is fault of
the times TO educate too much, not too
/ many.
The strongest energies OF American
l q Ia Il al 70 ka
our Common Schools meet the require
ments of our national life. The Com
mon School should teach the scholar
the duties he owes TO society and to
the government. The scholar that is
sufficiently advanced 10 solve a prob
lem in Algebra, is competent to under
stand and digest the elementary prin-
ciples of our laws and OF political and
social economy. Text books upon
these necessary sciences with philoso-
ply, anatomy and physiology, should
be the substantial mental food for the
youth of our land, leaving the Ian
guages as a dessert for those who could
afford them. The discovery of what is
true, and the practice OF what is good,
are the two most important objects in
life. The knowledge OF practical truth
and it's embodiment In tie lives of the
citizens OF tomorrow must be the re-
snlt Of the district school teachers
labor of to-day. The purpose of Com
mon Schools should be to bring forth
and bring mp manly men; who know
the most Of human rights and do the
most of human duty and thereby enjoy
the most Of human welfare.
A nations greatness does not consist
Of its wide extent OF territory, its years
OF existence, the resources OF its soil,
it's mines or its climate. These are
but means for acquiring greatness. II
does not consist of it's teeming popula.
tion, Its wide spread wealthy com
merce, it's grand inventions, or its
great institutions OF learning. These
are but signs Of its greatness. Bot II
does consist in the industrious, eco
nomical, honest intelligence Of the
great mass Of its people. who make the
most OF the means which nature has
placed AZ their disposal. IL does con
sist in that sterling manhood and wo
manhood which make those symbols o.
greatness the inevitable result Of thei
daily lives.
This then. is the sum olmy argu
ment. A ministry responsible 10 thu
mower that created them, legislator