The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-08-13

qualified by q single recognition Of the
of human rights. The Chca-
go Congress declared this legislative
basis Of antagoniSm should be abolish
ed. and boldly announced platform Of
principles which would effect this end,
and resolved to maintain it by political
action.
This platform and this resolve have
been re-asserted in every subsequent
Congress, and whatever hesitancy or
doubt which may heretofore have exist
ed, among working men, as to the pol
icy of forming distinct political party,
there certainly remains none at present,
With the experience of the last few years
TO expect relief, or hope for aid 10 labor,
as against monopoly, from existing
parties as now organized, is driveling
idiocy. No protest has been able to
arrest the plumber of the public domain,
and the Congress just adjourned has
rendered itself more infamous, if pos
sible, than its predecessors in its grants
of the homesteads Of the people to rail
road companies. 1t has violated the
covenants with the people in favor Of
the bondholders, and not content with
almost doubling the National debt BY
schemes "to strengthen public credit,
it has fastened it, in perpetuity, upon
the nation.
1t is well that the representatives Of
Acknowledgements Congress should meet
IN convention, after the adjournment o
the late Washington Congsess. Its act,
are defiance of the public will, a con
tesSion that it fears neither popular
intelligence nor apprehension Of crime
1t has so long retained power 10y
the agency of party discipline, that i
counts on a longer tolerance ofthe pub
he. That its contemptuous estimat,
OF the manhood of the nottingham ha
been justified, we cannot deny. Bu
we think it has miscalculated it,
powers and the endurance Of the nation
The Congress will assemblo-with the
subtle schemes of the capitalist consum
mated-the banking system a 6xity, th,
national debt adjusted to pour it,
blessings " perpetually upon the com
ing generations, the public lands in thC
hands Of capitalists, the purpose avow
ed to degrade American citizenship
and cheaper suffrage into the hands y
Asiatic pagans, whereby, should the in
dustrlal classes grow FESTIVE, the powers
that be may rest securely upon {
coolie " basis
These schemes, cOnsummated thi,
successful conspiracy against American
freedom and citizenship, the inevitable
and pre-a~ranged degradation Of labor
to an Asiatic level, impose responsible
tiles upon the coming Congress beyond
those Of any preceding session. Tht
issue has been narrowed TO the indus
trial classes.
The preservation Of their present stot,p
eren, Is impossible, under the operation o.
Id'cs lately enacted By the nation. The
first and last duty of the Labor Con
gress will be to organize the means to de
feat this end. To abdicate this duty now
would be to endorse and approve the
chattelhood which has been given then
in return for their ancient liberty
Workingmen may have been obliged tC
witness the attempt of politicians to an
slave them, but they will not them
selves sign the carefully prepared in
dentures, which recognize a right o
ownership in and a mastery over them
The solidarity Of every indus
trial interest is fully recognized "A
the principles of the National Labol
party, and we have the highest hope,
that the deliberations Of the Congress.
will provide the means and create tn,
enthusiasm which will sweep corrup
ton from public places, instruct The
conspirators against industry, thai
there is no fnality to vicious Legislation
and re-endow, not only with their Ole
substantial life, the forms of our repub
lican freedom, but infuse into those
forms nobler liberty than they ever
before possessed.