No. 151.] S7^ 



in this State and the United States, in agriculture, commerce, manu= 

 factures and the arts." Although it is indebted almost exclusively 

 to the munificence of New-York for the means of accomplishing its 

 great objects, yet its beneficial views are extended to all the States 

 in the Union, and its rewards and honors are liberally distributed, 

 without regard to sectional considerations; and its affairs are con- 

 ducted, as far as practicable, free from the baleful effects of party 

 prejudice and feeling. 



To promote and encourage domestic industry, in agriculture, com- 

 merce, manufactures and the arts, is to improve the condition of the 

 laboring classes engaged in those several branches of our national 

 prosperity. This has been, and will continue to be, a primary ob- 

 ject with the American Institute. And never were exertions in this 

 cause more loudly called for than at the present moment, when, 

 from our system of free trade, and the overwhelming pressure of 

 foreign influence, we are threatened with the curse of European 

 pauperism. 



To form an estimate of what is due to the laboring classes of the 

 free States of America, it will not be amiss to notice the condition 

 of those of other countries and other times. 



From the earliest period to which history extends, mankind have 

 been separated, as they still are, into two great divisions: those who 

 labor, and those who do not. As all the necessaries, comforts, and 

 luxuries of life are the product of labor, it follows that those who 

 ■do not labor must live upon the earnings of those who do. From 

 which it would seem, that the laboring classes were entitled to the 

 highest consideration, and to the greatest share of the products of 

 their industiy. But the reverse of this is the case; and, from the 

 building of the pyramids of Egypt to th^ present time, in the old 

 world, the condition of those who produce everything by their labor, 

 has been, and continues to be, but little better than that of slaves to 

 those who produce nothing. 



If we take a view of modern Europe, we find that a small portion 

 of its inhabitants, by a system of violence, fraud, and deception, are 

 in possession of almost the entire wealth of the country, and that 

 the larger portion are reduced to the most abject poverty; and that 

 different governments seem to be established chiefly for the purpose 

 of increasing the power of the rich and perpetuating the degraded 

 condition of the poor; and nearly all the parties, political and reU- 



