The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-23
Letter from John w. ForneY.


admission that it reads more like az
eulogy on party fostering with cor
ruption, than an endorsement of The
princiles Of the National Labor Union
IL was written to a friend in Wash
ngtOn: r....
WASHINGTON, July 9th, 1870.
L cannot be Indifferent to the cause o
labor. Born to life of toll, became
Journeyman printer, soon after | learned
my trade, and writer by the necessity
that compelled me to write in thetal,senct
OF the editor. II must be dull boy who
does not pick up some knowledge as h
picks up and Distributes the leadeu types,
The dryest and the freshest subjects de
mand bis study. If be would earn aliv
ing he must lem bis lessons; aud q.
these include, IN Tie course Of a wear. On
any considerable newspaper, information Of
every variety, be finds himself qualified tc
write and to think almost before he has
learned to do either.
10 this early experience owe much
but perhaps the most precious Of my acaui.
sitions was the sympathy for all men who
labor that they may live 1t became q
part OF my nature, and has ever since
power with my own growth. | never op-
posed what is called a strike among nv
own men, and never elsewhere, unless from
combinations tempered with violence. To
me there can be no such thing as strike
for higher wages in this country without o
large ingredient of justice in it, and al
though the demands upon me have some
times seemed exhorbitant, have invaria-
yielded to them, trusting to the good sense
Of my employees to return to a standard al
which all of us could live at the first fitting
moment; and as have never once refused
them, 20 have they never once disappointed
me. 1t 1t Is the most cOnsoling thing to
me In the midst Of not few evidences OF
the nlgratltude of men | have served, that
the best friends have in the world, after
my own blood, are to be found in my print
ing oftices and editorial rooms.
My own judgement il clear that the
most practical friend Of the laboring masses
OF America is the Republican party. Its
history abounds in evidences Of this asser
ton. The overthrow Of African slavery
ITS grandest achievement, after the over
throw Of the rebellion, not only secured
fair wages to millions who had been robbed
by shameless aristocracy for more than 8
century, but opened boundless domain
Of opportunity to more skillful and more
independent work-people. And this one
fact will give vitality and victory to the
Republican party for many years, unless /.
goes to pieces by foolish quarrels among
men who care more for themselves than for
their country.
And yet no true American can look with
out interest upon the labor organizations Of
the day, and especially that of which Mr..
Trevellick, Of Michigan, is President. II
they would accept the Republican ideas,
and vubOdy thsn IN their Piarurm, snOui1
bail their action with delight. Not indeed
that / claim perfection for my party; but
believe, under God, it has been the noblest
instrumentality for the good Of the country,
in our history. There is indeed very little
difference, 50 far as | have studied the
two, between what is called the National
Labor Union and the Republican party
They agree in the necessity of reducing thc
rate Of interest on the public debt. The,
agree in the justice of the highest wages
to the toiling millions. They agree that 0
speedy return to specie payments is iniu-
dicious and unnecessary. And when We
recollect that Republican President en-
forced the eight hour law, and that its opo-
ration has been beneficial, | feel that they
agree also on this important reform, soon to
be adopted wherever it can be practically
applied.
There are, however, two points upon
which | think l detect what may end in a
fatal difference between the Labor and the
Republican Platforms tendency of the
former to reputation and free trade. The
address you have sent me, signed BY the
officers Of the National Labor Union
bears that Interpretation, or I have read
it carelessly. l hope / am wrong, for
am firmly convinced that no party can ever
succeed in this country that stands in any
doubtful position on these questions. | wish
| had time to give you my views at length
on these points. but content myself with
the single remark that party that carried
the country throug b great war, and broke
down rebellion that half the world be
lieved would succeed, and then began the
reduction Of debt that more than half the
country thought never could be paid, and
followed this BY reducing taxes at the rate
of sixty millions year, hardly deserve the
censures that are showered upon it by those
Who are enjoying the blessings of rescued
and reconstructed government There may
be better craftsmanship in the future, but
l do not indulge the hope.
There is one sub bject upon which the
National Labor organization can speak DO.
tentially. mean that Of Chinese emf
grafton. They should welcome the new
comers from the oldest east. Congress, in
its sagaciOus foresight, has prohibited all
slave contracts on slave wages. Do not let
your labor organization follow the example
Of the Native Americans Of 1874 and the
Know Nothings of 1854, and demand the
exclusion of any portion Of Gods children
on account Of nativity or religion. The
conquest of Asia, the oldest of the old ma.
tions, BY the newest, by the great agencies
Of the century, peace. liberation and com.
merce, would round the circle of true lib
erty, and would be the proudest honors in
the record of your new party.
J. W. FoRNEY.
To r. W. LATHAM, Esq.
STEAMBOAT RACING.--Thero has
been a famous steamboat race On The