The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-12-07
CHICAGO. SATURDAY. DDo. /. 1857
THE LABOR VS.. THE NATIONAL
G0NGR RSG

THE LABOR vs.. TEE NATIONAL
- CONGRESS.
1.-The National Labor Congress which as.
se-nbsed in this city last August. adopted, as
Is well known, platform Of principles which
they resolved all persons expecting the poll
Olga support Of the workingmen Of ths
'country must earnestly aud in good faith
iadupt These principles cover the entire
field az the administrative policy Of the gov
eminent, and propose radical change 10
the manner OF the vdisPosal OF the Pu'lis
Lands, and the tiaanc'si policy Of she eeansTy
II fresh N the memory Of our reader,
hsw thespolitical and pariizan newspapers
everywhere, throughout the States poured
contempt and ridicul9 upon the Labor Con
4ass for presuming TO enunciate poli,ica
pot.-, 40 were its members that they
Should dare to instruct the wisdom Of Con
gross, or even cavll with Republican or De-
.mocraic party creedsS They were advised
to so back TO their workshops, to bod carry
its~, 10 bricklaying and ditch digging, and
fAFe-the formation Of parties and the inaug-
uiation Of policies to competent men, to the
ban rulers Of tue world; to bank presidents
and stock gamblers. But the Labor Con-
gress was not turned from its purpose by the
paid for assaults Of joornalspubIished in the
G4frest Of. and supported by the subsidies
OF capitalists, nor were the millions Of the
woikirgmen Of the country who watched its
Deliberations with a solicitude inspired by
tie Consciousness that their personal happi-
ness was involved therein, induced TO falter
IN their approval Of It's action by any Of the
avs Of which, heretofore, demsgogues have
osiy to- successfully awaited themselves.
The Labor Congress did not anticipate q
Fp,rdy recognition Of the rghtfulness or ex-
ptG,ei ey Of adopting the principles (especi-
slly thos reiatitg to tioance) enunclat ed by
li.sm nor did those whom they represented,
rtmeu baTiug how slowly the rights Of labor
.oayapcs. against aud beat back the ssgres-
SONS ~ capital and unjust legislation, expect
a triumph until after many contests and
trials ID the ballot-b2x But in this the
BlIkiugmeu have been agTeeablY disappoint-
60. Iuer sense Of right, their perceptions
Of Justice, Of which the platform Of the
ch cagu Congress was but an outgrowth
saems 70 have touched the nation. Il has
Iel bed even Congress, guarded as ii is by
unhailowed Influences and surrounded by
sIch a uoH as only the dcnizens of Val
S.oei know hos ~ girde them with. Bot
2crcSs these 'uAuences and over this Hdli
tle people are req hing their long arms and
ara bCl ing up before the eyes of every
mimb,rof The national legislature the date
ghea bis term Of service will expire. and
tneso bscchanaan dancers upon the ruins Of
the country, over the PROSTATE columns Of
ne National unity, are growing sober and
.Aaushuul.
Butler and Sseyens, and many others, are
n1bly striving TO induce the payment
o. the FEDERAL bonds in accordance
wish THE plan proposed by the Labor Con-
ereSs snd the votes which have been already
gwen I'd cate that the Infamous scheme Of
Baine, Morril, and others, who propose to
mcrcase iorty per cent. the public debt, the
Daraen o. which now Expresses ever pro-
drciive industry, and paralyzes ever ort
Of honest labor, will be defeated. Ton
g9r official term Of the senators is calculated
20 make them defiant ct the public will, but
tbeprocess viii not be long, in the hands Of
an inceHsed people, Of eleuinati-c from the
upper nrancl 8 mem
b=re wito declAgs good
cough for pensiolel soldiers, Ior the WIDOWS
ara childreH Of men fallen in the service Of
lhe nation, While for patriotic capitalists
and cnristian baukers,' for foreign arlsto-
cias, and men engaged in running the
Blockade during our civil troubles and who
bought up the federal bonds at forty cents on
The dollar, gold must be paid.
The oaiy fear We have ever had with re-
gari 70 the adcpti Of the financial peas-
urss distinctly set forth in the platfes m Of
the Labor Party, was that the menihAfs Of
the present Coneress in their double ca.gacfsy
ofeougrrssmen and agents for the bankers
ana bondEolders, would consolidate the
federal bonds about to mature into long
bonds payable IN gold and exempt from tax
atibl. Bat Slat dangssis happily passed.
Tss1s are enough Of repressatatiges .o ths
people u The popular btaach Of .ConsEtss to
preverf the accomplishment d any such
rniqaity at this session, and che people, at
Tie next elections, will take care TO coasti
ieabeir national Legislature in such man
ner What hondholders will receive, except
Were Il has specially been provided other
wiss, lae same lawful money as the people
generally Dc, either Tor their labor or its
products.
They viii wrest the government rom the
asqdf OF those VINO have sanctioned the ex-
listing i4voritlsms Of Law they Will make ali
tue Fsopertg Of Rae nation equally liable 20
1siiaTe' n me burdens of the goserument. and
they viii ENFORCE the other principles Of the
Platform of The Labor Congress by which
very msn shaa nave an equal chance for
'fIr, liberty, andrhe pursuit a happness.,,
before the law
A SILLY ARGUMENT.
At the annual meeting Of lhe National w. |
biographical Union, held At Memphis in Msv