The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-07-21

To the laboring masses Of the Old World
belongs the credit of fret making manifest
the advantages OF corporation. Oppressed
to a greater degree, necessity seems to have
driven our trans-atlantic brethren to new
experiments, which were better calculated to
fortify them against thepower Of capitalists.
Reforms were started p check the progress
siFe social degradation which threatened
enslavenent, and to secure such political
rights as would place the weapons Of self
defence within their reach. Years of labe-
and sacrifice, msrked By the most commend
able zeal, was devoted to many Of them
bat NOS until the clarion-notes Of " self
help" ruDe out from Rochdale, did CLEAN
Of sunshine light up their Patbway.
Had the oppressors Of labor dreamed
that, from cooperation, the toilers of Eng
land would derive an Irresistible power, and
place within their grasp the means TO meet
their adversaries :in social conflict, the out
cry against that experiment would have
been just as fierce as that raised against any
other reform. But, unconnected with
strikes, lock-outs, and wholly distinct from
the question Of wages or hours of labor,
they considered il 8 hobby" which would
divert the masses from other efforts to
ameliorate their condition, and afford capi-
talists happy respite from the I" unreasOn-
able demands of workingnen. Hence,
cooperation met the approval of nearly al
classes of society.
But they have lived to learn that, from
the root OF this new system of self-protec.
tion, springs many branches, which are des-
tined to overshadow various reforms. 1t j,
the cornerstone OF q superstructure which
49, L. ,R II n
be, Of political emancipation In Europe,-
and everywhere its influence for good viii
be felt, for, like the Banyan tree, where il
branches it takes root. 1t has been but
few years since an off-sboot of the pareu,
stem was transplanted in this country, ant
already there is q glorious promise Of abun.
dant fruit. That it can be made more
effective. and more productive under our
free institutions none can doubt. All th,
system needs here 10, that it shall be sub.
jected to the same tests. IL is possible
however, that the indiferenci, of America,
workingmen may require an experience O.
the same stern necessities which forced CO.
operation into existence in Europe. W,
hope not. God forbid that we should suffel
the tortures Of that travail which rave tn,
system birth abroad. We know what il hal
done what il can do-and we must be ia
credulous, indeed, il we hesitate for on,
moment to give it our full confidence ane
support, ia view Of the great results it hai
accomplished. Richly viii we merit all tht
evils it can remove if we fail to make us,
Of il.
cooperation has enabled the workingmer
to provide against the necessity or strikes
In one sense, it il . savings bank, in which
they can deposit spare earnings, however
small. The little capital invested is scar.
cely felt, and all the time il is increasins
until the dividends amount to small an
nuity-whether in the shape Of increased
stock, money or goods. 1t is relay whicl
can-be depended upon l., trouble, afiietion
or any misfortune that may come upon us
We need not enumerate the many additiona
comforts thus secured to tie poor man.
home. Its genial influence shines witt
brighter lustre around the domestic hearth
stone, while il renders the workman inde
pendent of necessities which often compe
him to submit to bectoring, domineering
and insults of every kind that tyranny >eal
infict. Against all these he is protected
because the employer is consci Dus that b.
possesses the means to resent imposition
And should he be forced to that hast resor
Ia strike, his ability to indure idleness viii
not depend upon the amount u trust be cal
obtain OF the corner grocer, OF the baker, D
| OF the butcher. He falls back upon th,
&c nest egg" Deposited in the eo-operatiy,
store, and, when that Is exhausted, be meet
with a con6dence AID sympathy that vii
save himself ard family from want.
| Why is il that the workingmen of Eng
land, mora depressed, subjscf to mere un
reasonable .exactions, and as many suppose
occupying 4 lower social standard, have Be
cyme 30 successfal IN their eiforss % advanc,
wages, secure privileges lopg denied them
and become so perfect in their trade orrani
nations? These questions are all answere.
BY the simple compound word --co-opers
ton. Jnst in proportion, e that lever. o
self-help was used 70 pry Of the load Of op
pression which weighed them down, to tia
degree have they burst the bonds whicl
| knr kh..~~ kn -.