these feelings and convictions, I am naturally, almost necessarily,
led to address you on a topic which must insure the attention of such an
audience: namely, the elevation of that portion of the community who
subsist by the labor of the hands. This work, I have said, is going on.
I may add, that it is advancing nowhere so rapidly as in this city. I do
not believe that, on the face of the earth, the spirit of improvement has
anywhere seized so strongly on those who live by the sweat of the brow as
among ourselves. Here it is nothing rare to meet the union of
intellectual culture and self-respect with hard work. Here the prejudice
against labor as degrading has very much given way. This, then, is the
place where the subject which I have proposed should be discussed. We
ought to consider in what the true elevation of the laboring portion
consists, how far it is practicable, and how it may be helped onward.
The subject, I am aware, is surrounded with much prejudice and error.
Great principles need to be brought out, and their application plainly
stated. There are serious objections to be met, fears to be disarmed,
and rash hopes to be crushed. I do not profess to have mastered the
topic. But I can claim one merit, that of coming to the discussion with
a feeling of its importance, and with a deep interest in the class of
people whom it concerns. I trust that this expression of interest will
not be set down as mere words, or as meant to answer any selfish purpose.
A politician who professes attachment to the people is suspected to love
them for their votes. But a man who neither seeks nor would accept any
place within their gift may hope to be listened to as their friend. As a
friend, I would speak plainly. I cannot flatter. I see defects in the
laboring classes. I think that, as yet, the greater part of them have
made little progress; that the prejudices and passions, the sensuality
and selfishness of multitudes among them, are formidable barriers to
improvement; that multitudes have not waked as yet to a dim conception of
the end for which they are to struggle. My hopes do not blind me to what
exists; and with this clear sense of the deficiencies of the multitude of
men, I cannot, without guilt, minister to their vanity. Not that they
alone are to be charged with deficiencies. Look where we may, we shall
discern in all classes ground for condemnation; and whoever would do good
ought to speak the truth of al