The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-04

Al almost every political meeting, the main
movers seem to ask, and do really ask, "whst
shall we do, and say, to please-win ovsr-Or
secure the laboring classes1"
Why is thisi
They know, Us all know, that the laboring
classes compose the majority, and that, If they
vote and act with them, they must carry the day.
These movers, then, are wise. They adept the
best means to accomplish their ends; we say
the best, looking at the question simply as re-
CARDS immediate action.
But are they successfully
Very often, entirely so. The truth Is, the
politician s a shrewd man. He knows well the
prejudiess which sway the lsboring classes, and
how best to excite their passions. He proposes
measures, consequently, whica are likely TO
meet the prejudIces. and nstSes n1li an With,
their passions, and II he makes hit, as we call
il, he becomes, at once, leader, in general par
lance great man. -
Aud how fares ii, than. with tho Ias'rihg
elasses1
They are not improved; their condition is In
no way advanced. They prove true psrtizaniI--
but for whose bens6t Not for their own
but for the Advancement Of those who lead
them! The labOring classes start wrong. They
consult prejudices, instead Of reason, passion In
stead Of judgment, and hence they are necssss-
rily made the tools Of the few. What one meas
ure likely TO benefit the poor. 10 help on and up
the hard sOas Of toll, can they get politicians to
defend, or legislatures to passl Mention one
such, and you hear all sorts Of hard names APP
piled to it, and to those who advocate It, and the
majority, because they do not know how to sx.
srt their strength, are defeated and driven back
as II they had no right TO speak or act.
What is the remedy
That lies with the laboring classes and with
them, msinly. II they inform themselves, ana
Dc what Is right, there will be very little difiicul-
ty in forcing politicians to do what Is right
But If eli the other hand, they allow thsmsslvs.
to be governed by prejudice and passion, they
will be ruled, despotically ruled, by tho few who
lead than. One who never fsttsrsd, yet who
always stood by them, who never held offics
yet sought always to put honest men in Office
thus advises
81 respectfully council those whom I address,
(the working men Of America / counsel you
to labor for clear understanding Of the subjects
which sgitate the community--to make them
your study, instead Of wasting your leisure in
vague passionate talk about them. The time
thrown eway by the mass Of the people on the
rumors Of the day might, II better spent, give
them good acquaintance with the constitution,
laws, history, and interests of their eouatry, and
thus establish them on those great principles by
which particular measures are to be determined
In proportion as the people thus improve them
selves, they will cease to be the tools Of design
ing politicians. Their intelligence, rot their
nsssions and isaIopsiss will be sv nsS dbl Dy
not nominal, but a real influence in the gov
eminent and destinies of the country, and at
the same time will forward their own growth in
truth and virtue"
We trust laboring men will hear this counsel,
and learn the true way to obtain a real, not q
nominal influence, in society and the affairs OF
State. .-e