The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-03-26

portant step gained in the movement.
It brought it prominently before the
public, and compelled the press and
the politicians to recognize the move
ment. This was the object arrived at.
and it was achieved. Now, why Is it
we have not regularly organized Ia
Dor party in this Statef Simply be-
cause, as in other States, there il too
great a hankering after petty offices by
the workingmen. Nineteen-twentieths
of them expect, and are foolish enough
to believe they are going to get an
Office if their mann be elected. This
leads them to follow party. There is
now q great desire by some for q po-
litical workingman's party; but the
difficulty in the way appears TO be how
it shall be organized, and under what
colors it should sail. Some are for
having it on the secret order ;
bind by ioath or affirmation the MEM
bers thereof. We have had one secret
political party pray, do not let Us
have another. Secret political action
is antagonistic to the spirit and phil
osophy of our American institutions.
I would recommend 10 all who are in
favor Of secret political action or or.
ganization, the words of that great and
enlightened statesman, Thomas Jeffer'
son: "Ifthere be any among us who
would wish to dissolve this Union OF
change its republican form, let them
stand undistnrbed a. monuments Of the
safety with which error Of opsnios 1scs
Be tolerated Wksrs rsason % left free q
combat st." We have seen the danger
of, and excuses into which secret po
itical societies led their adherents.
What guarantee have we that we
would not be guilty of the like, Of
! even greater outrages and excessei
than did those secret political organi
cations that have already passed int
obscurity. II 10 an ig~ss fGtssEs not Il
be thought of in the great labor move
ment Of the nineteenth century
Others desire to work through exist
ing political parties. What in th
name Of all that is good have You beel
doing for the last eighty yearsS The.
. would have us rally under the cry 0
Democratic workingmen Republical
? workingmen; and as q sequence
3 negro or colored workingman's party
and heavens only knows how man
: other kinds of parties would spring uE
g Admitting, for the sake Of argument
t that we were to work through existing
political parties, what would it bene
Z fit us as wcrkingmen. As human &c
l ciety is at present organized, it has bu
4 one end and aim-and that is to Civ
J. all power and happiness to one portion
and all weakness and misery to tn
other. This proposition is self-evident
!, and 50 plain that he who runs ma
read. Now, we of America, of thi
giant young republic Of the Wester
world form an integral part Of this
what is called human society. An
}. we have enjoyed greater facilities an
2 political power than any other peoPl
on The globe and what have we don
: for the material advancement Of tn
workingman? And ifthe great lesso
K taught by history be true-that {
!, know the future we must judge by tn
l. past; if, as 1 have said, this lesso
; be true, what have the worh
!. ingulen Of America to expect in th
k future if they continue to rely on pol
IS tical parties, as, at present organized
: 1t is plain there is but one ray Of hop
q left, and that is in the formation Of
r National Labor Party, based on th
principles laid done in the platform I
n the National Labor Union. Now, 4
Y those in this city who are DESTROYS I
l. political action cut themselves aloe
g from party predictions. No matte
n whether they be Democrats or Repul
t licans, or Whatever their political pr
/ ference may be, let them assume ono
more their manhood. The old polite
Z organizations are defunct. Old issue
J: have passed away; a new life Is abo'
q to take possession of our politics
n body, and it will be for you, workin,
men, Of this Republic, to shape i
Is destiny. It must be either despotic I
= republican and the tendency of tn
. times points to the former rather tha
. the latter. VERITAs.