The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-07
CHICAGO AND PHILADELPHIA,
SATURDAY. May Z. 1870.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.

Fish, there appeared a document
scarcely second in importance-and
the influence it is destined to bear on
our national characterize the Declare
ton Of Independence-an official
PRONUNCIATION Of the ratification Of the
Fifteenth Amendment, by which the
privileges Of American citizenship
were conferred upon the colored race
in every State Of the Union. The fiat
has gone forth, and right or wrong,
the American people have set the seal
Of appreciation TO the work Of their
Legislators. Henceforth, the colored
voters will exercise as much influence
in sections where their numbers pre-
pOnderate, as those Of fairer skins have
done in our Northern States, and in
many localities where the partisan vote
is nearly balanced, there is no doubt,
their united efforts will, for the time
4 being al least, virtually constitute them
the las0-mGking potCer
Under these circumstances, we have
no patience with that class Of labor re-
formers. who, instead of accepting the
situation, and turning it to the best
account, continue to deplore the de-
generacy of the times, and drive into
the ranks of the enemy the very men
whose assistance is essential to secure
success. If they will but take lesson
from either the Republican or Demo
cratic faction, they will find that a
fierce struggle is now being waged
alike in the Southern and Northern
States, to secure a controlling infu
ence in their ranks and is it, we ask
either polite or right that the party Of
all parties most deeply interested in
securing their influence, should stand
listless and Indifferent at this important
juncturo
Granting all that our dissatisfied
friends claim-that a lust for party
power was the controlling motive in
their enfranchisement; and that the bit.
terest enemies of the white laborer,
We the not s1GsE,0Eth Cd xcc stes IL iE
their behalf how does this admission
change the result ? Will it deprive
the colored citizen Of his vote ? Will
il change the complexion Of affairs, OF
undo an act which has been sealed BY
the American people Will it make
them any less power for good or fol
evil All such speculation is useless
Il it the part Of wisdom to fight dead
issues, when RUing ones meet us Al
every point? We believe not, and we
trust the leaders Of the movement will
realize the fact, before it is too late.
We may perhaps, be alone in oul
opinion, but we firmly and honestly
believe that the success Of the labor
movement for years TO come, depends
on the cooperation and support of the
colOred race, and further, that it viii
be only through the grossest culpa
bility and mismanagement that they
can be driven into the ranks of theil
Oppressors. r leir interests are our in
tereStS oar Interests are theirs and they
have studied the antecedents Of eithel
the Republican or Democratic parties
to little purpose, who believe that tn,
leaders Of either will have more re
spect for the welfare Of the black
than they have for the white mechanic
1t stands to reason, however, that al
attempt will be made to prove al
antagonism Of interest, hoping there
by to secure a new lease of power
while the victims of both shades vii
be ground to powder between the up
per and neither millstones.
We certainly have no desire to see
our leaders act the demagogue, and
there is no need that they should
The action of the Philadelphia Con
vention in the admission of the colored
delegates, speaks louder than words
and if followed up consistently, viii
do more to convince our Southern
friends Of the sincerity of our motives
and intentions, than the speeches of
dozen blatherskites Of either party
What we do want to see, is some steps
taken to counterfeit the poison beinj
instilled, insidiously, it is true, but
nevertheless, persistently, into theil
minds by the veriest class Of dema
gogues, who ever nsisrepreSe,ated con
stituency. An appeal from President
Trevellick, containing review of the
situation, their future prospects, and the
aims Of the National Labor Union,
would, we believe, be fraught with the
happiest results. From il, there is
everything to gain and nothing to
loose. As there are several journals
in the Southern States who are de.
voting more or less attention to The
labor problem, there would be no diff
Guilty in securing its general circulation.
Certain it is, some such effort must be
made, and we know of no one SO we'll
qualified to put it forth, as the Presi-
dent Of the National Labor Union.
WE are pleased to learn that Brick
LAYERS Unions No No. 10 and 2s, OF