The workingman's advocate., 1870-12-03

I ileges and protection, making him a
mOnopolist and his family idle consum-
ers. An irrepressible conflict must and
will be waged against all these unjust
conditions of our social system, until
they are overthrown and destroyed.
1t seems to be the prevailing opinion
that demand and supply must regulate
the wages Of labor, which means that
wages must be put down to the lowest
bidder. Now, if this is a good rule, if
it is right and just, why should there
be so many exceptions to it? Why
not apply it to all kinds oflabor Leg
lslators and all parts of government
officers claim that they are lsborers.
Why not reward the labor of the Office
holder to the lowest bidder? In many
cases | really think it would be an i'm
provement on the present whisky-buy-
ing method of electing officers. As
women are willing to work so much
cheaper than men, perhaps few hon.
est women would get chance to legis-
late for themselves and for their chill
dren.
If demand and supply must regulate
the wages of labor, why does it not
regulate the pay Of the drayman and
hackman, including all kinds of polite
al hacks and wire-pullers? Why should
the law interfere to protect the capi-
talist and the property holder, while it
refuses to protect the laborer who pro-
duces property
The inequality Of the wages of labor
is very great wrong to the people :;
but this wrong sinks into insignifcance
when compared with the injustice Of
the wholesale robbery Of the fruits and
profits of labor, that is produced by
our false and corrupt systems of mon
ey and finance. 1t is the business Of
the government to correct those false
systems, and to see that justice is done
to the whole people. If our govern
ment fails to perform this duty, if it
persists in perpetuatlDg system of
money and finance that makes the la
borer the slave Of capital, then this
land will be deluged with the blood OF
civil war more terrible than that
which destroyed chattel slavery. The
false financial and monetary systems,
that control the wealth of the nation,
could not be maintained another day
if the people understood the wong and
the ruin that they are bringing upon
themselves and upon tins nation. Il
justice were done to the laborer through
e the government, there need be, anC
0 there would be no poverty or pauper
ism, with their attendant misery anC
I crime.
e The earth is rich with abundance
f and comfort, and happiness for every
human being who will do his or bel
: part towards developing its resources
r if but the just rewards Of labor were
e secured to those who perform il. |
. our laws were equal and Just toward,
2 all, and were rightly administered, th,
: wages labor would give us ne
S trouble. They might safely lie left tC
t regulate themselves according TO The
E laws Of supply and demand.
1t is very evident to me that the
wrongs and evils Of society are mostly
due to unjust Legislation, borrowed anG
handed down from the half civilized
I monarchial and feudal systems of the
d past, and, therefore, | am greatly re
e joiced that the labor movement ha:
< taken steps toward political action L
t the evils that aff1ict society are caused
q by political misrule, we must have q
e political remedy. But those who con
n trol this movement must not forget the
e eternal principles of justice to all, with
e out distinction OF race, color or sex.
: Nothing less than an even handed
4 justice can prevent the horrors of a
: civil war, and ! very much fear that
this war must come and bring 1estruc-
ton upon the ruling classes, before they
E will permit he Inauguration of justice
Let them remember the horrors and
the results Of the slave holders rebel,
lion, and take warning. Slavery in all
I its forms is doomed to die.