The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-08

| from the heVtiution.
The history Of the human race il every
age and under every form Of govern meni
has been q condition Of slavery for the lass
OF the people; but repetition from genera
tion TO generation Of cunning devices on the
part OF the few to subordinate the many to
their own selfish purposes. As we are the
most easily moved BY wrongs not perpetrat-
ed by ourselves, from which we reap no r n
sonal advantages or disadvantages, who's.
evil results are seen by the outward eve, the
| grossest and mos. remote forms of slavery
have been the first to be attacked Though
England emaneipated the slaves Of the West
India Islands suarter Of a century ago,
she holds millions Of her own people in ab-
ject and hopeless slavery to-day. While
the North struck the chains from 4 ,0O0, 900
African slaves on tie Southern plantations,
by our national debt, heavy taxation and
suicidal financial policy new chains were
fastened on thirty millions Df people.
While the grossest forms Of slavery are
thus passing away, the more hidden ana in
sidIous forms, whose causes and effects are
not so easily traced, through the ignorance
and indifference of the many, and the cum
ming and craftiness Of the few, have been
protected and perpetuated from generation
to generation. The aristocracies Of nations,
races, families, blood, color, sex, are all
being considered and condemned. and in our
country, 10 theory at least, all alike are re-
pudiated. But a N )nied aristocracy has
stood firm and immoYable, through all the
changing scenes of the past, and is as pow
erful in our country to-day as in any nation
on the face Of the globe.
To say that the mass OF the people in ali
countries are slaves, might seem a startling
proposition to many, bu; if you accept the
dehniuon that "a slave is q person whose
bodily toll and the fruits thereof are the pro-
perry OF another are not the laboring men,
who toll irom early dawn to eve, their lives
all through, and then lie down to die, with
nothing gained for themselves but the
coarsest food and clothes, and for their
children heritage Of woe and poverty, the
slaves OF capitall Bond slaves are they to
those who make them stepping stones to
luxury and elegance and ease, to the higher
realms Of thought ana happiness, where
those who are chained to earth in degra6a-
tion, ignorance and want, can never rise.
But with advancing civilization and in
creasing knowledge and intelligence, the
people have begun to feel their power, and
instead Of blind revolutions they are begin
ming to make special demands. Rulers no
longer dare to west the results Of mans
labor from him by force, it is now done by
cunning legislation. 1t IS not to be suppos-
ed that the rJlng classes are necessarily
destitute Of all human feelings, because in
all ages they have ground the masses 70
powder. Ii is not because they hate man
but love money. Believing that might
makes right, that self-prvservation Is the
first law OF nature, not choosing to labor
themselves, it became necessary to grind out
Of Others the results of their tolls.
Rich men feel no spite or prejudice against
the poor, the black man or the woman, but
it is the law Of animal life for the strong TO
prey on the weak, and until We pass alto
gether from this dynasty OF force into that
Of moral power, until, by education, eleva-
ton, and entranchisement, we make all cti-
zens equal aud strong, this will be the law
Of life. Until capital and labor are linked
together by the higher law Of affection,
which is woman, craft and cunning Will sub
ordinate strength and activity, and the few
Will m0nopoliZe the wealth OF the world.
When we remember that the finances Of a
nation are the basis Of its existence, its prb-
gress, its religion, education, art, science,
literature, and that the cardinal virtues rest
on an equal distribution Of money and intel
lgence, it becomes a serious question how
we shall undermine the monied aristocracy,
the proud monopolies in this country that
are nc Y absorbing into themselves our mex
haustable mines Of goll, silver, copper and
coal the wealth Of our majestic forests and
rolling prairies, making the rich richer and
the poor poorer, blocking the car of progress
by exhsusting ne-half re race with exces-
sive toll and hardship, and eneryating the
rest with excessive luxury and ease; on the
one side paralyzing the mind 10 the constant
struggle for bread and on the other side
from lack Of necessity to struggle at ali.
The inequalities in lift work fearful wrongs
in ali directions, and end in the demoralza-
tlOn and death Of all.