The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-08-25
SLAVERY.

$500 A~A@ = g.
Slavery 10 wrong. The voice of God
speaking through all the channels Of nature
and reason proelaims it TO he 30. In the
history Of the race, slavery has always ex-
listed down to the present time. IL was
worse in the days of the Babylonians and
Modes than in the DAYS of the Greeks and
Romans. 1t was worse in the DAYS when
Athens and Rome were the exponsnts Of
human civilization than when middIe-aes
Feudalism gave Law to the world. Il was
worse in this rude form than it was in the
form recommended BY Bartholomew La
Casas, a devout Spanish monk, who recon-
mended for the 6rst time the Introduction a
African slavery into America African
slavery was worse IN some respects than the
present system Of slavery, in which labor i,
subjected to capital.
Thus we see that in tracing the history oil
the way down the record, the condition
of the slave has been gradually improving
The tendency of civilization and the in
stincts Of justice are to root slavery out Of
existence, and to establish a system found.
ed upon the everlasting principles of human
right.
We shall first endoavour to show that tia,
slavery still exists. and second 70 show how
it may be abolished and the cause Of hu.
mainly be still further advanced.
We shali endsaVour in the first place to de.
fine what il ID, and We take the broad ground
that any system which denies to man th.
just recompense Of bis labor is slavery. The
slaves of the South were always allowed
the privilege of certain portion of tbei,
time 70 work for themselves. This they
awaited themselves Of and there were few q
the able bodied who were not suf6cientl,
able to save for themselves during the year
amounts from one hundred dollars
and upwards. Then their masters
were interested in their well being, and
Doth from -peeuniary motives and from rea
sons Of pride would not allow them to b.
injured or imposed upon. True, there yer,
cases Of brutality, but no man who has any
regard for truth, however much be NAV
hate slavery, (and none do so more than
ourseives) will have the effrontery to
assert that, this barbarity was com
mon. The slaves were well attended
to in sickness and in age. and were generally
Con account Of their ignorance) coDtsnted
with their condition. The difference be
tween him and the white laborer was. the
former could not leave his place and seek
employment elsewhere, while the latter
could. The white laborer was free in his
movements to sest employment and just re-
muneration. But he did not get them. Dur
ing the times of African slavery, he must be
satisfied with the wages for which slaves
could be hired, and since the abolition OF
slavery, western steamboat men aud Eas-
tern capitalists and manufacturers, Although
amassing princely fortune from tia a. Of
their Operatives" haverefused to pay s36m
just remuneration for their services. and
have actually gone and employed those very !
blacks, who could afford to labor at lower
rates. in their places. Il liz to be boxsss tlis-.
tincty in mind that, the essential % taeter5
istic Ots'avery Is not, whether the laborer L
allowed 70 receive anything for his toll. but
wbe-ner, be receives inst compensation.
The slaves. Of ths South did not receive this,
although sbet were allowed time to-
work tdf 81 s,asalves, and the en-
Ormoas profit. Thich acGue 10
Northern capitalists, snl the thousands Of
strikes among tue workingmep, ia proof
that the laboring man Of the North has
not received it. We have thus demonstrate |
ID that lAboring mon DO MT receive jsss
renuasyatios for their services, and II our |
definition " slavery vas correct. then this
systeia STILL Exrsrs. 1.-THE next tine that
he labosingmen Of America are called upon
b take up arms against slavery, that f6ul
curse ana destroyer or human happiness. Ii
will be to deliver themselves from the bond
lgs, in which Ihey are held by capital i
We now state second how this dellvsrance
4 the working1an can be effected. II
The government Of allcountries has taken
lpcn itself to fix the rate Of interest of
money. Many countries and local laws sxl
be price Of bread and other provisions inll
rdsrIto prevents imposition upon the par- |,
h,ssf. In France. jswsler Is responsible "A
" TN gsnuineness and hneness Of his (