The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-09-03
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE.

|
The following circular letter was ad
dressed 10 large number Of the lead
ing public men of the country, and We
print below apart Of the replies re-
ceived II was found that the circular
letter did not reach a number Of the
parties TO whom it was addressed in
time to permit Of reply before the
meeting Of the Congress; and in order
therefore to afford to all who desire
an opportunity Of replying the time has
been extended TO the lst Of October,
and we shall print in the cclumns oi
the ADVOCATE the answers as they
come 10 hand:
UgVIon EAgloSAL LAs,R rsroH,
DHTHoIr, AIcH Jay d. 1870.
Sir: When in the progress OF nation.
the government Of which springs from and
is upheld by the popular will, abuses are
created and errors are Incorporated, alike
dangerous and ultimately y destructive. it be-
comes q necessity to the people to choose
whether they shall. by destroying their per-
nicious influences, restore the government
to its pristine condition of purity, or sink
into vassalage beneath a corrupt oligarchy.
This choice is now forced upon the peo-
pie. National and State Legislation have
measurably ceased to be for the interest Of
the people, or for the benefit Of the indus
trial an commercial wants of the country
The government is administered almost en-
tirely in the interest Of non-producing cap
ital, 10 the form Of nOntaxed bonds, hanks,
and other corporate n -opolies. Large
quantities Of public domain have and are
being donated to companies upon stipula-
tions of division of interest therein to Leg
islators and govern officials.
For the correstion Of these and other
abuses, we, the workingmen, upon whom the
larger portion of the burdens rest, ore com
biRed and associated to restore the strength
and the purity to the government which the
virtue and patriotism of our fathers sought
permanently to establish in it.
Duly impressed with the magnitude Of
the task before US, and sensible Of the diff
culties to be met and overcome, we feel the
need of co operation, counsel. and infu-
ence Of the friends of right and justice in
all the walks of life, but particularly Of
those acquainted with the management Of
public affairs, who have faithfully discharged
the trusts rsposed in them. Qualified. rs
you are by experience, to judge correctly
in the premises, when taken in connection
with the prominent position you occupy be-
fore the public, your opinions cannot fail to
attract attention, and to exert q potential
influence upon the minds OF the people.
We take the liberty Of presenting for your
consideration our views Of the present stu
alton, and the measures necessary to restore
the rights of the people under tie govern
ment, aud to secure an honest, faithful, and
impartial administration Of justice, and re-
spectfully request that you will communi-
cate your views generally on the great ques-
tons involved in the approaching ntest
which, when stripped of all dise e, will
be found struggle between the people and
the bonds, the banks, and other graspipg
Auonopolies. .sfoE, maintaining In the xoAA
that form and substance OF government,
which affords to all an unfettered start and
fair chance in the race Of life"
To prevent miscOnceptiOn, and remove
all doubt respecting our objects and aims,
it is proper to say that we do not propose to
array labor against capital, any further than
is demanded by the principles Of eternal
Justice. We come not to ask for privileges
or favors, but to demand the rights guaran-
teed to us by the laws of nature, and the
government under which we live. and these
we propose to regain and maintain against
all opposition.
In order to clearly understand what
these rights are, it becomes necessary to
state the fundamental principles underlying
all forms Of government, and to define par
tieularly the principles upon which Cur sys-
TEN is based.
There are but two pure forms Of govern
ment, or modes Of administration, the Au-
tocratic and Democratic all Other systems
are modification Of one or the other Of
these principles. The former is centralza.
ton, the latter diffusion. Monopoly and
exclusive privilege are essential to the for
mer, and destructive Of the latter system.
1t is unquestionably true that the design
Of the founders Of our institutions was to
establish government ON the principle OF
Inherent or underiyed sovereignty in the
people A government "of the people, for
the people, and BY the people" iu contra,
distinction TO the aristocratie politics OF
Europe, where capital and not the people
govern. 1t is then the perogative of the
people to legisll lte on all subjects, and ad-
minister The gove.pment in such manner as
to them may seem most likely to effect their
prosperity and happiness, subject only to
the principles of natural justice. But that
in the administration there has been wide
departure from this wise and just principle.
is undeniably true. Evidence is abundant,
end sccumulating on every hand, to prove
that the laws governing the distribution OF
the products Of industry and enterprise, be-
tween capital and labor, are more unequal
and unjust, and the centrslizing power of
money greater with Us, than in any civil
lied government on the globe.
Look where you will upon society, you
will see those who live by honest industry,
aud legitimate enterprise, and who really
produce the wealth, and originate and carry
forward the improvements of the nation,
condemned to lives of unremitting toll and
un.easing effort; deprived Of the Means
ani the time necessary for intellectual cul-
tup. and social enjoyment, and in many
instances destitute OF the ordinary comforts
oflife; while Priviledged few riot in lux
ur,, end acquire, through means Of an un-
wis and corrupt legislatios, the larger pOr-
tioi of the products of industry, though
the never rsised finger to perform any
ussal labor, or gave moments thought 10
any subject for the good Of society. Many
sndvarious have been the causes assigned
!. for be wrongs and grievances complained
of, ht none Of them have ever satisfactor-
;lv acounfed for these evils or poiuted to