The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-26
CHICAGO, SATURDAY. MAY 2s. 1855
MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY.

MORE Truth THAN POETRY
at is all sheer nonsense to expect any
thing from the laboring classes q working
man viii be q woIkingman to the end Of TIL
chapter, and he will never occupy other thai
a subordinate position" said q friend tn
other evening, who had been constan
reader of the ADVOCATE. "Men who are ID
earnest can do anything within the range D
possibility, but most of our mechanics seen
perfectly content with their position and &C
upon the principle, To-day let US eat anC
drink for tomorrow we die.'a While tn,
pride Of some would rebel against any sucf
conclusion, if their conduct for the past u
any index--for the future-we are paineC
to admit there was more truth than poetry
in these remarks. Workingmen you uiH con
tinue to be neutrality-suspicious. is remain
stamped with the ban Of infcriority both il
the social and inteIle1Slsl worid-until yor
are actuated BY nobfer ambition--ant
realize Your destiny must be carved by youl
o4sn hands. Your position is similar to thai
of drowning uan calling for help, while you
refuse to accept the life preserver within
your reach. Weare sick and tired of reading
and hearing of this and that strike, which
in majority Of cases, result more disast
rously to the employed than the employers
while YOU refuse to adopt measures which
would render these strikes impossible
Neither does it avail to be continually bar
ranguing Of the sggressioDs or greed of cap
italists, while you neglect to strip it of It's
poverty systematic cooperation. The
admission of the existence Of an evil accom-
pishes nothing, If your action is not predi
Gated on determination to change it. Al
matters stand at present, the privileges
which you possess as American citizens are
a curse instead Of blessing 10 you. These
advantages, which in the hands Of earnest
men would prove your salvation, have been
the means Of debasing you, for if you had
not possessed them you could not have ex
ercised them to your own injury. Suppose
the mechanics Of Sheffield or Birmingham
possessed the elective-franchise for one year
would they occupy the position you do to
dayl Did you ever think what the intslli
gent, united efforts If 10000 men could &C
oomplish. and then bring the matter home and
ask yourselves the question what have tbs
workingmen Of Chicago done--or to make
the matter a personal one, What haze
done, as one Of these 100000" to raiss my
self or fellow.men from the slough Of con.
tempt, to give practical illustration Of the
dignity Of lsbor or repudiEte the Kssasisl
that we are not the mudsiils Of socset =
Have you worked as earnestly for tie sslab.
lishment Of Trades Union-the 6rst slep
in the right direction, the success Of the 20.
operative Association, the establishment Of
Mechanics Institute or Reading Room, as
you have for the election Of q ward con
stable or pound master Did your tongue
ever tire 10 urging upon your fellow mechanic
the necessity of uniting his influence to your
own II building these essentials, as often as
il las tired in defending the policy Of the
Democratic or RepalShean parties If you
cannot answer these questions in s direct
satisfactory manner, you are directly charge
able with this apathy, and should lay the
blame where it exists-at your own door,
We have reason to believe traitors exist
= !, l.. IL
profession Of 'oyslty to the labor int rests,
hut who's ar. Uns belle their professions /;
who arc a,Eays ready to throw cold water
on every enterprise and prognosticste
feat. And vet IS IL strange that such
creatures should exercise any influence with
earnest, intelligent men. What, for example
wocld the Republican have thought OF the
man who, whilo advocating the principles Of
that party, cast his own vote on the day Of
election for the Democratic nominee, and
urged others to do likewise And yet not
more inconsistent is the action of these
men. But this is begging the question.
Every privilege which you can expect, work
ingmen OF Chicago, is already guaranteed
If you fail to use it for your own advantage,
you alone are rssponsi6lel and you alone will
be the sufferers, as you richly deserve to be.
But it is a long love which has no turn and
though your day Of probation is fast passing
away, after which your regrets like those
Of the lost, will come too late, an oppor-
tunity is yet presented to redsem yourselves
" Attempt great things and expect great
things" Remember, as DR.. Collyer told
you, to Be somebody you must do something,
and let that something be the determination
to cultivate those traits Of character which
dignity mankind, to foster q manly indie
pendence, to cease croakiDg and 90 to work
as men who are in earnest. to determine you
WILL BIZ somebody, redeem the time left, and
prove your ability to occupy more exalted
position. Give il but one fair, Aonest, i'm
partial trial, and like the Queen Of Sheba,
you will be Convinced the half hsf not been
told you. 90.
ELEVATION OF THE LABOR
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