The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-08-27

himself.
Mr.. Msrrill, Of Csiifomis, made q
speeeh in reply TO the last speaker, and
in favor of Mr.. Peters resolutions.
| Both amendments were then put
and Lost, and the original resolutions as
presented was then carried by large
majority.
The next resolution was then read
and also carried unanimously.
Mr.. Coffin offered q resolution to be
added to the platform, as follows:
R@Olusd, That tbe President Of the Uni
ted States should be elected by a direct
vote Of the people.
Mr.. Kuhn offered the following:
Rssolued, That railroads.. canals, tele-
graphs, and all means Of communication
are the common property Of the people, and
of society ct large. and should be administer
ed for their benefit by the Government, the
present owners to receive equitable compen-
sation.
Laid on the table.
On motion of Mr.. Cameron, Of ILL.,,
the platform was then adopted as a
whole amid great applause.
Mr.. Cummings resolutions, offered
at q previous session, calling for the
formation of "A new political party,
based on labor, were taken from the
table. H3
Mr.. Myers (colored) read from manu-
script an argument against the forma-
ton Of distinct party, claiming that
all the reforms we wanted could be OBJ
tain cd through the Republican party.
Mr.. Gilchrist replied ut some length.
He stated that he had been an ardent
1 partizan, but being convinced that both
i parties were dishonest, he had abandon
ed both. He had sunk his prejudices
against the colored race, and hoped to
cooperate with them in the future.
Mr. Campbell, of Louisville, followed
in the same strain.
MIR. DePew, of Syracuse, did not
care what the existing parties had
done or were doing.
The important thing for the working
men, and thing to which they should
lie nd all their energies, was the torma-
OF new party. M
Mr.. Cameron, of Illinois, stated that
the purpose Of organizing q Labor
party was not OF mushroom growth.
In 1865, at the first meeting of the
Labor Congress in Baltimore, resolu-
ton to that effect was adopted unani-
mously, even with the crude, underlined
ideas then entertained about political
action. The hue and cry raised about
class legislation was meaningless. In
stead of being movement In favor Of
it, its import was protest against its con.
tinusnce. So far as the interests, of the
colOred men were concerned, be would
ask, whether they expected thst the
men who had oppressed their own rxee
! would be more likely to do them justice
than their fellow workmen. At Phil
adelphia he voted for their admission
on terms Of perfect equality, and was
willing to act in good faith, but if they
preferred TO cast their lots with the op-
pressors, on their own heads rest the
responsibility.
Mr.. Trevellick left the chair to Mr..
Kuhn, and spoke to the resolutions.
He knew both the parties, Democratic
and republican, to curse them both, and
he would get up at night to curse them.
He thanked God that the time had
come when the people had resolved to
put an end to both, and with Gods
help he would devote his every energy
and hour to helping to that grand re-
suit.
Dir. Troup favored the movement,
and said in answer to the charge that
4 the Democrats hope to control this
movement, that in New York the same
charge was made against the Republi-
can party.
Mr.. Flanagan, of Pa, gave history
of the reform movement IN this part Of
: the country, and said the only good OBJ
tanned for the laboring men was through
the formation Of a separate party, and
if this movement now proposed did not
prove a success, he was willing to take
the mark of Cain from the forehead of
the negro and put 1t on his own.
MIR. L. McHugh was surprised to find
efforts on the floor to sow discord
among the members of the Congress.
He criticised generally the conduct of
the discordant members.
The Chair-All those things fly over
onr heads. they do not disturb U.S.
(Applause.)
Mr.. McHugh continued: There is a
purpose in the parties in this country
to break up this Convention. There is
deter mination to nominate candidates
for Congress in the First and Second
Districts in this county, and if it is done
they will be elected, unless the money
OF the comrades, of the banks, and of
the railroad corporations is too power
full. -.-.
Mr. Sheldon rose and asked the
President if he were worthy to give the
reason for his vote.
President" If Mr.. S. desires me to
answer, / will say we have no more
faithful executive officer, no truer friend
Of the cause"
Mr. S." When in the retirement Of
private life deeply studied the great
principles that underhe this organiza-
ton, / became profoundly impressed
with their truth. I had long felt that a
citizen of these United States Is o
sovereign, responsible to the governed
and the Governor of the Universe for
the legitimate influence of those laws
which he enacts or sanctions. He can
not escape responsibility. Ifby his In
action, injustice CT oppression occurs,
he is guilty. If he act, and is over
come by a majority, and hen injustice
or oppression occurs, the guilt rests
alone on those who cause and approve
it Upon this I was brought to politi-
cal action thirty years ago. A few
prosecuted, reviled and ridiculed ones
were affiliated. l undeviatingly held
on until the nation came to my princi-
] pies, when sat down to enjoy old age