The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-08-04

tramps who for the past few years
have infested our country affords
throughout its entire extent forci-
BILE illustration Of the competition
between ignorance and intelligence.
A practical education if it is as
broad as it should be, viii enable its
possessor to turn his hand to
another trade in times of depression.
One of the difficulties of the pre-
sent age is that workmen do not
learn the principles that might APP
ply to many vocations. They do
not even learn the whole of one
trade There are specialists in every
part of the trade. Should machinery
be invented to perform these parts
better and cheaper than the work.
man, he is financially ruined. IN
order that the difficulty may be OBJ
waited, the specialist must have
mental culture as well as hand cul-
ture, general education as well as
particular education. To make
work reputable, you must elevate
the workman. Look on labor as
honorable and dignity the task of
the laborer. We are told that to
make manual labor congenial to the
young, we should hold up to their
view the dignity of labor. The dig
nifty of manual labor depends on
the motive - on the amount of
thought, intelligence, and skill con-
nected with its performance, and this
can only be gained by education.
One man in his ignorance knows of
no way of removing a large stone
from his path way, except by call
ing in several of his neighbors, it
may be, to assist him by main
strength to roll it to one side. An
other man who has knowledge per-
forms the same task in one tenth of
the time by means of a simple lever.
Which one exemplifes the dignity
of labor? If the dignity of labor
consists in putting forth mere mus
cular strength, in striking a hard
blow, the work of a donkey is as
dignified as that of a man, and the
work of a mule is much more so.
It is natural for those who earn their
living by the sweat of their brow,
to complain that they are oppressed
by unjust legislation, that their
rights are ignored by our law MAX
ers. that those who surprss them in
intelligence are ever alert to take
advantage of their ignorance. There
is but one remedy in this case !;
laborers must become law makers,
and by education only, can this end
be reached. If laborers, whether
agricultural or mechanical, desire to
contest with other classes of society
for the emoluments and honors of
the world, they must be educator.
Let them educate, and "the sceptre
and crown of civil service will re-
turn to the plow and pruning hook"
If a man would be great he must
know. If he would rule, he must
understand the thoughts and ways
of men. There is but one alterna-
tive. The farmer or the mechanic
may study and prosper, and rule
the world, or he may repudiate edu-
cation, denounce agricultural
schools, and remain the serf and
burden bearer Of the nation.
| appeal to all here tonight to
defend the excellence and nobility
of labor. The glow of toll wakes
you to the consciousness Of your
real capabilities. Labor is Gods
given power for human advance
mont.
Let US Danish this opprobrium of
toll. Who would consider labor
disgrace? Are you ashamed of
your dusty labor field and unpre-
tentious workshop; of your bronzed
and rongh hands, marked by service
more illustrious than warfare Of
your rusty and secdy garments.
painted by old mother Nature with
sunshine and shower, With smoke
and strani-hcr own nmblazlmed
honors ashamed of these emblrms
ana appclldtions, and covcting the
Haunting robes and tinsel show OF
imbecile idleness and vanily2 1t is
disloyalty tn nature it is profanity
to heaven. 1t is violating heavens
great rule for human Improvement.
Labor, reiterate-llbor either mem
tal or manual. is the only true man
hood-the only true nobility
FARMERS DEPARTMENT.