The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-06-18

men, on the other hand, will lead tranquil
life, exempt from all serious anxiety; and
although their position will be less splendid
han that Of the employers, it win not be
ess digni6ed. For in that future to which
look forward, the pressure of public opin-
on, directed, as | have several tines said,
BY an organised religion, will not tolerate
any idle class living by the sweat of others,
and affecting to look down on all who have
to gain their own bread. Every man,
whether he is rich or poor, will be obliged
to work regularly an eteadily in some way
or other as duty to society and when all
work, the false shame which the industrious
now feel in the presence of the idle will
disappear forever. l am addressing an au-
dience, which, whether it calls itself Re-
publican or not, has, am sure, a thoroughly
Republican spirit, and keen sense Of the
lnsolent contempt with which labor is re-
garded by those whose circumstances exempt
them from performing it. You will there
fore agree with me that of all the changes
in the workman's condition which ! have
enumerated as likely to be realised in the
future, this is by far the most precious
that his function will be invested with as
much dignity as that of any other citizen
who is doing his duty to society
There are some men who are inclined to
be impatient when they are asked to con-
template state of things which confessedly
will not be of immediate realisation. They
are burning for an immediate reformation
of all wrongs 10 their own time They
think it very poor work to talk Of golden
age which is to bless the world long after
they are dead, buried, and forgotten. They
are even inclined to resent any attempt to
interest them in it, as though dictated by n
concealed desire to divert them from practi-
cal exertions. "Tell u.s." they say, "how
ace may taste some happiness. Why should
we labor in the cause Of progress if the
fruits are to be Eeaped only BY poste.ity n
do not wish to speak harshly Of work.
men who have this feeling. There has been
90 much of such hypocritieal preaching in
times past, and it is not strange if they
have become suspicious Of exhort, tons to
fix their eyes on remote future rather than
on the present. So conspcuously unjust i,
their treatment by the more powerful class
es, 80 hard and painful is the monotonou:
round Of their daily life, that the wonder
is, not that some men should rebel against
it, but that most should bear it with calm
ness and resignation. Nevertheless, it i:
necessary to say firmly, and never TO cease
saying, that such language as l have al
luded to belongs to low morality. More
over, it defeats its own object For what
ever may be the case with individuals, the
people will not be stimulated to united &C
ton by arguments addressed to its selfish.
! ness. The people can only be moved To
enthusiasm BY an appeal to elevated senti
ments. If leaders Of the worst causes find
it necessary TO invest them with some delu
sive semblance Of virtue that may touch
the popular heart, shall we who have pu
our hand to the sacred task of helping anC
accelerating social progress, shall we dea
in cynical sophisms and play on selfish pas
siOns? We owe it to our race that W,
should leave this world in a better stat,
than we found it. We must labor for DOS
terity, because our ancestors labored for us
What sacrifices have we to make compared
with some that have been made for us
We are not called on to 90 to the gallow,
with John Brown and George William
Gordon, the latest martyrs in the cause o
labor; or to mount barbados, like tn,
wOrkmen who flung away their lives il
Paris twenty years next month Is then
spirit extinct Were they men Of differ
ent mould from US? Or did they entel
upon that terrible struggle on some calcu
latiOn Of their personal advantage? No
but so short time had wrought them up t.
an heroic enthusiasm which made it seem ,
light thing to pour out their blood if they
might inaugurate happier future for theil
class. And shall We who live in times les
stormy, but not less critical for the cause O
labor, shall we complain if the fruits O
such small sacrifices as we may make ar,
reserved for another generation?
The worst of this unworthy spirit is, tina
the exhibition of it is an excuse to the self-in
dulgent and frivolous fur their neglect Of al
serious thought an vigorous action. On,
is sometimes ready to despair of any goot
coming out of pOpulace which can gil Sc
many public houses and ln~-sssC-naIKs
which deuaDA-rgrndu dull and vulgar rub
I IN its newspapers; which devours tie
latest news from Newmarket, and stakes its
shillings and pots Of beer as eagerly as 4
duke or marquis puts on bis thousands.
This multitude, so frivolous and gross in l.,
tastes, will not be regenerated by plying il
with fierce defamation against the existing
order Of society. You will more easily
move it by appealing to its purer feelings,
obscured but not extinct, than by tauntrg
it with a base submission TO class Injustice.
The man whose ideas Of happiness do not
60 much beyond his pipe and glass and
comic song, knows that the sour, cnvious
agitator will never he lit the better of
for all the trouble be gives himself; and be
sees nothing TO gain by following in bis
steps. But there are few men SO gross as
not to be capable Of feeling the beauty Of
devotion to the good Of others, even when
they are morally too weak to put it in prac-
tlce. And though man may lead an un-
satisfactory life, it is something if, 50 far as
bis voice contributes 10 the formation Of
public opinion, it is he I'd on the right side
This is the ground we must take if we wish
to raise the tone Of workmen. We must
place before them, without reserve, the high
est motive of political and social action
the good Of those who are to come after u.s.
We must bold out DO prospect Of individual
advantage or reward other than the approval
of their own cOnsciences.
Those who complain most bitterly of the
slow rate Of progress towards an improved
industrial state, would sometimes do well to
reflect whether their own conduct does not
contribute to retard it. The selfish spirit
follows US even into our labors for others,
and takes the form Of vanity and ambition.
Probably all of ms have had fraouant 1000