The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-09
wrirsea for the Apvo0AsB.
A "New DisPensaslOn for Labor.''


Republic, and q New Dispensation for labor
and capital.
How shall we estalish it?
First, there must be universal awaken.
ing OF the producing Glasses to the necessity
Tor and the advantages Of Social Republic,
and a New Dhpensstion for Labor. Let
every working man DO 40 an apostle "a
preach social salvation to the masses.
Second, social party must be founded
oy 'he disintegratiou OF the existing politl.
cal parties.
Third, thus social party must, through the
ballot and its own exclusive candidates, OBJ
tain control of the State and Federal 70
vernments.
Fourth, this social party raised, bv sppro-
pirate Legislation, institute and legalise a
Social Republic, az has heretofore been done
IN regard to the present Political Republic.
Fifth, this SOCIAL Republic must rest on
the basis of the organisation Of labor into
cooperative associations, furnished BY their
own government with ample funds TO carry
on a national business Of production and
distribution.
The successive steps are easy, the obi scta
just, the change imperative. The produS Sing
classes constitute hree-fourths OF the peo-
pie, and political poser is already in their
hands, to use as they may see ct in changing
and amending our form Of government. In
Vulnerable precedents in legislation teach
them just how to proceed. The change in
wolves no robbery, no breach OF faith, no in +
justice to any individual or class. Unlike
the present system, il does not take from
some classes TO enrich others, but it forever
prevents some classes from enrjching them
selves at the exp snse Of others, az they now
do. Ii gives labor Of all kinds the full re-
ward Of IT'S tolls. 1t stops the Unsuitable
grasping of interest and profits. Each ex-
listing class will retain what the present
wages Of society had given to il. The social
change is prospective only. The past goes
out with its interest and profits for the few,
and the future comes in with its princely
gains for the many. The interest snd pro-
fits Of the few will aid, the payment Of their
full earnings to the many will begin.
Great aud glorious change, securing to
man all that God and nature ever intended
him to possess, ending wars and dlscords,
and ushering in q new and higher civiliza-
tion
There have been, at times, great social
changes proposed which were excellent in
conception but simply impossible in execu-
tion. They involved changes too extensive
in the mode Of life, changes in the very heart
and disposition. They required men to be
something better than men as they are
everywhere met with. The reforms were
good enough, but humanity in its then CON
diuon, was not good enough for the reforms
proposed. The political and social reformer
must take men as they are, with their moral
Imperfections and their feshly weakness,
trusting for improvement not merely to the
inculcation Of correct principles, but the es-
tablishment Of progressive conditions and
surroundings. II is these thar make good or
bad breeds Of men.
The New Disoeusation takes man as be is.
It leaves him for q time to present habits
and pursuits, touches neither his house nor
family, does not insist that he shall receive
oBe opinion or give up another. 1t simply,
at the beginning guarantees him all the
work be wants, and the enjoyment of the
full fruits and profits Of his labor. It makes
him his own employer and taskmaster. He
will through life receive ell that be earns.
1t stops all future robbery of hire by other
classes through interest and profits. He is
no longer q slave to q class, nor does his
employment and subsistence depend upon
the will of any individual or heartless cor
poration. lie Is, for the first time in the
history of the world, free workmen and q
free man
Such a change is simple enough. It does
not part with q single element of success
Which the present system contains. 1t is
nothing more than the universal organization
Of skilled and unskilled labor,in the business
of production and distribution, backed by a
IL Ill AA2s-
wants, endorsed alike by government and
people. 1t exhibits an organization Of work
ers, in which all are as one.
The necessity for New Dispensaton for
labor is shown by the fact that political
parties have never accomplished anything
for the worker. We struggle for so. called
republican or democratic supremacy, but
what is either party doing for the working
man, as q working man Nothing. No po-
litical party heretofore in existence in the
United States, or in any other country, has
ever attempted to interfere with or change
the existing social relations Of classes.
These political parties find society divided
into rich and poor, employers and employed !;
those who barely live by their own labor,
and those who grow rich on interest aud
profits derived from the labor Of others.
What signifies it to any working man that
he calls himself democrat or republican,
and votes his party ticket year after year,
50 long as neither democracy nor republican
ism can prevent his passing a whole life as
mere laboring machine, outlawed from So
cial connection with the rioh or the refined,
and deprived Of the numberless aids and ad-
vantages which wealth alone can purchass :
All political parties and political reforms
find the masses "workiugmen," "so-calied, .
and leave them workingmen." The re-
medy for that great social wrong which
drives three. fourths of the community t.
toll and privation mainly for the welfare of
the other fourth, forms no "plank" in any
political platform. This condition is re-
garded as q national dispensstion of Provi-
dence, for which there is no remedy but un-
complaining resignation and q better state
in the world to come.
The working classes of this great union
have gained all the party victories, and
elected all the presidents, members Of con
gress and State governments, that have ever
blessed or cursed the people. What good
has it ever done themf IL is Just as aG6lAtO
unite and elect their own men, as
mere party victories and advance
ests Of rival politicians. Why contg1Uy to
elect men who betray their interests, levy
upon them vast taxes from which other
classes are exempt, establish banks with au-
shority to issue paper money which the
workman cannot borrow, but which is used
exclusively by other classes, to extort from
the toiler vast sums in interest and profit
Why not change all this Why may not the
working classes, through control Of the 60
knht ts,A kH1s~
themselves to work as corporations Of produ-
GERS, and keep for their own use those un-
counted millions which now annually 20
from them in profits and interest to other
classes
There are some among the working class
who would have the toiiers formed into q neu-
trsl party, to balance the rival features, and
assist the politicians who make the greatest
promises. Of what svsilf It Is rot pos
sible for any mere par:izan to comprehend
the social revolution or ally himself with it.