The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-03-20
CHANCES INTO PITS.

There ase events which have a mighty in
fiuence in forwarding the cause we advocate,
although, to the superficial thinker, they
may appear to have but little right to occupy
space IN our columns. The railway war
between Drew and Vanderbilt, is one Of such
kind. Whilst lsborers have no decided
interest in its assault, they have an indirect
interest therein OF great magnitude. Such
battle between money and land monopo-
lists was needed to expose to the people the
inadequacy Of the laws and the turpitude
those who apply them. Workngmen, who
might doubt our statements of the useless
ness IF the laws and the venalty vf the
judges, will be apt to believe when they
again hear them Numbered against as be-
fore, by the almost unan nous voice Of the
press Of the country.
There is no more profitable study for Us
than to trace evil laws to the sources from
whence they nave emanated. Like begets
like, and trees may be known BY their
fruits. From our City Halls up to the Sen
ate House at Washington, such places are
now found to be centres Of vltuperation, dis
order and corruption. In modern society,
and in the fusing Of metals, the scum rises
to the top. This is not chargeable to the
( individuals who compose oar legislative DO
dies, but to the evil systems which or, rate
to exclude toilers and elevate idlers and
4 schemers into power. After such exama-
trast mentally the difference between the
quiet and decorum generally observed in
our MONS, with the scenes Of riot, coniu-
sion and ill-repressed strife hich degrade
and determine the character OF our halls Of
legislation. Without going lar back, it is
only necessary TO Inint out as specimens o.
the truth Of our last observation, the exit
bition which occurred at the organization
Of the present House Of Representatives a
Washington, or b; which took place but I
few days Irevio between the late House
and the Senate ben engaged in the solemn
and simple duty witnessing The countin.
of the State 700. 'or the Presidency.
1t is no satis.a, to US to present thes'
truthful pictures to our readers. The only
stronghold the people have into which ID y
can retire for protection against the inordl
nate demands Of money and land monopo
lists, are righteous laws justly administered
But who can hope such laws Will emanst'
from sinks Of moral pes;ilence aud cOrrup
ton, or believe that order VII rise out 0
edicts concocted in the bear gardens wher'
modern legislators hold their org.es. Blu
evil as many Of our laws are, they are il
the mass less corrups than the partial man
ner in which they are administered. Ala.
for US, justice has long departed from on
courts, where the criminals in the dock ar
not uDfTequently faced by greater criminals
or the bench, where honest poverty las n
protector, where The length Of the purse i
commonly he measure Of the length OF tht
Law where the merits Of the advocate All
superior to the merits Of the cause, anc
where almost all crimes under the sun ar,
daily condoned for by money fines, rarely
decently adjusted, and still more rarely hon
esty collected. Under these circumstance
1t is no wonder that the people Of the arges
city in the Union have latterly gravely dis
cussed the propriety of forming vigilanc,
committees for the purpose Of supercedng
the civil laws By natural laws, to be admin
istered according to the strength and pleas
ure Of the bands by which such are decreed
This being SO, il is surely justifAble in La
Dor Union Reformers to seek to organize
party to effect such purpose BY a more le
gitmste method. To this end we ask tC
form society not through but over all ex
isting parties, large enough to create legis
lators to make better laws, and strong
enough to enforce such laws without fear OF
favor throughout the country.