The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-11-09
FROM BRsIpwoUD, Ill.

- ~
IVY aaBkAIDwopD, Nor. 5ti., 1857.
aDaAR SrR-i am but wprkingnaa, is
common expression, BY whtch thousands
console lIlernselv- into inactivity, apathy,
aud az c,iva, wien their interests are al
srake-whea circumstances iemand aud
cal aloud fsr tHelr immediate attention.
when the iron heel Of oppression Is sunk
deep into thelr heAris-xhen wrong q
deep aad CHASTITY character meet as IN the
face, morn. n,an and night, imPortuH og
aud besseching as for redresS-when falsiiy
walks abroad uIc -rreclsd AMI unrS6sd. in-
fusing corruption into. and detiling the pub
Tic mind when evils Of a THOUSAND dihsrent
natures, existing IN cur social state, CRIES 70
every worAinrman, --pat 70 insc motion The
oar. the ave, or The ten talents, God has
given you, and exert the same with All your
might, that you might indrce another to
do 80 like likewise, and anosaer might lead
another, qnlb tiTir racks bath swslled 70
thousands Of thousands. Then might you
reform the world 10 as never to allow the
oppressor's heel once raised to fall A
wrong 70 i've longer than 60 give il birth (;
nor vile lEeto tfzvel further than lis orig
inator.
Why, my dear sir, in using the pharsr.
. I ann but a @orkngman," We, AZ il were,
throw discredit upon all those great minds
n h hath burst the bonds of ignorance which
tad asserted that tho proper Guty Of the
Iabsrer was 10 labor who hath oyvrstepped
the uarrow limits OF cGstoin and of super
sti ion, AM hath demonstrated % the world
tha; the woIkinsman saw with tn same
| eyes. heard with the same ears, and felt with
| the same .kehur, was animated with the
same spirit, and endowed with the same
faculties, and, IN faci, possessed all the dir
frrent parts with those that dbl enjny the
1 benefits or afiiuencs and on state C1nse-
ouenlly dill rlgnt but have her own, the Ia
borer is entitled ~ the same share Of the
con.iorts acrruing from labor rs they who
hath their capital invested in the production
Of the same.
True, Il Is too, IN saying, "I an but a
| workihgman," W forget Tat most ~ our
4 great men we're bat 'workinemsn We for
u get that George Washington left The plough
% nig5r The. battles vi his cou srv,-=ied tfe
| American armies against one OF the most
1 powerful nations, and freei II from tyrant
government We forget THAI ''Old Abe
Lincoln split fence rails, yet did he steer the
helm 81 this nation through ore OF the most
giganf Q civil wars in the annals Of history.
We forget that Ben" Franklin was but
workingman, yet does he stand an ornament
IN literature and philosophy. We forget
4 that Francis Bacon was but " lawyers
clerk, yet by the acuEeness Of Inns
observation. the sonndness Of his reason,
and the strength Of has logic oeerihro@ the
philosophy of his time. We forget that
James Watt was but working man, and
that Geo. Stephenson was bat collier pick
carrier; We forget that A.. Mcdonald was
but q working coal miner, vet what Victories
has he achieved for the miners Of Great
Britrin-what strides has he made for their
advancemrnf In the social scale; we forget
that God himself labored six days and rest
cd on the seventh day and that our blessed
Savior piled his time As carpenter Where
fore, thai, ia that'we use the exb rcssipu,
I ann hut woIkingman. Away to the winds
with the faIlscious argument Give me
something mofe tangible. something with
substance ia t. Let me be resolved 90 be a
sporiinoman, ought to befhe uaotto Of esery
one Who earns his bread by the sweat Of III
brow. Let us work, aud know no rcsting
day until We have attained our rights, and
until our powsf be felt III the legislative
halls of the connfry rs ab Important, an in
iauential and powerful part Of she comsnu-
nifty. This ought TO b. the resolution Of
every coal miner Of this country W. have
evils to remedy, W have wrongs V redress,
We hayeA smiled name u redeem. Letns,
therefore, be doing, and ieel ashamed 70 ex-
cnse ourselves from the responsibility devol-.
viag upon esery Individual Of US, under the
plea off, am but q Workingman.
II BY giving this I. place in your frst, you
viii nsch 6t4ige WV ~ 4'
4 Yours very truly, JoHx JAKEs.