The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-08-06


ASTORIA, July 3Oth, 1870.
To the Editor Of the woRKNGMAH's ADVOCATE:
| write this letter because fear that
there are some even yet who do not com
prehend the magnitude of the interests
involved in the success of the labor
movement. So many are they, that do
not expect that white workingmen will
do more to establish theRights Of Labor,
than black workingmen did to obtain
their freedom. Yet, though an old
man, | expect to see the success ofthe
movement, for, as in the anti-slavery
movement, | see justice holding the
balance, and relentless fate hewing the
road to victory. 1t is for US that the
false foundation stones Of the industrial
systems Of Russia and the United States
have lately been removed, and it is for
rs that the fountains of the religious
and political deeps are broken up, and
that war is waving its banner ovor the
cor inent Of Europe,
But says the day laborer, what is all
this to me ? A dollar day more wages
is what | want, to support my family,
tell me how TO get that? To this it
may be answered, you and every dill
sent u-o,I;n1r 49,, - --,l-a enough 70
support family, but you don't keep it.
Well, tell me how 10 keep it? BY
overthrowing the present land, money,
and industrial systems q the country !;
when laborers are represented in our
Halls Of Legislature in the proportion
their numbers warrant, these things
be done, not before, and these must
.e done before any workingman obtains
the full returns of his labor.
But, unquestionably, there are many
workingmen who will say that this is
bigger job than they can perform. In
that case | would say to them, as vet
eran fox hunter said to a STRIPPING who
was riding amongst the dogs in his
eagerncss for the chase, "yOung man
do YOU mean TO catch the fox ?" 4" No"
replied the youngster Well, then,
rein mp and let tho dogs see what they
can do" Verify the dogs Of war are
let loose il Europe; already in Paris
the red flag has been run up; no tune
for France but the old revolutionary
MarseiIlaise, whilst behind Napoleon
stands the reformed Catholic church,
freed entirely from the trammels Of
State and the dictation Of governments,
ready 10 tell the millions what inspired
laws say of the rights of all men to the
soil, to condemn interest for money
the foundation Of our present wicked
financial systom-and to let the wOrl'
know how far St. Peter sanctions com
munity Of property among christians.
1t has been reported that Mrs. Roth
schild told friend that there would be
no war, for her son would lot advance
the money. Probably tho European
money changer will learn before this
war closes, that the man with the
bavonc.s is master Of tie man with the
purse.
Although it is my duty as q membes
of the International WorkinCmenf
Association to rcpudiate war, recog-
Mise the necessity for the moral thunder
storm which is now clearing the air or
Europe. 1t is my earnest hope that
neither Protestant Prussia nor Catholic
France will reap the fruits of victory,
but the workers in the rear Of both
armies. Let us hope that the time is
soon coming when the reign Of soldiers
will be past. they are most destructive,
costly and murderous instruments
heavy burden upon all who labor, and
a blot on christian civilization.
II is suggested to me that. not being
a Catholic, some may think have made
nv estimate Of the position that church
i likely to take without warrant. In
support of my sentiment, | give the fol-
lowing from the PASTORAL letter Of Arch
bishop Manning, one Of the ablest, If
not the ablest prelate in the Roman
Council The Catholic church has
never condemned the underlying prin-
ciples Of the first French revolution. "
What W ere those underlying principles?
The assertion Of the right Of The people
over the soil, their claim to control and
regulate money, and long stride tor
wards the establishment Of communism,
all Of which subjects may be found by
both Protestants and Catholics, right
ously legislated upon in the Magma
Charta Of the laborcr, the Bible.
r.. w HUME.