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spirit which will exalt, rather than debase his character, which will 

 elevate the hopes and aspirations of mankind. 



Labor should be hopeful. No matter what obstacles stand in 

 his waj, no matter how many difficulties it has to contend with, by 

 patience, which Buflfon says is genius, they may be overcome, and 

 in one such triumph, how much strength is gained, how much re- 

 newed moral courage impels the hand and the brain, after such 

 a victory. Said Dessaix at the battle of Marengo, when the 

 French columns were wavering and breaking, " Sire, I think this 

 is a battle lost." " Sir," said Napoleon, " I think this is a battle 

 won!" and in an hour after, the eagles of France flew to victory. 



Despair often whispers to the overworn and wearied sons of toil, 

 " your life is a battle lost," but Hope comes with her celestial gar- 

 ments, in the darkest hours of trial, of danger, and temptation, and 

 breathes in heavenly accents, the immortal words, " your life is a 

 battle won." 



Let us, then, cherish that hope which never dies, the hope of 

 unfaltering toil. It is said that on the East coast, towards Tunis, 

 the Moors still preserve the keys of their ancestors' houses in 

 Spain, to which country they cherish the hope of one day return- 

 ing, and again planting the crescent on the ancient walls of the 

 Alhambra. 



Hopeful labor holds in her hands no Moorish keys, to unlock 

 the regal palaces, once belonging to an effete ancestry ; she holds 

 no muniments of title by hereditary right, but she builds peaceful 

 homes on the soil of Freedom, lays the Bible on her family altars, 

 throws wide open the unbarred halls, plants the stars and stripes 

 by every door post, and bids a young and valiant race to enter in 

 and partake of the joys thereof. 



All labor should be intelligent. It has grown to be a maxim, 

 that always near the hearing ear will be found the speaking voice. 

 We may with justice assert, that allied to the working hand sliould 

 be found the trained and educated brain. The means of educa- 

 tion should be open and accessible to all ; and if individual means 

 or interest fail, the State should provide for the establishment of 

 schools and institutions suitable for the instruction of every individ- 

 ual in the elements of knowledge. No child should be suffered to 

 grow to manhood in a free, Christian commonwealth, without a 



