The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-22
FROM LONG ISLAND.

FkUM LUNG ISLAND.
ASTORIA, Jan. S, 1859.
70 the Editor OF the woRKNGMAE's ADVOCATE.
Surely it is high time for the friends
Of the labor movement to put their
shoulders to the wheel and press for
ward their cause with untiring energy.
The daily harvests of murders and
bestial crimes reported in this city
(New York; alone, are proofs that our
present systems are rotten, and that
in revolution (for reforms cannot reach
the evils) lies our only hope for i'm
provement. In thirty years we have
advanced here from homicide year
to over one a day, minor crimes
extending in like proportion. Out of
q population of 900, 900, we harvested
in our prisons over 100000 criminals.
Nor are the public uniformed why
this increase has taken place. Every
doctor knows why, and every magis-
trate is posted as to the cause of these
horrors. The circumstances under
which hundreds of thousands Of human
beings exist here, account for the ply
steal and moral pestilence which are
scourging us. Old mammon never
receives from the ancient Philistines q
more regular dole of human lives than
our rulers present him from the over
crowded wards of our city. This too
in a nation which processes in its first
state paper that the chief duty of all
governments is the protection ofhuman
fife.
But what has this to do with the
labor movement ? Much. The real
root Of all these evils is the defrauding
the laborer Of his hire. The time is
rapidly coming on here, as well as in
Europe, when the hardest workingmen
amongst us, will not be able to live by
their labor. Mrs. DR.. Andrews in
forms us that, in Boston, woman, the
weaker laborer, is already in this con-
dition. She asserted that there were
thirty thousand women in Boston who
could not live decently by their needle,
and werc physically unable to do house
work. Is it any wonder that under
such circumstances, crime increases ?
And surely it will do so, until those
who do the work can manage to keep
it after it is done, and until those who
do nothing are compelled to cook it for
their dinners. IF the labor movement
is not designed to affect this act Of jus
tice it is useless lift is, it has mi hty
work before it.
But, thanks be to Providence, Our
means are proportional to the labor
before MS. For every civilized country
the millions are rising to the duties Of
the hour. The usurv reform, the free
dom of woman, the peace movement
the land reform and the temperance
movement, are marching hand in hand
through the world. If the foes of Jus.
tice and righteousness are concentrat.
ing their energies, the friends are col
Letting and arming for the fight Ir
this country, if we can only unite and
call out the whole of the labor force the
battle will be won, but in other coun.
tries our brethren may have sterner
duties to perform before liberty
equality, and fraternity, is made the
order of the day: R w. HUME.
Mr.. Browning Of New York has
written 10 President TrevelIick, upon
the Cuban question, as follows:
hope you will consider the Cuban
question while the council are in session
in Washington. 1t is a popular
question with the people, and il
we are going TO be a party, let
us grapplc with all the rational issues
which present themselves for our con-
sideration. There is not citizen in
our land whose heart does not burn
with Indignation, whose pride is not
humbled when he is made to realize the
position which our Government has
assumed toward the Cuban people,
who are not fighting for conquests or
the spoils of war, but for their firesides,
their homes and their independence.
GOD grant that they may be successful
in their efforts, Notwithstanding the op-
position of our Government. am dis
gusted with the theory set up by our
men in authority, that we must adhere
to and respect the neutrality laws of
nations. Why should we take refuge
behind law Of neutrality which pre-
vents us from aiding people to be free,
and who desire to free those around
them? Did we not violate our con
stitution when the South ern negro was
freed +? and why should we respect and
hold more sacred the neutral laws, than
our own constitution | have faith in
the opinion of such men as Judge Conk-
ling, who assures us that we can aid
Cuba and vet not violate the neutral
laws; but | am in favor of keeping
Cuba in any event. There is no doubt
in my opinion that, were it possible to
submit to the people for their decision
the question of extending the sympathy
and aid Of this nation TO the patriotic
Cubans who are struggling for liberty
and freedom; that they would not
hesitate to decide in favor Of both, even
though it would involve us in war. If
we believe in arepublic it is our duty to
aid every effort to spread its principles
and influences wherever and whenever
it becomes as formidable as it is in
Cuba. This country must be growing
old as it is, certainly becoming timid.
They tell me Sumner, was vigorous and
bold in his younger days; l wish he was
young now. But, if the old and estab-
iished parties are afraid of the prece-
dents they have made, let us take the
benefit; untrammelled and free to act
as honorable to all people, let us assure
the Cuban people that theslabor party
which is composed Of the bone and
sinew Of our land, sympathize with
them, and while we hope and pray they
will succeed, let us denounce, in un-
measured terms, the cowardly action
Of eur Government toward them,