The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-19

great political paroles hive purpose and
anhitions a. war with NE principles and
hopes Of the workingmsa, that 10 % far a
they have constructed their platforms upon
principles acceptable 60 the working classse,
they have merely done IL to catch votes, and
with no sincere purpose Of transiating their
preteDces into Law, then the convention win
hare but one path TO follow, and that b
the nominating Of candidates. for president
and vice president, to be followed up By
such action as will put . ticket Of the Labor
Party everywhere In the field.
This question can only be determined BY
an examination Of the platforms Of both
parties, as well as a consideration Of the
antecedenss Of their respective candidates
This examination, we are frank to say, will,
IN our judgment, exclude all claim 70 the
support Of the workingmen, for the plat
form adopted BY the late Republican ma
tional convention of Chicago. In its finan-
cial aspects, this platform is simply infa-
nous. 81
AZ interpreted by ell the leading Repub-
lican newspapers, and BY Republican con-
gress, as exemplifed IN the passage Of the
Funding bill, it will add one third of the
present public debt 10 its already oppress-
i've magnitude, and tar beyond endurance
the already overtaxed industry Of the coun-
try. In the success of the Republican arty
the workingmen can only see superadded
burdens upon their shoulders and those Of
the coming generations.
We propose to deal honestly bat frankly
with the claims of the Republican and
Democratic parties to the SURFACES Of the
workingmen. These psrties--leading Re-
publicans and Democrsts-are not ignorant
of the Declarations Of the Chicago Labor
Congress, and Of the reasonable ambition
OF workingmen to share in some Of the ben
e6ts, enjoy come OF the physical comforts,
and participate in some Of the more refined
pleasures which art and culture offer to those
who have the time and she leisure to pursue
them.
1t cannot be denied that the national De-
mocratic convention, which met in New
York last July, adopted and incorporated
into their POLITICAL platform the most i'm
portant principles Of the Labor party, as set
forth by the Chicago Labor Congress-
This platform promises the adjustment
Of the infamous fiscal system, BY which a
law of special privilege is made for a spe-
cial class, and which in effect, creates the
favored class, by which the bond holder is
privileged to receive for bis claims against
the government something better than the
money of trade, by which be is exempt in
time OF peace, as be was practically in time
of war, from equal share in the common du-
ty of all good citizens to support and de-
fend the government. 1t promises to make
the law common to all men, while the ks-
publican party, as a matter Of fact, which
meets with the endorsements Of the late Re-
publican convention, has made q Law Of
privilege special to money-lenders, bankers
and capitalists, who, notwithstanding the
many estimable men 60 be found IN their
ranks, are, as class, positive hindrance to
the industrial development and material
progress Of the country.
Ii promises also change in the manner
Of the disposal Of the public lands, and the
preservation Of this grand and common 10
heritance Of Americans from the grasp Of
corporate monopoly.
1t promises an equal right for the State,
whether North or south an equal law for
the citizen whether rich or poor. But
while these comparisons of the Demo-
cratic and Republican platforms are Of such
advantage TO the former it does not inevita-
by follow that the national labor party
should throw itself into the hands Of the
Democracy.
The Workingmen properly organised, can
poll six hundred thousand votes. They are
numerically but little inferior in the number
Of votes to either Of the other parties. They
have, therefore, the power to determine
whether Democrat or Republican, whether
Seymou or Grant shall be President
As an independent organization, with the
power of truth aud justice to aid them, we
would not despair Of success, even ct this
late day Of the Presidential canvass. The
Convention should therefore consider well
whether this power to turn the election to
whatever side the labor party may incline
was the motive which assimilated the New
York National Democratic Platform to their
own for, unless it is true beyond all reason
able doubt, that it is the intention Of the
Democr attic party to carry out into positive
law, the financial and public land elements
of their platform, the only course that will
be left for the Convention to pursue would
be organization for Independent political
action.
The vfice OF President has been largely
shorn Of its influence and power by the
Congress lately in session, and il the change
10 the form as well as in the principles Of
the government, which has been silently
effected by Congress over the reserved rights
Of the State and over the coordinate branch
es Of the government, shall be scqaiesced In,
thus greater Importance will attach 10 the
election Of q congressman than to that OF
president.
We are therefore Of theopinion. that what
ever action the convention may adopt in re-
ference to national ticket, the Labor party
ought to exercise the greatest prudence in
the support Of candidates for congress-. They
had better put their own candidates 10 the
field, whatever the result may be, than con-
tribute by their votes to the election Of men
who are not pledged to Labor Reform.
PERSONAL REPRESENTATION.
The National Labor Congress Of the
United States is about to assemble for the