The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-19
(. r. Nat. Labor Union, State of n.
IL Norfolk Street, New York.
THE COMING n. Y. CONVENTION.

THE COMING N. Y. CONVENTION.
The convention Of the National Labor
Party which is TO assemble in the city Of
New York, on the 2lst inst, is an event to
which the working men of the whole com
try are looking with unc)ncealed anxiety
The conviction is wide suread among them
that its action will vitally affect their per-
sonal prosperity and happiness. The time
las come when it must be decided whether
Labor shall be the master or victim OF legisa
ton and the critical circumstances OF the
hour render a postponement of the deci-
sion Of the question equivalent to an un-
favorable and hostile solution.
1t is the universal recognition of this
fact among the thoughtful workingmen,
that directs appreheusively, yet hopefully,
their eyes 10 the New York Convention
The abnormal political condition in which
the country has been placed-its transition
period into reaction against the liberty
and prosperity of the past or their increas-
ed development-will render mistaken ac-
ten by the convention fatally irreparable,
and the delegates will be fully impressed
that the goodness Of their purpose, their
pure desire to subserve the highest inter-
ests Of the Industrial classes, and therefore
of their country, cannot mitigate the evil
inseparable from false step or an iDju-
dicious procedure.
The convention is not a novelty in the
political history Of the country. 1t is the
third national meeting Of the workingmen
Of she nation, BY delegates properly elected
and qualified 70 represent the interests of
labor, however diversified BY locality. The
previous conventions have extensively con-
sidered the rights Of labor and explored thc
sources Of the wrongs of which it complains.
They have demonstrated them to arise, not
from an insuficiency Of production--for
that is ample enough to endow, with all
physical comforts, every individual in the
laDd--but from vicious system of laws,
which distribute the products Of labor in
eq1itably between the workingman and TIL
capitalist What this system Of laws is,
their mode Of operation ard tier efforts,
have been clearly set forth in the platform
adopted BY the National Labor Congress
which assembled at Chicago year ago Last
August.
The coming convention will have bat two
great subjects to consider,
/. The platform of principles necessary
to the emancipation Of labor, and
2. The best mode of effectiDg their recog-
milton and adoption into the legislation Of
the country.
The convention will ind in the action OF
the Chicago Congress solution of the FIRST
of these questions for their consideration.
The platform adopted by that Congress has
commended itself 20 all thoughtful working
men, BY its comprehensive grasp Of the Ia
Dor question, its exposition Of the real
causes Of the distress and general poverty
Of the classes who alone produce the entire
wealth Of the country, and of the lsgisla-
tive remedies necessary TO their removal.
The convention, in our Judgment, cannot
do better than to re-assert the platform Of
the Chicago Labor Congress.
Il II therefore In reference 10 the second
great question before the convention that
there win be found any diversity Of opinion.
a iriFtake hsre win have such grsyity tina,
ths delegates should approach it, considera-
sion d,vesssd Of al the prejndices, partisan