. Autographs for freedom. 0 Cfje Jbljonur of Ifiibor. rjpHE fundamental, essential cause of slavery and itsconcomitants, ignorance, degradation and sufferingon tl^e one side, as of idleness, prodigality and luxury-bom disease on tlie other, is a false idea pf the natureand offices of Labor. Labor is not truly a curse, as lias too long been as-serted. It only becomes sucli through human per-verseness, misconception and sin. It was no curse tothe first pair in Eden, and Trill not be to their descend-ants, whenever and wherever the spirit of Eden shallpervade them. It is only a curse because too
. Autographs for freedom. 0 Cfje Jbljonur of Ifiibor. rjpHE fundamental, essential cause of slavery and itsconcomitants, ignorance, degradation and sufferingon tl^e one side, as of idleness, prodigality and luxury-bom disease on tlie other, is a false idea pf the natureand offices of Labor. Labor is not truly a curse, as lias too long been as-serted. It only becomes sucli through human per-verseness, misconception and sin. It was no curse tothe first pair in Eden, and Trill not be to their descend-ants, whenever and wherever the spirit of Eden shallpervade them. It is only a curse because too manyseek to engToss the product of others work, yet doHttle or none themselves. If the secret were but out,that no man can really enjoy more than his oivn moderatedaily lalor would produce^ and none can trvly enjoy thiswithout doing the worlc^ the death-knell of Slavery in. The Dishokoe of Laboe. 195 general—^in its subtler as well as its grosser forms—would be rung. Until tbat truth shall be thoroughlydiffused, the cunning and strong will be able to preyupon the simple and feeble, whether the latter be calledslaves or something else. The great reform required is not a work of hoursnor of days, but of many years. It must first per-vade our literature, and thence our current ideas andconversation, before it can be infused into the commonlife. Meanwhile, it would be well to remember that—? Every man who exchanges business for idleness, notbecause he has become too old or infirm to work, butbecause he has become rich enough to live withoutwork; Every man who educates his son for a profession,rather than a mechanical or agricultural calling, notbecause of that sons supposed fitness for the formerrather than the latter, but because he imagines Law,Physic or Preaching, a m^ore respectable, genteel voca-\ tipn, than building houses or growing grain ; Ev
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectslavery, bookyear1854
