The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-22
THE COMING ELECTIONS.

IhE JUm1NO LIEU 1UNS.
In a few weeks the working classes
ID several sections Of the country will
have an opportunity afforded them of
testing the sincerity of their prolcs-
sions, IN their faith and devotion 70 the
principles Of the National Labor Union.
In view Of this fact, we desire III a few
plain practical remarks to address our
selves to their manhood and Selt-re
spect Il has long been the boast Of
party l5aders-and with too much
truth-that the working classes despite
their professions are erentudHy con-
trOlled by party predictions-in other
words, that they prefer entrusting their
interests to the keeping Of the Republi.
can or Democratic standard bearers
than in the hands Of those taken from
their own ranks As a matter Of
course 50 long as their conduct iustiies
these predictions, the wire pullers can
well afford to sneer at all Labor Con
ventions or declarations of principles,
IN which the rights or interests Of labor
are recognised. Actions \ nak louder
than words Men reaso IN pre-
misses to conclusions, and consequently
are apparently justified in asserting
that 50 long as their conduct bellies
their professions, while they have the
pOlrer to make their influence felt and
respected, and refuse to exercise it, no
ilst cause Of complaint exists. And
while we have no desire to screen the
perfidy Of those who have sooften prov
cd recreant TO their pledges, the fact
cannot be disguised that the treason of
wOrkIngmen has been their own worst
enemy. In our own experience we
can recall conference after conference,
at which the utmost enthusiasm and
determination have been manifested,
and the resolution formed to place an
Independent ticket in the field, and yet
after nominations had been made, at
the eleventh hour, it has been found by
those most deeply interested that it was
ineKpedient, under present circumstance,
TO force the issue. The result, as might
he expected, has invariably been to SOW
seeds of suspicion and disseDsion, and
disgustall who were prepared 10 support
by voice and vote those whom theyhavc
considered bona fde representatives
Of labor's interests. In fact, we can
liken the effect to nothing else than the
decentralization which generally pre-
walls in Union after the failure Of an
iBjudicious strike.
A great deal of this malpractice,
however, doubtless arises from the
presence and counsels Of class Of
adventures, who act as sneak thieves
or stool pigeons, and who are always
on land whenever a movement is an
ticipated. At first they are fiercely in
favor Of moving on the enemy's works.
Their names get into the public press,
and their object is secured. A bar
gam is struck and a sale effected to the
highest bidder just in the nick of time,
the conditions of the sale invariably
being that cold water will be thrown
on the entire movement, and a division
and consequently a defeat secured.
The question thus arises, and it is one
that the manhood and honesty Of our
friends alone can answer, "Shall the
sinister or mercenary motives of the
class referred to be longer permitted to
control our action Z" Are the interests
Of the honest many, to be sacrificed to
the selfish, ambitious, scheming few?
Is there general principle involved, or
is it simply hide-and-seek poli3y?" SO
eng as a $40 bill or a glass Of beer can
command vote, it is a sheer waste of
time to talk about nominating a labor
ticket. Better-far better that the old
Jog trot system should be adhered to,
than that the livery Of heaven should
be stolen TO serve the devil in.
BOyking"'sa, you cannot afford 10 sac
rifce yourselves in this manner De
feat has no terrors for honest men. Re
tain your manhood and selfrespect.
Spurn all bribeS Stand together or
fall together and you will secure the re-
spect even of those who now profess
70 despise yon.
A tree is known by its fruits. When
ever the Republican or Democratic par
~ is prepared to join hands with labor.
ratify the principles Of the National |
Union, or pledges itself to its support.
We are prepared to advocate afiilation.
TIN that time comes, we can well afford
" wait.