The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-22
FROM ILLINOIS.

To the Editor OF the WoEKnaMAH's Advocate.
In writing you this time, don't know ex.
acty where to begin or what to say, and
| have seen it written, or heard it said some
where that when man had nothing to say be
ought to say nothing; but it is not because
have nothing to say altogether, but what |
have to say, shall it be interesting to your
readers or TO you.
One thing | can say though, and il is this,
our strike here is at an end, and am glad
Ut it; because the troubles and anxieties,
the suspense aud the longings, independent
to the severe losses, and the strong feeling
that exists and are consequent upon strikes,
makes their very name, to me at least, and
think il ought TO be to every other man, q
name as ruinous to their interests as war is
TO those Of . nation.
The circumstances under which the miners
brought the strike to q close are these. When
the men first struck there were, am sure,
not less than one hundred and fifty Of them
who declared themselves on strike but from
week to week they dwindled away one by
one, until now tor the last three weeks, they
could not number thirty represeD tasives as
actually On strike.
The principal inst. tors Of the strike
so soon ~ it was fully established betook
themselves TO the seeking OF work elsewhere
and working at it shouldering upon few
tha full hs.r a.
tanning thereto. The surrounding works,
or district, too, for whose interests In con
junction with their own, il not more 20, the
interests Of the strike was prolonged, having
promised to support the cause to the end,
withdrew that support upon which depend
ed in great measure, the continuance Of
the contest. And IL s auth tentatively stated
| that in addition to the Withdrawing Of their
support they withheld also their sympathies
~ well waiting like gray hounds on the
step" our defeat, 30 that they might have .
pretext under which taey might find an op-
portunity to get in and fill our places.
lAere are exceptions 10 this category which
We ourselves know; men who are generally
admitted TO be staunch friends 60 the caare
OF right and justice, men whose warmest
sympathies and sincerest wishes We had |;
bur the above was the rule. And thess.
when she men looked looked at it in it, pro
per light, they discovered instead Of aciing
~ friends we're our bitterest enemies, and
worse 70 contend with than was our en-
ploysr. In our case might say 10 IL an
appropriate question TO put, And is it him
whom luxury hath nursed ."
That u alone mine adversary, and how
true the negative answer NO, " IL mot hs.'
No, indeed; Il 10 ourselves that are not true;
u 10 ourselves We have to guard against, and
my experience in life has taught me INA: il
V workingmen. themselves tnst are hardest
70 cOnvIncs Of what 10 their right, and the
best nsthod % attain it In view of these
iscts, IN addition 70 the company's deciaaa-
ton that they would admit none OF the Old
miners to work for them agAin--a deciara-
ton that 10 often made in these cases, anu
0roken--considersbl uEeaeiness crypt in
among number Of the men who lad hstIs
participation In tho strike, hut who adnerei
70 the strike, more from motives OF princ;-
pie than from any sympathy with the means
adopted 70 maintain what the majority tell
was their just ngnt. Thsy head : meeting
last Monday, when. upon mature eonsidera-
zion, and sitter c0nsldersbie amount Of ais-
QUESTION, : motion was unsnimousiy agreed
%, - % tho best course nov left Them 10
rsae--permiiting every man 70 DO she best
~ could under the circumstances, uithouI
being su5ject % any blame BY thoss 1hs.
perhaps, would NOS b psrmisssd 60 rssnms
work. Thus our strike clossd, sllsr ~ our
prosecutions loas Il tins me L. r non.
" --tspehinx - ensehw lssspn q ths fnInsey
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