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

We expressed before our satisfaction at
being defeated in all the State Legislatures.
The passage of an Eight-Hour bill this
spring would. in our opinion, been too easy
victory, and would have had the effect OF
throwing our men Off their guard. The la
Dor movement has not yet taken sufficient
flesh and power TO get along without coca
sional heavy outside pressure. Leaving the
Eight-Hcur movement aside, workingmen
have confined themselves almost strictly to
the defensive. OR Unions waited till they
we're attacked and then struck, and there the
matter ended, either in victory or defeat.
Our action has been only by fits and starts.
We have preferred rather to create issues
than take hold Of those forced upon or pre-
scented t. Us. In consequence we suffer Of
a certain rarTowneSs, certain fear to be
swamped by something as soon as We
should dare to launch forward into tie high
SCI Not en- attempt has as yet been made
to create seine kind OF comprehensive
platform, bringing 10 bear q new principle on
every relation and institution Of society, re-
viying mankind, and changing every aspect
Of life. We 30 not say that such plat
icrm can be Constructed now by nybody AT
short or at long notice; nobody can say
when and how The new gospel is TO announce
itself, but we insist on a little preparation
for its Anal advent, which even thereby ms-
be fastened or BY the want d, II DELAYED.
There is not cough mental activity among
Oh party associations and party creeds they
still cling to it; they are as yet scarcely
hall-born again. Such nen are not full c'
that unquencbable zeal that conquers Ii
world; their efforts are sadly wanting in
strength, perseverance, and comprehensive
ness. We must create more agitation among
ourselves or We shall lose ground; the wa
tiers Of Siloah only worked miracles when
stirred. In 0ur days such mental stirring
effective. 'e have no st. Johns to do the
work for Us We have 70 DO !. ourselves OF
we have to furnish the money to do it by
good substitutes. There is an immense pub.
lie opinion still waiting to be convinced OF
he business of our claims, and ready to d.
vide in IT favor and to change laws, Gus
toms, and society accordingly. We have to
enlarga the circle Of our adherents. How
can that be done ? Only by sys stem of lee
lures, pamphlets, and newspapers. We have
scarcely begun to do anything in that line
and nothing viii eventually pay better than
the money INVESTED in it. Many a strike
would not ksse lasted week, instead Of ten
weeks, if there had been daily labor paper
in the place to bring public opinion at once
on the side Of the strikers. Laws ike that
Tioga county hw in Pennsylvania, and like
the NJ ners' law of this State would never
have been passed if labor had taken care be
fore to post its sentiments on its watch-tow
ers and TO erect watch for that pur.
pose. Everything has yet to be done.
In order to carry the repeal Of the Corn
Laws hundreds Of thousands Of pounds
were expended by the Ahti-Ucrn-Law
League, and that League never allowed agi
tation 70 flag for want Of material. Pamph.
let's were sown broadcast over the land, and
at last the pressure proved irresistible. Par.
lament had to yield, and repealed the hated
law. We have TO use the same means foa
our greater end. Besides a few labor pa
pers, and but few of them daily ones, what
ha- been dore 3 While manufacturers food
the land with t0cir protective tracts, where
are ourss Tie Germans have scarcely been
approached yet; not a single pamphlet IN
German has been published bearing on the
great issues Of labor and capital The want
for the DISSEMINATION Of knowledge Of thus
kind is felt by the leaders keenly. H. m
possible to keep up our Leagues without
giving shese new and enlarged IDEAS from
time to time. We are glad that Massachu-
sets, as usual in labor movements, leads tie
van. a special committee, appointed at the
State Convention Of the Grand Eight Hour
League Of Massachusetts, in February, calls
upon worklngmen and women for material
aid for agitat,ng the Eight Hour issue in
every town and hamlet of the State. This
Con yention voted to raise $4,000 as the
amount necessary TO place this movement
where It belongs the coming year. This
81, 900 has been distributed over some thirty
or forty different towns, so as to make the
share Of each prop yrtioDate to its popula-
tion. The ball has been already set in mo-
ton in Boston with good results, and we
doubt not the sum will be raised and more
too Here in The Northwest the fed is still
better and richer than in the East. Our DIFF
6culties are less and eur power greater,
therefore more may be expected from
US. Itsis time We answered some Of
these expeeiatiossl We commend this mat
ter not only 10 the Grand Eight Hour League
IL this State, butte The Trades Assembly
md 70 every Trades Union. sKhsn the