The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-22
To FOSTER KNOWLEDGE
AMONG WAGE WORKERS
Able Argument by WorAngman
in Favor Of Education for
Workingmen.
Bad Government and False Rel.
gion Depend on Ignorance
for Support.


Bad government and false religion
are somewhat alike, as they both de-
pend on ignorance for support. AS a
pure worship Is best sustained by an
enlightened reason, so good gov
ernment is best upheld by culti-
waited intellect; for while investiga-
tion and intelligence poison the very
life blood of a tyranny, they serve to
purify and cause more vigorously to
flow that Of a republic, and enable
the heart thereof to beat with a
more healthy action. The words
quoted here as a text seem to recog-
nize the union Of virtue and intelli-
gence with the prosperity Of a good
government-they teach the immut-
able truth that wisdom and knowl-
edge, or virtuous intelligence. consti-
tute the true strength Of people, and
in proportion to its diffusion abroad
will be the permanency of the peace,
and the advancement in all good of
society.
Moral energy must be regarded as
the great sustaining power of our free
institutions. Wealth and physical
force are the creatures OF day;
things of eternity. as thex flow from
the purity and wisdom that upholds
and governs all worlds and beings.
1t is cheerful to the patriot and
philanthropist to discover the illumin-'
ating truth, that good principles and
intelligence are the best safeguards
of a peoples rights. The knowledge
is spreading abroad in our land, ard
though it now has just ene1 ged from
the sea Of Indifference, Vet We can
discern signs Of Its gradual approach
to the midday throne, from whence it's
light shall be shed and wide to illu-
mine the world.
That state of society is far from be-
ing healthy where the ignorant and
the vicious are on the same plane with
the wise and the virtuous-where the
varied ranks are caused, not by differ
ent degrees Of intelligence, integrity,
and virtue, but 10y different degrees
of walth, where riches is veil to
cover vice and mask to hide the
hideous deformity of licentiouspess.
Wisdom and know'edee.
In order to restore such state of
society to health, we must strive to
make the community feel the truth
that wisdom and knowledge are the
only riches worthy of homage and
that nobility of mind should be less
talked Of and more honored.> When
We remember what a powerful ruler
public opinion is in this country, we
need no argument to prove that wis
dom and knowledge should be diff
fused far and wide. AS that mighty
ruler is enlightened, so will be the
stability Of our good institutions. and
the more shall we be freed from the
effects of license.
Ignorance Friend Of Vice.
Because Ignorance is the f1rmest
friend Of vice and knowledge is the
truest aid Of virtue because wisdom
calls into exercise the best, and folly
the worst qualities Of our natures
they who labor with their hands
should be enlightened in mind. If the
millions Of dollars thrown away on
the heather Of other lands were ex-
pended to promote universal educa-
tion in our own country, what a
mighty mass of ignorance would be
removed, and how much would the
general standard of intelligence be
praised.
Some people imagine that the peace
Of society can best be promoted by
preventing the leavening principle of
knowledge from entering TIE mass of
the common mind feeding the few
with the rich lOaves Of wisdom and
the many with the unnourishing, un-
leavened bread of ignorance. but the
truth is against such an argument.
Wisdom and knowledge shall be the
stability Of the times" or the protect
ing powers Of peace. Ignorance in the
people impairs the strength Of a good
government, for the more they know
OF the fitness Of just laws to promote
the happiness Of the whole,o the more
contented they will be to yield ebedi-
ence. II there are laws that ase un-
just, the sooner they are discovered
and repealed the better. If the in
creased intelligence Of the common
mind causes such discoveries to be
made, then one good at least will be
found to have resulted from the Diff
fusion of knowledge. 49,
But 1t Is said that education will
make men dissatisfied with their
trades, and cause them to be unreas-
onably ambitious for other stations in
life. Far different will be the resu1t
Of right education for workmen will
soon learn that honest labor - q
virtue. To dress and keep" the gar
den in which he was placed was
Adams first duty, and constituted the
first trial of obedience. Labor being
recognized as a. virtue, and like all
other virtues. enobling the obedlent
industry will be considered as most
honorable, as the principle of life IA
the Improvement of society. To in
struct men in their duty can not be
giving them an incentive to neglect
it; nor will the knowledge of their
true value to society prompt them to
despise it, but rather lead them to
cherish their work with a proper SELF
respect. They will have Just notions
of the Importance Of mechanical en-
ployment, and correct views concern
ing its character. ~.