The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-12

evening the workingmen OF this city are not
ashamed Of themselves, il 10 simply because
they are Indifferent to public opinion. I'M
welcome though the statement mey be, it is
none the less true that the lectures given
under the auspices of the Trades Assembly,
have proved failures, 80 far as the atten-
dance has been concerned. Yes, mechanics
of Chicago, to your eternal disgrace, be it
said, you have proved yourselves unworthy
Of the efforts made to elevate you either as
men or citizens by those who had generous.
ly consented to address you, without fee or
reward, when all other invitations had been
persistently refused. You have thus cast
a stigma upon the cause and yotipselves
which time can scarcely remove. Employers
ask, and with reason too, if you take no
interest in yoar oWn advancement, what
right have you to expect that others will (?
And that IL you do so, YOU have very
strange way Of showing it. Do you ever
realise that your position in life depends
solely upon your own exertions? That if
you are content with your mental position,
there is no just cause of complaint existing
against any oppressor; and it is therefore
the sheerest humbug to talk of eieudting you
much in the same way as the brazen serpent
was raised-by the exertions Of others. We
assert, in all sober earnestness, that liz you
have no yearning to rise, to help yourselves,
to be somebody, it is fighting against pro-
violence to attempt to compel you, ao!ens
ro!enS as il is evidenl God never intended
you should occupy other than mental,
subseryieut position. This may sound arsh
or ungenerous, but we know ii is the light
in which employers regard it--and they are
right.
Let US look for moment at the facts Of
the case. Two Of the ablest, most popular
and eloquent diyines in this city, kindly
consented to prepare lecture for your es-
pecial benefit. The very name of either Of
these gentlemen under other auspices would
have filled any hall in the city, at twice the
amount charged TO yoa for admission. More
over, they were both emphatieally self made
men; they had once earned their living BY
the sweat Of honest labor; they sympathiz-
ed with yor they knew the story of your
wrongs, ana were anxious TO raise their
powerful voices in your behalf. Under
these circumstances was it asking too much
that you should be present on these occa-
sions, TO testify your appreciation Of their
noble disinterested efforts Now what VIZ
the result ? While these gentlemen were
lecturing to empty benches, within a stone
cast Of that hall could be found thousands
of workingmen eongregated in the vilesi
deDs, mis- named concert saloons, listening
to the songs Of the wanton or the filthy
Jests of the clown many Of them spending
IN single evening, for poisoned drinks,
more than was required to admit them to
the entire series of Lectures. This is sad
sad fact, and yet it is best you should know
the nIAh.
We are well aware workingmen have q
great many drawbacks TO contend with, t.
INCH the so-called upper class are strangers
Some have so far 60 come and are $50 tired
when they get home that il requires more
than an ordinary effort : to come down
town." But We would remind those who
plead this excuse that it was no further t
Smith & Nixon's hall than it was to th'
Varieties, and every excuse offered for non
attendance is equally valid against attending
almost any place of amusement in the city
Z our presence would have been just as vel
come had you come in your fustain as ii
your best apparel. The smoke on your fac,
or the oil on Jour garments would not have
detracted the least from the applicability OF
vim Of the speakers remarks. No, no, al
this is a mere subterfuge. The fact is, hac
it been an exhibition Of circus, q tum
bling mountebank, rcpe-walker, almos
anything but what 1t was, the doorway
would have been bcseiged hours before tn,
exhibition commenced.
Now we want every reader Of the ADvo
CATE to take these statements as personal
if they are at all applicable. Nay more
we hope all such viii feel indignant, at hsii
o,cn conduct, and determine to turn over {
new leaf in the future. We do not wish t.
offend any one. 1t is because We want t
see you act different, to aspire to be some
body and do something, that prompts these
remarks. We know you have lost COLDER
opportunity to make your influence felt anC
respected an Opportunity in fact, which
you can never recall. We should also hk,
those who are offended to ask either DIR
Collyer or Ryder, if their leisure hours wer'
spent in ideness or in concert saloons Il
they had been rest assured they would no
now occupy the proud position they do in
the estimation of the public. Seh-culture
study. ambition, perseverance, self-denla
enabled them to overcome all obstacles, anc
the exercise Of the same virtues, reader, nj
matter now humble your position or origin
will do the same for you.
KILLING NO MURDER.
1t must certainly have been gratifying t