The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-24
FROM NEW YORK.
NEw YoRK, April 10, ]

EhUm NEW 1Uhhs
NEw YoRK, April 10, 1se:.
TO he Editor Of the WoREmssAs's ADVOCATE.
As I predicted IN my last, the ball Is
opened, AMI labor and capital are about to
take their places. But, unfortunately, they
SJn't both meet in the same hail, hence, like
oil divided houses. there is some jarring be-
tween the different elements. The house
painters are now-after having been work
ing under the eight hour rule for eighteen
months-about to be deprived of It. II their
bosses, by any possible means, can accom-
piish 1t; but, in this, it 10 to be hoped, they
will utterly fail. The men seem determined
to maintain their rights at all hazards. A
nesting Of the WOrkingmen's Union was
held this evening, to take tho matter up and
bring 1t more fully before the trades. ana.
for this purpose, q mass meeting 10 called for
next Friday evening, 10 the large hall OF the
Cooper Institute, where 50 many Of the bat
ties Of labor have been fought. All should
respond heartily to this appeal Of the psint-
ers, for If one backward step il taken. what
I hope is there for the futuIef Some may sav.
"none." l do not 60 so far a. that; but. All
must admit that it would be a great blow
struck at labor.
Workingmen OF New York, you stand IN
the brink Of precipiee, a. whose bottom j.
Slavery in its worst form. Do you intend
to 60 there, or will you do your duty, and
keep the lamp Of labor brightly burning
/ One Of the delegates at the meeting put the
question fairly to all Workingmen, when w
said "The question is, shall the painter
win, or are they TO be q catspaw Tor the
benefit Of other organizations, this spring VI
1t is very plain to everyone that the paint.
ers have done their whole duty, and il is al
so quite clear that they do not think that
some other trades have, and they don't in
tend to be used any longer.
What | stated 10 my letters last spring
and which you kindly published-seems
about to be realized. That was, if the trades
that had adopted eight hours were not speed
lily backed up by the others in adopting tile
same, they coul not maintain their posi-
ton. Now, the trial is coming, and one OF
the most important Of the building trades
the carpenters-we do not hear a word from:
they are just as quiet as IL there we're none
They bad some good leading men among
them once, but their treatment drove them
into private life again, where they are likely
70 remain, enjoying the fruits Of their labor
The bosses know all these thIngs-in fact,
hslp to bring them about-and when. q
now, they see their opportunity, they take
advantage Of it. Workingmen, learn u
know that eternal vigilance is the price OF
emancipation from the fangs Of capital. Sup.
port your leading men-tbose men who have
risked their all for your benefit. II you had
done this like men, We should hear no more
against working eight hours a day; but, H.
s.Ss1, It would be one OF the best things ever
invented for the amelioration Of mankind.
All that Is required Is the united action Of
ALL, and-ss the issue is now about to be
forced upon us-let US all unite and have a
quick, sharp and decisive battle, aud thus
end at once this eight-hour controversy. we
can do so, i we will; therefore, let US say We
cin, and do It.
Remember, wages are as nothing to this
question. Wages will always fuctuate with
the times, but the hours will not alter, ex-
cept to get shorter. Capital knows this
hence its stubbornness, its bIibes to ten
hour men, and its various lodges to defei
it. CAPITAL knows well that shorter hours
mean more knowledge among the working
classes, that more knowledge means being
no longer cheated out Of the profits Of
their labor; and, therefore, capital will
Sight labor to the death on this point.
But, amidst all this doubt aud uncsr-
tainty, there comes to us q CLEAN Of sun
shine from France, where, once m0re-af.
ter slumberlng fcT over twenty years, their
author dead and quietly laid ia his grave
is heard in the streets Of Paris the
watchword Of the future-"AH Property Il
Robbery ~ Disguise it as we may, these
words Of Proudhon are yet to shake the
world to its very centre; and, althoGgh
capital may try to make US believe that il
is chimerical, we know it to be true. Its
real meaning is a division Of the profit OF
labor. and that all shall do their share Of
work-none shall escape. That this time
may soon arrive, 10 the earnest wish Of :