The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-01-25
THE COMING sroRn

THE COMING STORM.
1t has long been the custom of manv Who
profess living sympathy with the working
classes to descry the aims and influences of
Trades Unions; or at least regard them as
pernicious in their tendencies. To tbe hon.
IT. skilled mechanic, however, who believes
an ounce Of prevention is worth q pound of
cure; and who knows by practical exue-
rience their necessity aud worth, such spe-
eious arguments are regarded with the con.
tempt which they deserve Unfortunately
however, there is class of workmen. too
lazy or too Ignorant to think for themselves,
VINO, because the wish is father to the
thought, affect to be controlled by such con.
siderations, while they betray both their
own and others interests. II is from this
class, especially,--a compound Of coward
ice and knaVery, that the employers through
out the country, derive their justification
Tor the ubiquitous course thsy are now uur.
suing.
Yet while We have no desire 20 sh;sIa
criminals of any character, sense Of honor
eompeis US to admit that these creatures
nave their counterparts in many of our labor
organizations Men who fail to realize .hs
obligations imposed, and the duties de-
manoed. Those who join a union from
purely selfish motives, without apparently
realizing the duties they owe to themsalvas
ana their fellow lssarers; Who prefer
'NAs sne Srunt Of every contest should be
borne By those who have the manhood to
demand their rights, while claiming equal
Possession of advantages gained, fleeing,
however, on the appearance Of danger; men
VINO never attend a union except to urge a
raise or protest against a reduction of wages.
though principle and honor have nothing to
10 Win their action; their unionism Ia like
everything else they possess, marketable
commodity, 10 be discarded the moment a
temporary advantage may be gained thereby.
such creatures, we insist are the bane Of
our LABOR organizations, and until they are
rooted out, little or no good can be effsctsd
fortunately, for all classes, period ia fast
approaching, when they will reap the lost
reward Of their recrcancy.
From all quarters we learn en- piover. a,a
taxing advantage Of tie existing anStbv 4,
Ine labor ranks, and are busily eD6aeedki il
'ue iAuuaOle undertaking Of reducuaIr expen-
ses I; that is-redueing the ws1yg vi tbei,
"orAingmen. '1aiess the signs OF the times
are deceptive indeed, now that the. .nufac-
'urers can turn their attention from sansnce,,
una Reconstruction" to starving their en-
pioyes' there is every probability thai the
naicyon days predicted are fat edAipe.
"nen "a dollar day and find yoursslf,
wiAl De the standard remuneration Tor an
american mechanic. Well, say we, il no
otner course will have the desired efrsct Ia.
'nem come tie sooner the better for ali
concerned Desperate eases require ides-
Perate remedies, and If starvation aIone can
elect the desired resuIt-arouse ths mas
70 sense OF their duties and their dar
It's visitation will be regarded as a bless;p no
instead Of curse.
ow-citiEens, whether you realize IL or
mob the money power has you in its clutches
ana means % hold you there notwithstaad-
,ng all your prating and privileges. You
have studied to little purpose the history 81
'ne past, II you nave not arrived at this CON-
ciusiOn. Look at the action of your pa IT.
To- legislative bondholders. While, in mspy
instances, their former employees and factory
0pei atives are literally houseIass, homelsss
ana 'snnyiess, the men they enriched ara
now oemantiSSc in deiant tones, that thu
interest and principal of their bonds. pur.
cnASeo az forty cents on the dollar, essnrf
from iaxat'0n, shall be paid in gola Not
only 'Oss' bus they evidently intend, Ii DOS
siDie, to use the nations hero, Is an iustru.
ment 10 accomplish their nefarious purposes.
And as labor and labor alone Is compelled u
Dear the brunt Of this as Of all other con-
tests, and pay the last farthing demanded by
our ShylOcks, Of course every additional |
burden imposed, Is burden added to ia |
already over-burdened shoulders.
Up then,fsllow-workers and be doing. In
stead of being Over-drawn, the half Of the
story has not been told. Rest assured that
no party allegiance win save you; a We
have shown hundred times before. You |
must depend, and depend alone, on your own I
exertions; join in the first instance, your
Trades union. Nothing can be Accomplished |
without ssmfe11ofSe eo.on..nt; r. a.
working men throughout the country eould
tO-day present united 'front.', We sheald
hear great deal less than We do about dis-
charges and zsductien Of wages; but cfE
course where no unity ezists; no identy of
interest Is recognised. individual or local ep-
position d crushed bstwssn tie upper and
neither millstones. join yourself a youz
ward labor leagues; stpdy. andssaay Va puz-
pose, the nature Of the evils which opprssl,