The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-03-21
nuTrEs OF rHR HoUn

msnt have Tho intsrssts of the working
classes dsusndpa that careful astsplion and
sarnsN tA1ashtfal oansidei<stu1, vhieh
they do u pressed, md ct 70 time have
duties 90 important fallen upon them to dis
charge. The interests, needs and dsmands
Of every other class Of our people are being
steadily and viseronsis pressSd. BY thoss
moss affected by rssults- Perhaps we do
not err greatly N asserting that the chief
end Of the legislative assemblies Of the
United States 10 TO promote the welfare and
advance the special interssts o. particular
slassss. Every distinct scot, party and divi-.
sioa al them sock material aid from The Law,
making pewera The manufactures urges
with unabated vigcF the repeal 81 al laws
which impede, restrain or euEtal IN any way
the full, free C srcise and s9jognsnt Of bis
right 70 create the legitimass offspring OF his
avocatiOn. The merchant initiates ~ith
commendable neal against any retrench--
msnts upon his privileges, and pursu.s With
unceasisg industry every avenue to success;
nor faIters antil he opens amplier facilities
70. ne sElargemept and advancement Of his
maisrlA' welfare. The, professional men
er cry whereof oil kinds. thu lawyer, the
physician, aud the minister--are aliat work,
in their respective spheres, to extend their
influence, and promote the interests OF the
sciences they have respectively chosen 20
follow a. their lie svocation. The result Is
that their individual advantage Is secured in
proportion TO the degree OF earnestness and
vigOr they put forth 70 achieve their aim.
The workingmen alone Of NIL the various
classes, which make up thu sum total Of
humanity, seem to stAad back aad shrink
from the duties devolvieg upon them All
are wiling to be helped, and all desire, or
vast moiority do, the material Advancement
Of their personal good. But few there be,
OF those who need the aid Of others who
are anxious to join those IN the same ship
with themselves, and by united, methodicai,
persistea. effort achieve for themselves and
their own cIs $ larger privileges, better posi-
tions, and safer guarantees Of acknowledged
righta With all the manifold and impera-
tive duties incum bent upon thsm never was
there wider range Of action and
grander and mors important results 10
be attained. The wfole na'ion is vast
work shop, in which there are comparatively
few workmsn who are able 70 keep 10 foil
blast, and profitable employment, the mas
sve power that now lies dormant. FROM
Maine to California are myriad fields Tor hu-
man industry, which are barren from want
Of culture. And often the best spheres Tor
profitable labor are either overlooked or ig-.
nored, and inferior ones in every sense are
selected in the place of better.
But the psrtieular lceAlity has not 80
much to do with the prosperity and well De-
ing Of the laboring man 50 bis wilful neglect
OF his chances to take advantage of his posi-
ton. One or two may possibly agree upon
a plan Of action wt'eh they agree 10 follow,
but which when put to the test OF practi-
eAbi.ity. requires more energy and moral
courage than was supposed necessary, and
hence the scheme too frequeody fsils
to accomplish the end desired.
The great lack existing among these
classes is ununanimity Of purpose and
action. The men who perform the daily la
Dor OF the world are substantially the life Of
the worlds prosperity. Take away the
manual labOrer and You rob the world Of the
grand columns which support and no1rish
its progress and improvement in oil things.
that susssias iis commerce, builds its-railr
roads and cities, raises from its mines and
mountains the rich ores which brings to lite
iis luxuriss; develops its agricultural re-
sources; converts its msasureless forests into
material for houses. in which happy homes
may be; transforms the substance Ct it,
luArries into pillars Of strength and struc-
lures of beauty what must this tre0en-
dous power owe to itseht Muss it remain
aodsveloped and nncsred for, while develop
ing and caring for almost everything besides
its own good, its own advantage, and its
own welfare. The answer 10 plain.
Let the dusy Of seIf-protection Be first
fully understood and appreciated by the
classes who toll for life. This is their pri-
mary duty. Then they will scarcely fail to
conceive the fact that to promote the interest
OF all, there must be one common Purpose,
to labor for the general good. Once into
the harness let there be no banking or back
ing, bat with ''long, strong pull let the
cause Of the toa,ng, teemiDg millions be
drawn onward and upward to a height that
will secure for tire advocates OF it the respect
If All claRses and all conditions Of men.