The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-09-21

! d6e Rlanttrs' Bau'1e'
family Reaoins ano Mems Item
THE LABOR CONGRESS-.
!! PRESIDENT TRAvELLEcK's ADDRESS.
! The address before the Labor Congress
too lengthy for our columns; bnt we give Il
substance of it below:
Having had the opportunity by person
observation and frequent interviews wit
workingmen, l can more readily see the o.
solute necessity of extending our work by il
creaslng the number of active and energet
men to travel throughout the country and G.
plain our position on the great question
which are now agitating the minds of thinl
ing men; and in the most places l have VII
lted, they need only to DO clearly explaine
| to be eagerly embraced by the people; bu
this requires time and labor, and we canno
expect to have mans time and labor CON
Dined without remuneration. 1t will, there
io1e, Ge for you, if you think it expedicnt, t
take these matters into consideration, and t
devise some plan, financially, that viii
strengthen those who, by your choice, ar
made the officers for the coming year, and j
our means will allow, to increase the numbe
Of actual workers.
10 more fully explain our views and tn
mode Of carrying out the great reform, W,
propose to inaugurate, and in this connection
would suggest to this body that you con
slider whether it will not be beneficial ant
necessary that this organization declare it
self q distinct political party, denominated N
the Labor Reform Party, based upon the prin
clpie OF equal rights to all men, special privi
leges to mono, as set forth in the platform OF
the National Labor Union. l consider thi,
TO be the only true basis, and the one on which
We can rely for ultimate success in checking
the many evils from which we are now sui:
fering, through and by the effect of unjus,
and ,il-timed legislation.
1t would be an idle task to attempt to e.
timste the thousands of converts that have
been made, and hundreds of thousands are
murmuring against the infamy of the party
IN power, and the imbecility and cOwardice
OF the minority in Congress, who differ with
tnem In name, but not on the great questions
which concern the interest and prosperity of
the workiDgmen and women of our land; and,
II mistake not, in the feelings of the masses
there have been sOwn the seeds of political
rebellion against the tyranny Of the moneyed
OF legislation, both State and National, with
the aid of common sense and the mighty
the power OF the ballot, those recreaut and
corrupt men, who seem to be ready and will
ing at oil times to do the bidding of unscru-
pulous monopOlists and landsharks, and are
1t all times ready to sacrifice the interest of
The laboring class for place and power.
PARTY AND OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
1t has been part of my duty during the past
Iear to visit many Of the States of the Union,
.nd We have heard the feeling of the people
reeiy expressed against the misrule and cor
'uptlon Of government officials, and in favor
Il radical change in the affairs of govern
nentf We have also listened to the hearty
Welcome Of thousands who have freely de-
Jared in favor of The principles and platform
the s Ms1S9a sm 4Hh9T fbs Mpin Of the
aoney power, and preserve it as the homo OF
reemen and tho land of refuge for the op-
!, esscd of all civilized nations. We will now
sk what has past legislation done to benefit
he peOple at Target Has it reduced taxa
ionf Hasi saved Gods gift, the broad earth,
or the humble settlen Has it built up
mined commercei Has it furnished q uni
orm and cheap currency for the people! Has
{ done justice between the bondhoider, the
banker and the peoplei Have they, the law
nakers, kept thoir promises in regard to the
PAYMENT of the National debit Have they
oassed the bill introduced in Congress to pre-
vent the importation of d servile race to de-
rrade tho American citizeni Have they fixed
Z tariff that is Just on ARTICLES of luxury, or
on articles that we can produce with the
skill and resources Of our own country. HAS
it abolished the tariff on tea, coffee and other
necessaries of tho poori Have they, the Con-
press, modified or repealed the internal reve-
10
svstem of taxation ever introduced IN clvl-
lied or enlightened nations ! think you Will
bear me witness that on these important
questions they have been found wanting
This is the state of public affairs you find TO-
day. and however dark the erecord!maytappear
I am satisfied that there is no hope for us that
any change will be effected either by the par
ty in power. or from the last relics of one.
powerful and arbitrary clique who were cast
ont of Office by an indignant people, and VIII
are now anxiously waiting for an opportunit!
to areedily seize what will be left Of TIN
spoils, 1t is true, that on both sides OF tn
House there have been some who had tn
| the manhood to sound the notes of alarm
| and boldly attempt to stay the tide OF col
| ruption. Many thanks are due to such mem
bore. but their efforts were in vain, the clamo
of voices would drown their attempts; madl
onward rushed the tide of corruption, takin
| in it's flood the peoples heritage, giving 1t b
wholesale ito unscrupulous speculatOrs, thu
building up giant monopolies, rlch ana arr
cant railroad corporations, and fostering an
| encouraQing that legalized robbery OF tt
people, the National banking system.
CORRUPT LRa1sLAT1ON-rTs EVILS.
Wa now como to the consideration of VIII
ara the evils growing out of this ruinous moi
~ louialation, and what the proposed rem
dies. h attempting to show its evils, let us fir
examine. in order to understand the vast +
sources Of our country, its rolling rivers,
inland seas, its fairest covered hills and bros
prsiries, rich with natures gift to man, reac
! rwssa.....Aa>.ie.a tina -tailer -1S'4 ne
a it were, upon us as q people-within Il
last year, for four months, not less tn;
. 800 600 men walked the streets of our lar
! cities and towns without employment, al
now. in midsummer, hundreds of thousan
! are eskiuR for work and cannot obtain
What does this want Of employment meant
! means that the nation loses two dollars
: every day the man is unemployed; it mea
: that want and misery have entered t
! homes of those who ought to be happy;
means that it is driving tens of thousands
children beggars on the street, to press t
: cold SHOWS With naked feet; it means tn
want and hunger are driving the wife Al
daughter of the honest toiler to prOstitutio
!. and making thieves of the children of hone
4 men. thus training thousands yearly for t
n penitentiary aud the gallows; it means th
: the sewing women of our land should
: doomed to exc out miserable existence, 81
t fering from the chilling cold of winter a
i the heat of summer, in 1.-THE cheerless CARR
! Of our large cities, and compels the dcstit'
4 widow Of our worn out fellOw-labOrer
/. breathe the foul air Of filthy basement q
. her children to beg, with piteous tones, FRI
9 door to door for the crumbs which fall frC