The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-09-18

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advance in the direction Of the organization
great problem Of the future for working.
men.
OF the present position aud future prcs-
pect Of Cooperation, there 10 20 much to be
said that I cannot allude to 1t here further
than by saying that 1t still spreads and Is
continual striking deeper root. The inau-
gurA address Of Mr.. Hughes. to the London
Cooperative Congress, the FIRST portion OF
which appeared IN your journal of July IL,
gives Q very fair notion Of what has been
done by our English Co-operators. But this
question is 80 large, the interests II embra-
ces so numerous, its proceedings are 80 d.
versified, and the results 50 varying, that TO
general summary can carry the requisite
impression Of the importance Of this move
ment to the readers mind. | shall, in fu-
ture numbers OF your paper, try 70 make
this known by means of properly selected
detail. Our experience here may be of use
on your side the the Atlantic. Blunders are
possible ia all latitudes, even under the best
circumstances, and Il the workingmen can
be made to benefit by each others expert
ence, and turn losses to gain by wisely re-
i garding the lessons they teach, the partial
evil will be compensated by the general good.
aud the good times 80 long talked about.
but unhappily 90 long delayed, will be found
much nearer to ia than if this sound pc Icy
should be neglected.
One thing however strikes me m neces-
sary to be observed by the working men in
England az well as by workingmen IN Ame-
RIGA, and that is, not to pay much attention
to what the leading journals say in regard
to working class movements. Here in Eng
land, the press 10 VIGOROUSLY misleading.
In certain cases this is designed, in certain
others it is the result of want OF acquaint-
ance with work ingmen's ideas and proceed
ings. And this, it ought 20 be confessed, is
very much the re9ult of the remissness of
workiDgmen in not taking steps to bring
their views and conduct rs such, fairly be-
for the public. Much might be done here
if our artixan classes comprehended fully
the importance Of an intelligent aud skill
full defence when attacked, and q constant
exposition through some first-class journal
OF the principles and policy which they have
accepted and which they pursue not only
IN their own interest az o class, but in the
interest of the community generally. At
the last election here the workingmen can
dldates were defeated rs much, if mot more,
through want Of something Of this sort,
than through any real hostility on the part
OF middle class voters, though that, as q
matter Of course, told powerfully against
them. Such another miscnance, howtver.is
not likely TO occur. Mr.. Odger, Mr.. How
ell, and others, who are fair representative
men have opened their eyes to the Difficult
ties that Obstruct their entrance to the new
path upon which they are DESTROYS to enter,
aud already are engaged in the formation
M - mho~D D. -
duty 1t will be to take up this matter, to or
game the strength Of che working classes
lii the various constituencies, and bring it
to bear with effect il all important political
and social mo- emeuts.
am outrunning space. however, but in
my next communication | shall give you the
particulars Of this new movement, which, IL
well conducted, will soon be ia position 20
show that the power conferred on the work.
ing classes Of Great Britain BY the late re-
form act, will, 40 reasonable time, trans
form the political life Of the country by
substituting questions connected with the
well-being of the masses Of the people for
those which have occupied the time and
attention Of the parliament, and which bad
Principally to do with party interests, dy-
nastIc ambitions, foreign relationships, and
other mystifymg contentious, by which no
good ever came to honest, industrious and
Peaceable people. L. j.
LONDON, Aug. 10, 1859.
To the Editor Of the weaKuoMAx's Advocate.
! Ii England and AGerica are to work 20
gether in the future in perfect ~ ano
with sincere desire for-~~~& o'ners vel
fare. their relatio-s-sP must cease TO be
regulated ---dPally by diplomatic action,
orL-erdinary political considerations. And
RI may add, that tie old cant about com
mon blood, language, and literature" must
be turned into real and thoroughly honest
feeling Of kinship, or she affection naturally
belonging to such q relationship cannot be
truly felt
This can only be done BY the working
masses on both sides Of the Atlantic cult
vating each others friendship and good will
with view to . peaceful pursuit of their
com non industries aud interests. Apart
from, and above those psltry condsidera-
tons, upon which the statesmen of the
world have hitherto succeeded in enbroiling
nations to the almost deadly injury Of the
millions whose industry everywhere has been
and must ever continue to be-the great
soldering and sustaining power Of society.
Hitherto the political power Of the work
ing people Of England, Is m influence acting
directly On the state, has been very made
quately felt 1t had no direct expression in
the House Of Commons, nor any faithful
and able voice in the press. The leading
thoughts and predominant sentiments OF
the working nenpla- -------------t
nerstood BY our legislators, and utterly mis-.
apprehendsd even by those foreigners who |
had the best opportunities of studying and
understanding the country.
AS soou as ever the late Reform Bill was |
passed it was felt that some practical steps |
should be takeu to prevent the newly &C.
quired popular franchise from becoming Q
nullity. But, when, added to this came, not |
so much the disappOIntments Of the late |
election, but rather the sense of unprepared. |
ness it begot, steps were at once taken to |
put matters on better footing The first
who moved to remedy this state of things
were the co-operators and tho trades union |
lists, or rather certain OF the leading men be-
longing to these bodies. They felt that new
questions were Beeded-questions express
sing the new wants felt in the social and |
industrial world-and therefore in drawing
up their prospectus they made the direct |
representation Of labor" the first great point
in their new charter They felt that how
ever honestly men, not Of their own class,
might be disposed to represent them, still
such men lacked the practical experience,
without which, the best intentions fail Of
fulilment, and hence they declared the first
thing necessary was the registration Of
the woIkingmen's votes, without references
to their political opinions or party bias. The
aim of the associations being to organize
fully the strength Of the operative classes -
an electoral power, so that when necessary
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