The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-09
international WOrkingmen's As
ISOLATION.


At the Fourth Annual Congress of the
Inter national Workingmen's Associa ton,
held lately at Basic, Switzerland. Mr.. Cam
eron, Of Chicago, the American delegate,
made the following speech
cit gives me great pleasure, assure you,
in the name and in behalf of the working,
men Of America, to tender you their heart
felt sympathes, and bid you God speed in
the noble work in which yon are engaged
the elevation and emancipation ofkthe toll
ing millions throughout the world, and the
advent of that glorious time.
When man and man the world o'srl
Shall brothers be and - that
When the sword shall be turned into a
plow-share, and the spear into a pruning
hook; when tyranny and oppression Of
every kind and character shall be uprooted
and destroyed, and when the laborer, intel
ligent and disenthralled, shall occupy that
position which the Maker of all intended be
should occupy to reap the full reward Of bis
labOrs. My presence here to day, my fellow
delegates, is an evidence that your friends
in the New World recognize common in
terest existing between the sons OF labor the
world over. sad that they trust the time is
drawing nigh when their ranks shall present
q united front, and under q banner upon
whose ample folds shall be iinscrihed the
magic words, Truth, Justice, and Equality,
they shall march to certain victory Much
40 | should like TO do so, and tempting
though the opportunity may be, shall re-
frain from making extensive remarks on our
platform. Suffice it TO say, we have cut
ourselves loose from both the old parties
which have hitherto occupied such promi-
nent position, believing that the interests Of
labor, both IN our State and national coun.
ellis, must be represented by those taken from
the ranks Of labor and, that SO long a. our
laws are framed by those whosebinterest
under our dependent social system, are an
tagonistic to our own, and those selfish in
terests demanded their perpetuation, it is
useless, and more than useless, to expect
redress from these who have, created the
evils of which we complain, unless we pro-
coed on tho homeopathic principle, sinliIis
esTantuT sinilibts, principle which we
have recognized long enough. To those
1esirous OF leaving the overcrowded districts
u the Old World, and seeking their homes
and fortunes in the land beyond the sea
where mon Is man II he's willing to toll,
And the humbest may gather the fruits Cf the sO,'
I am instructed to extend a cordial invita-
ton and hearty welcome. To all such | would
say. you will find brothers to ready to take |
YOU BY the hand all we ask is that you will |
come as friends, prepared to strengthen our
hands and support US in the demand for
rieht-we ask no more-and refuse to allow
yourselves to be made the tool of designing |
men, who under the spacious pretence Of
subscribing your interests, are aiming only
to thwart and bumiliate the aim OF your best
and truest friends, the trades uniOnists of
America. The establishment Of the Emigra-
ton Bureau, under the joint control of the
International Workingmen's Association
and the American Labor Union, from which
reliable data and information could at al
times be derived, would, in my judgment 5e
fraughc with the happiest results. | feel
warranted IN saying that any proposition
coming from..you to this effect will be COR
daily seconded by our Executive Committee.
| feel cannot conclude without referring to
the untimely loss Of our honored chief, vii
liam II. Sylvis, a man who bad obtained
world wide celebrity, whose name, familiar
as household word, had become indissolu-
bly, connected with the great labor move
ment. Possessed of indomltable energy. an
extraordinary force Of character, and exc
cutive ability, he was Of all men the one
qualified to organize and consolidate the la
Dor element in the New Would Cut of il
in the very zenith of his fame, when life
of usefulness was unfolding itself, and when
bis efforts we're beginning to yield their
fruits, his loss is almost irreparable. We
trust, however, that others will be raised up
to take his place, and that his death will
nerve bis followers to more united and de-
action. In conclusion, nv friends,
allow me again to return you my thanks for
the kind and enthusiastic reception which I
have received at your hands, and which it
will be my pleasure to Communicate on INV
return to my constituents. Let my visit,
gentlemen, be the Inauguration of system
which will secure the attendance Of the re-
of both countries at our future
annual Congresses, as from such fraternal
meetings the happiest results may be antici
pated. therefore trust you will follow our
example, and that in our Cincinnati Con-
xress in August, 1870, we shall have the
pleasure of returning the compliment to
your representatives, true Western vel
come. Again accept my desire, and the de-
sire Of my constituents, for your continued |
usefulness and prosperity"