The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-17


From ne New York Herald Of Sept. 26Sh-
The National Labor Congress.
A congress Of cperatives Of different trades
and occupations has been i'm session in this
city for several days past. 1t is somewhat
remark able that convention representing
such important in. n.-rests, sittiTg IN our
midst, should have excited no larger share
of public attention than il has. Closely ex-
amined 1t viii be found thar the proceedings
Of this Labor Congress possess . more vital
interest and q more ger eral Importance than
those OF aay convention, political or other
wise, that has assembled IN this country for
many years. The relations OF labor and
capital here have never been properly un-
derstood. For years there has been a strug-
gle between the two interests. and both have
suffered more or less m the encounter. ln
the deliberations OF thus Congress, however,
we discover the existence Of n spirit among
the intelligent and influential Of the repre-
rentArives Of labor at once broad, liberal,
enlightened, and philosophical. Tney dis
play lOftier appreciation OF the question
than was evinced by the proceedings OF the
European Labor Congress which have been
lately held, particularly those in Germany.
This American labor Congress spurns the
tricks and claplrap " demag0gues wlo 70
shout the country in the pay Of political
psrues array ing the laboring man against
bis employer, creating al feeling, exciting
jealousies aud prejUdices and getting up
strikes which end IN running the employefs !.
starving the workingrnan and paraly zing
business generally. Their principles discard
oil these vexatioBs and disturbing elements.
In their platform and resolutions they take
statesmAnlike views Of the whole snbj CT
of labor and its relations 70 capital, and
while vigorously sustaining the claims OF
the former do not hesitate 10 accord proper
consideration 10 the rights OF the latter.
They take prescIeDt view Of the financial
questions Of the day, the connection Of the
national banking system with the burdens
the workIngman has to bear, the necessity
Of taxing the non-producing equally with
the industrial classes in the support Of the
government and the payment OF the public
debt; favor the taxation Of government
bonds, denounce land monopolies, depTecate
strikes, encourage co-operation beTweer
work ingmen, pledge their support 70 the
working women, advocate intellectual i'm
provement as well as Improvement in the
dwellings, Of the lsborer, recommend settle
mens upon the public lands as . remedy for
insufficient work, demand the abolisbmen.
Of convict labor, and that the govern ment
shall give the wofkingwoman the same wages
il gives the workingmsn for the same serv-
ice, declare that Congress has no constitu-
tional power to charter emigrant companies
70 control the price Of home labor, and finally
advise the formation Of new political party
oased upon the principles set forth 10 their
platform. We are glad TO witness this sen
sible movement on the part Of the working
men Of the country. Tney have the power
TO liberate trade from many Of ths encum-
brances that embArrass il, and they have
wisely determined to use that power dis
cretssy and prvdsstly. Their philosophical
and stAtesmaDhke views oi the great indus
Fial question might be adopted oy our 50
Ions NJ w Washington and politicians generally
with infinite bsDe6I to the trade and busi-
ness prosperity Of the whole cvunHy.