The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-26

Of this city, BY which they can again prssscs
themselves and get the full worth OF their
work.
Blu. there Is onc tni.,g rnore about which
l feel q l-=i concern in the condition Of the
workingman, and that is the developement Of
bis power 70 think, aud 50 be the equal of
the thinker, who now commands his services.
| 1t 10 an old, aud in the best sense, true say
ing chat knowledge Is power, that brain win
alwsys command muscle. suppose the little
corporal, as the French soldiers fondly styled
The first Napoleon, COULD be lifted in one
in one hand by scores Of men in his armies.
In bulk, when he began 60 command, he was
probably fhe least among them all, but no
man knew as much, no man thought as much
no man could so mould men through the
mind they might be twice the bulk round
the chest, but lie had the bulk round the
brain. Now we have had some sad things
occur in this city since came into it some
disgraeeful things, and some objectionable,
but in some respects | consider the sadest,
he most disgraceful and most objectionable
Wa the death and burial Of the Mechanics
Institute, the dispersion and total loss Of it's
library. and the consequent information
conveyed to the country and the world, that
the workingmen Of Chicago did not care
for this means of self-improvement, were
not anxious to preserve one Of the most i'm
por9ant allies in the stand Iabour mist make
to be all it can be, were content to let star
go out in their sky, to let go their end Of
the great work of sending light into every
heart and home, and it is fact over which
as yet we can do nothing but lament that
there 10 no city OF our people any where in
the world with an equal population, so en-
tirely destitute in the matter of public Ii
braries as is this. ! suppose il is also true
that until this movement began, Of which
the WoRKISGMAN's 1OyocATE 10 the organ,
there was no city witt such population in
which wo'kingmen were doing so little to
help each other and the world by a banded
effort, and yet no one thing il more impere-
tive or more essential TO be done, and done
with all their might, than this organization
of an institute that shall educate the worker
to be a thinker, that shall so inform and il
Illuminate the workingman as TO make il i'm
possible he shall come under the power Of
demagogues in church OF state, to mislead or
rob HIM, imperil his peace and the peace of
the country, make him their tool and slave
to come and g at their bidding The work
ingman in these good times has the reroedy
in his OVID hands. He can get himself n
home, be can meet his EMPLOYER frankly
and get full fair play, or be can employ
himself, and he can improve himself in what
ever can make him man. And So not In
being the tyrant when he has the power. and
to be the slave when it passes into the other
scale, not in doing the minimum Of work for
the maximum Of pay, not in living like
lord and squandering all be gets, but IN
steadiness, in frugality, III foresight and
self respect and self Improvement. In work
ing out his own salvation from within his
own nature and life will the workingman Of
America, standing now at the head of bis
order, still stand at the head when the work
ingmen Of other lands have forced their way
up to the elevation o. which be stands to-
day, and so while the land enjures and the
water runs may be continue to be what his
country will be if he is true to her great in
terests, the pattern in exaltation and hap
piness, in privilege and in perfect peace.
There's dying chorus
Breaking the human ear
In the busy town before Us
Voices loud aud deep and clear
IL 10 labor's andlsas dtty,
IL In tolls prophetic voice
Sounding through the tu wn and city
Bidding every heart rejoice
sweeter than the poet singing
IL the anthem Of the free,
Blther is the anvil ring ng
III most music unto me
There's glory In the rattle
OF factory in the gloom,
Richer tar than those battle
Are the trophies Of the loom
See the skilful mason rsizins
stone by stone the towering pile:
Round the forge and faFnsce blazing
Stand the noble Of toll.
They are heroes OF the people
They the wealth Of nnsiona rais<
Every d0ms, and spire and stesple
RsArs h head IN labor's praise.
o We men Of truth who labor
Shepherds OF the human fold
re shall lay the b sud and sabre
Priests and prophets # creation
Bioodless heroes In tie aght
Toilers fer this worlds sa 'vstion
Messengers Of peace and light
Speed the plough then, and the harrow
Peace and plenty send abroad
Better for the spade and furrow
Than the cannon and the sword
Zach invention and improvement
Breaks afresh the tyrant's rod,
Every effort. every movement
Brings US nearer truth and God