The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-26
a:CUFR0N ILLINOIS .
BRA1DwooD, Feb. 16, 1870.

DhAADWVOO9 E0Os AO1 4ObOs
70 the Editor OF the woAxIxsxAxs ADvOOAss.
In your issue Of Feb. 18th, you refer to
a letter from John Hinchcliffe, the mention
of whose name seems to me Is the voice Of
some departed beloved one coming up from
the grave and awakens afresh to memory
the time when the miners Of Illinois under
the leadership Of that old wheel horse John
Hinchcliffe) dared 10 assert their right, as
a class deserving recognition in the Legisla-
tive Halls of the State that owes to their
labor and untiring industry the development
# one Of her greatest resources; and who,
when war, with its devastation, was upon her
border, left the matock to rust in the mine,
and were found battling in the foremost
ranks in defence of her sacred soil / had
almost lost track of old friend Hinchcliffe,
along with other true and tried members Of
the A. M. A. and especially those Of district
No. l, Of Illinois whose names it is not ne
cessary to mention now, but who, it is hoped
will soon again appear upon the scene. 70
arouse the miners Of Illinois to a sense Of the
degrading bondage to which they are now
tending, and may those embers still moul
dering in District No. 1, be waited into q
fame that will spread across the Prairie
State and light up with radiance those faces
that are now 50 deeply enveloped in gloom.
We have heard it said that this state Of
things exists for want of a representative
man, for want Of leader but who, / ask,
would want to lead an unwilling host If
other places in Illinois are like BraidwoOd
they need no leader, because they are not in
the fight, they have hung out the white rag,
their banners are in the dust. they have
they crouch in peaceful submis-
sion at the feet of an exaulting Zoe, and
seemed capable Of inquiring any amount Of
torture.
The miners here only need wall around
them to give the appearance, and you have
a prison pen tenfold more obnoxious then
that Institution which adorns the suburbs Of
Joliet. The difference being, that, the con-
Wet, who has outraged society, and forfeited
every claim to liberty and the pursuits of
is comfortably clothed, supplied
with wholesome food and sleeping apartments
and when they quit work at a certain hour
their labor is done for the day.
While the poor but honest miner Of
Braidwood, who has committed no outrage
on society, who has done nothing to com
promise his inalienable rights, has to toll al
most day and night amid dangers only
known to the miner, and amid foul damp,
and poisonous gases, which gnaw at his vitals
and hastens him on to primature diseases
and death, can be sea at almost any hour
in the night, dragging bis weary limbs home
to rest bis exhausted frame in poor miser-
able shanty, in many cases not Ct shelter for
a hog, still he must not .growl if he Whims
Il mast be when no enc Is present, for,
should any rebellious expression of bis reach
the ears Of the individual that CONTROLS bis
destiny be would be considered guilty of
high offence, and the penalty would be dis
missal on the spot. ufsttg7o Y ltkk i
But bow long. in ths name Ut ese1gthing
that is sacred to liberty and manhood, is
this state Of things going to exist Just
30 long as the sufferers will it, and no
longer. So long as they allow intriguing,
confidence men to think and act
for them, just 50 long will they remain the
1upes and victims. Arouse, ye miners of
proclaim your birth right, and hurl
pour woUld-be masters from your path as
you would reptile, and show to the world
hat you are worthy Of the liberty guaran-
iced to you by the founders of this glorious
republic
Wait for the good time no longer,
Claim at once what ID your due,
Toll no more like slaves in hunger
To support a lazy few.
Wake up from your letharU; begin the
reformation at once. Can't yOu discern the
,igns of the times Trim your lamps and
Wheel into line, or, like the foolish virgins.
Vou will be too late for the feast. Has the
,larion voice Of John Hinchcliffe sounded
rom the Potomac 10 the MiSsousi Cor I
,aughte God forbid. Resort no longer
o strikes. Place yourselves in possession h
If that lever, the ballot place your lever
lpon tina fulcrum, the ballot-bex, and hoist h
hose designing knaves from ont the Sane
uary Of Legislation, who have polluted it
Nth their corruption. Tell them that
.snceforth you will dispense with their SER
noes; join with your fellow wcsknaeu IN
yer the country, and send men from among ,
our own ranks to tend to your own bust
ess- Earnestly hoping that thi~ hint may
ct be thrown away, | remain, ryOurs,