The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-16
FR0H new YORK.
New YoRK, April 25, 1868.
. Tic Bisor Of the WoaEHGE ADVOCATE.

ACuNCLODED.)
But return. The purpose, Mr.. Walker
tells Us, not TO pay off these war debts
(though be is citing the case Of the debt ID
Eagland, it viii bear a general application)
is because the irrational Stocks" IN which
shape they exist, afford "she most eligible
investments" for their money, 1.-THE reason
why he does not state; and there may be
other reasons for not paying off the nationa::
debt that be does not mention. And he tells
US that the small payments that are ever
made letting the case of Englandl have been
from necessity rather than choice Dled-
sure Of policy adopted to secure the credit Of
tie government" (Which is my undercross-
ing). ''Nor does it," he says, "anDear that
such debts are likely ever to be paid uasess
the UGr policy Of Tie r0rld Is changed"
(Which IS my under scoring). And be t, lis
US ". no large national debt has ever been
paid or discharged, except by repudidtion."
This last word | underscore. The debt 81
the American revolution, he had told US,
vanished in worthless continental money"
Here, as ] understand it, was more Of the
swindling operation Of the governing classes
sach as / formerly spoke Of, by which fifty
cents Cd the dollar were recently taken from
the workingmen's pockets BY means Of de-
preciated currency. And thus, it may be
said in regard to the revolution here referred
to, that the liberty Of the thirteen American
colonies, formerly belonging to Great Britain,
were in a degree, obtained under false pre-
fences, when the people were taxed to the
full amount OF the debt to pay for the liberty
Of these colonies without their consent; and
by this act Of deprsciating the continental
money, as i was called, the chief suffering
caused BY which fell upon the masses, per-
haps, was the first lie given to the Declare
ton of Independence, which says all men
are born free and equal, and with the ina
lienable right Of life, liberty and the pursuit
OF happ iness-a lie, when by dcfrauding the
masses of that day to pay the national debt,
besides sacrificing their lives, their rights
were, every one Of them, violated.
There are, however, some remarks OF Mr.
Walker on taxation, 10 which / would take
slight exception. He says the poor may sup
pose "their poverty and suffering to be 'the
consequences Of their low wages" when "the
true cause Of il (which he says is taxationl
"they do not perceive" He says, 'they
may feel that they are oppressed, but viii
naturally attribute it to the want Of Justice
or generosity on the part Of their employ
ers." In reply, would say / do not know
bow low wages can necessarily have any
thing to do with it. Justice, il would seem,
requires that at time Of high taxation,
when the prices Of commodities are advance
ed, the wages of labor should be advanced
proportionately with the prices of these COM
modities, and If this is not done, one ''true
cause Of the "poverty and suffering'' Of
the poor, which is sufficient one, Is per-
ceived-that is IN TIE low rate Of wages,
and the poor may well attribute their Oh
preston at such time, it seems to me, to
"the want OF justice or generosity on the
part Of their employers" II their wages are
not raised upon the scale Of other things
However, as take it, whether 1t is BY tax
alton, or the want Of justice or generosity on
the part OF employers, that wages are OBJ
pressively low, the cause is the same. Ii
is the oppression Of labor by capital And
Il is against this oppression, as understand
II, that the labor movement ia intended to
operate BY means Of the ballot.
The following quotation from Mr.. Walker
which is mainly the expression OF noble
sentiments, make to criticise it's closing
remark. |" The economy Of national
debt" says be, sander the modern financial
system must always impoverish the produc-
tive classes. Its entire influence on them ia
oppressive. Il deprives them Of their honest
reward BY false currency, which robs them
of large share Of their nominal wages il
imposes upon them through indirecs taxa
ton" 1.-THE taxes, be tells US elsewhere, be-
ing laid on 10 such a manner stthat they are
almost unconscious at the moment that they
are taxed at alp') ian undue proportion Of
the public burdens, and Is, in fact, a stupen-
dous enginery for depressing them, though
perhaps not 10 Intended"
Why, | would ask, say the last four or Eve
words fsthough perhaps not 90 iDtended'' 2
Governments, il seems to me must know
what they ara about when they make laws.
and 50 must make them Intentionally. But
that they may cover their intentions some
times may not be unlikely.
Finally, "We haye,v SAYS Mr.. WsIker
"an immense debt, and larger amount Of
annual interest than any other people on la
face OF the earth" / have 'artaken a cal
culation Of the amount r. CURED to pay the
Interest o. .he public debt, and IL l am rirht
I'm my figures "a IL not FAR cut or Tie way "a
$50 per year to every man In the eoantry.
estimating them Of Eve milliehs). sHence' y