The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-01
FROM INDIANA.
EL1zABETHrowN, Dec. Is, ls

NUN INDIANA
ELIzABETHTowN, Dec. Is, 1859.
To the Editor OF the woAKmsHAH's ADVOCATE:
/ have Just finished the reading Of
your remarks on "The Crisis" and
am we'll satisfied that your views are
correct-that your views are well foun-
ded in regard to general apathy and
selfish indifference on the part Of thous-
ands Of those whose most essential in.
terests, both present and to come, are
inseparably connected with the final
success and permanent establishment of
the principles maintained by the Ma
tional Labor Union.
am fully satisfied that prejudice in
favor Of present political parties, has a
powerful influence in preventing thous-
ands who are really interested-whe-
Their they are aware of it or not-from
throwing their moral and political in
f1uence with those who are laboring I'M
ceasingly for their emancipation and
elevation. l have never been an &C
tive political partisan, having never
sought or desired the patronage Of tn,
people, except as customers in my me-
chanical business. But / have always
had tacit, conscientious preference
for the avowed principles Of some one
existing party, over those Of another.
Having always sympathized with the
oppressed, and seeing the great neces-
sity for a new and more important po-
litical question to come before the peo-
pie, hailed with delight the adoption
of the first platform Of the Republican
party, at Philadelphia, in 1856. felt
that could take an active part in the
discussions that must naturally 70 low
the publication Of the political ultima
tum. At the time referred to, 1856, l
was either citizen or RESIDENT can't
tell which-of the little city Of Alton,
Ill, and if this communication should
ever come before the readers of the
ADVOCATE, there are many honest
hearts in the locality referred to, who
will readily recognize in the writer, the
LITTLE MAN, who at that time at any
hour of the day Sundays excepted
might be found standing behind the
low, narrow, dingy counter Of little
retail grocery establishment, fronting
on Short street, with a cheerful coun-
tenance, weighing out their sugar and
coffee, butter, tea, tobacco, etc.
They will remember, too, how bold
ly, yet respectfully, would urge, as
occasion offered, the absolute necessity
of moral and political reform-how /
predicted, in 81, that the Government
of the United States had seen her best
days-that we had climbed to the top
of the ladder of national prosperity and
greatuess-and that our career in the
future would be down, instead of up the
ladder, until the whole body polite
should come upon the same level.
These and many other kindred remarks
were then riveted on the memory of
many, who can now look back on the
events of the recent past, and easily
determine whether or not | then had
any real foundation for my conjeotures,
or spoke merely the promptings of a
diseased imagination, as many, no
doubt, thought at the time. But let
this all pass for the present
My leading design in this communi-
cation is to try to arouse, or help to
stir up, the laboring, downtrodden
masses to a sense Of their present dan
ger-the danger of being sunk deeper
and deeper in the great and gaping
whirlpool Of inextricable slavery, de-
graduation, poverty, Ignorance and
want.
There is but one way open, that /
can conceive, by which the homeless,
laboring and oppressed of this country
can finally save themselves and their
posterity, from a condition worse than
the late Russian serfdom-for we have
no individual Alexander to cause the
landlords to disgorge, with or without
their consent But one sure way, /
say, and that is by thorough organi-
zatlon Of all the wealth-producing or
labOring class, throughout all the States.
There must be no disaffection, or IN
willingness to leave present political
parties. The masses need more light
To secure this organization and unity
OF action are indispensable. | have
talked frequently with many of all
classes, in this a d other localities dur
ing the last seven years, since my re-
turn to my native land, on the subject
Of social, moral and political reform
the most of whom agree that there is
some wrong existing somewhere, but
few seem willing to admit the POSSIBLE
ity Of thorough change for the bet
ter. Many say, All the rich have
always oppressed the poor, and they
ever will while the world stands, whe-
Their we organize against their power
and designs or not" To these weak
and slave-like arguments have invari-
ably replied, " Just as long as the OPP
pressed are willing to submit to their
present condition, without making any
effort to secure their inherent rights,
just SO long will unprincipled tyrants, az
mock representatives. of the people, ca
pitalIsts, bankers, and government pet
functionaries still continue to lead them |
with chains Of oppression, still more |
and more intolerable for them to bear. |
The only way, in my judgment, to Sc
cure equal rights in the government,
in the future, is by political Organiza-
ton and representation in the halls Of \
legislation Unfortunately, and this
cannot be effected so as to secure the |
greatest good to the greatest number. \