The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-11-05
FROM WASHINGTON.


" 1rSNGxEs SHOULD BE USIrED-NoTE SOLID
VoR rrxra FRIEsDs.- Snow THE Old Parties
IDLKSEss AND LONGING
WASHINGTON, ID. g., Oct. 29th, 1870.
As soon as the working classes will
show as much and steady determiBs-
ton to stand by their own principles
and friends at the ballot box, aud as
unequiyocally as other partizans do to
their party, we shall surely succeed, but
not till then. THIS must Be done if we
expect either to bring the other parties
to adopt and enforce our platform, or
to succeed IN electing 1ar own candi-
dates |; in fact, the only way TO make
the old parties see, feel and heed our
strengths by showing il Enthusiastically,
by unitedly going to the polls in solid
phalanx and voting for men who will
fully and faithfully support and carry
out our platform and every working
man should undertake this fact and
boldly act upon it at every election,
and soon every party will be willing
to support our principles and do our
bidding We must cease to feel more
pride in the success of our old parties
than in the triumph Of our best IN
terests and principles. | am now OPP
posed to active party feeling and
action, but II is disgrace to our man
hood TO let party feeling and pride
absorb all higher aims and independ-
ence. 4f
When the workiDgmen in the State
Of New York-so largely in the ma
jority-allowed Folger, their worst
enemy, 20 run ahead Of bis ticket and
party for Judge of the Courts, they did
terrible injury to our cause, and
brought a shameful disgrace upon
themselves this does not apply to those
noble, brave, true workingmen who
voted against him.
And, in Cincinnati, we believe the
large number Of workingmen there
failed of their full duty, when they
allowed Sam. Cary to be beaten for
Congress. Laboring men of all parties,
it seems to me, should have voted for
him, and secured triumph.
they must improve every oppor
tunity to make an expression OF their
views and show their strength, and that
they were equivocally IN earnest to
E-I------ - 81 a .-t~:---- - - "
against demagoguery and Legislative
monopoly.
As YOU say, in your leader, last
week, {" Workingmen viii have oppor-
tuEities to prove their sincerity, faith
and devotion at the polls" let them
not be found wanting in boldness and
promptitude. And also approve
what you further say in these words
A tree Is krowu BY its fruits Whenever
the Republican or Democratic party is prepared
20 iVin hands ~ith labor, ratlfy the principles
Of the National Union, or pledge itself TO ID:
support, are prepared TO advocate afhi.stion.
Till that time comes, We cen veil sfOrd %
wait"
When the Democratic or Radical
party will fairly and squarely support
and enforce our platform with their
own, we will need no other party, and
can support whichever party first
faithfully adopts and carries ont ouI
principles.
And now, one suggestion 10 all
workiugmcn, to render them both
happy and powerful there is great
complaint that they have not money
to pay the expenses Of Conventions
canvass papers, and the like. Let me
! kindly ask them To think and reckon
for a moment how much many Of them
spend every week, and At every Con
ven.ion and meeting for intoxicating
drinks, which does them Or the cause
no good, but injury.
At the Philadelphia and Cincinnati
Congresses, | noticed many delegates
who spent more money for drink than
for all the purposes Of the cause; and
if they would consider a moment and
withhold that same. and devote it "a
the work, We could 20 on membarass-
ed; try it, nay brethren, for one year,
or until the contest Of 1872 is past.
ID. ). CURrIss.