The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-03
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.
Noble and Beautiful Tribute Paid TO the La
boring Man BY Louis A. Wilt.

| AT tho request OF number of our renders
| we reprint tho following extracts from the
| able and eloquent Epeech delivered by Louis
| A. Wiltz III February Inst on tho opening of
tho Agricultural and Mechanical Fair III this
CITY, The sentiments nre such as might hs
| expected from D. man OF the people, himself
familiar with hard and honest labor from his
youth. and who therefore naturally feels d
sympathy for those who toll.
All substantial power Of nations is tho result
OF labor. Power Won by tho sword Ia doVm.d
70 perish by, t,e sword. but tho power which
of this people survives the rise mud fa of dytts-
ties survives revolution, survives foreign In
vision md CITY war. and even rises to IT, feet
Jyor tho 1nHd. Tbs tvilzation Of this century
tho lehrning calnfe. wealth aud strength OF
The world hre. Imonnmonta that commem rate
tabor. The bridge t'lnt pnsses ovor from bar
| barism w!tA lis sul"lor. wt"kedngss. suffering
and Ignorance. TO civilization. with liza count.
sT ho haa iPPGemgbs PSsIn pnss il y NE bsaxg
wise men ought to respect. and which just
| rulers ought not to Ignore; Ii Ia q cherished
legend ot tho ancient inhabitants Of Palestine
that when King solomon wa about to d.dlaate
the temple which he had built. Ii throne was
erected ID the portieo on which h. was to ait
grafton. Suddenly lhors emerged from the
thr, ~ burly smith. with broad shoulders
and brawny arms uncoversh. VIII. planted his
gigantic lgure Ia ths scat placed for tho great
kiug. Th. multitude Wore amnsed aud horri-
l.d. and the soldiers of the royal quart were
hg e MY me hs bnsa be sn whsn the
mnin Without Ills skill to execute my plans
said King Solomon; there could haye been 70
relred alone by wisdom OF. wealth without tho
hslp OF the mon OF toll. No templs Of lust
Eovsrnment e can he built .y by & patriots md dedt-
trious manual labor ot the MASSES OF the p.o-
pie. There 10 no hardship In labor when It Is
nta teh !" h ps j me nss J. hs Gder
done under favorable auspices, wnen 1t is done
In Who'll l"soms amosphere and in healtby
places when mono Of its accompaniments are
damaging 70 body mind or morals. and when
ana just, Labor is discipino to the hands. the
Thers oan be no civilization without labor
The first lesson that the savage learns when
rescued from the slough OF barb.risn Is the
his hands. When he beg ~ to work he begins
70 think. When he find. he cln belp himself d
little bis impulse is to help himself more.
When be- learns the comfort Of u house rooted |
In from SHOWS and rain. ha is not content until
be has an improved house. Whom. he leurn.
not rest until he la comfortably and 1ecently |
clad. When he has learned that he Can OK
change the products q his labor for other arti-
road toward civilized life.
In a lapd Of enlightenment the spectacle Of |
wRx H. IRIS doee
hnppen from timn to time In all countries A |
combination of causee has led to n greater mis- |
than we have reason to fear for a century 70 |
come. The prolonged calamity was one which |
the wisdom OF Legislators could not foresee or |
prevent. and which Was beyond the power Of |
Such q calamity is deplorable. but tnere Ii an.
other spectacle not less so. that OF men and
women who are idle. not from necessity. but |
from choice There are myrads Of iders Of |
both sexes 50 destitute u moral sense that they
TnF soW ye wdn rasns
to do any useiu! task whatsoever. Some Of these
drones are, wealthy and excuse their noa-pro
for them to labor They are drones In the hive
Of industry. rs they we'll know. but they claim
he right 70 eat their own store IN idleness.
upon their accumulated W alth without TAX
Ing any part In tho toll OF their fellow beinps,
but Il 10 Legal right Only. There is no san
nom producer. Idleness Is a great vice and the
parent Of vices: Therefore. the moral right to
.h l. s q ipossslhblllsy sh y - tolerated
but 1t Is condemned by the mora code. and II
always odnus In the, eyes of The Just. 10 rich
and poor alike is indolsnce desptcabe.
CAPITAL and labor are natural allies and not
nantagonists, as we are often falsely told.
. strong helper in the production OF other
wealth I. y only By means q massed capital
20 aye s reaes pe ana @ a snea Ta mannr
wealth unites with labor the union calls out the
bet guiding and superintending talent That
the best tools and implements. the cheapest raw
materials. the most convrnienta aad most healthy |
shops On and j. mills, the bsst assurance Of fair |
wealth and labor that enables the workman to |
SECURE great skill in some special bran h OF |
e nrI M or gpns exclusive
brings manual skill to Its highest perfection