The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-17
UNDER WHICH KING Z

w endell Philips at recent meet
ing Of the Boston Eight Hour League.
presented the following among a series
Of resolutions:
Resolved, Tint while we welcome to our
platform the feest possible discussion OF All
financial aud other questions directly or indi.
rtcty' related 70 the Dor Reform we pro
cialm our undlrg conviction that all fair con.
Tracts should, and eur firm purpose that thew
shalI, be fulfilled, and disown and disavow
anu rrPudlat- every thing that looks toward
me Reputation q any contract, individual or
national
All Of which is simply beating the
devil round the stump. 1t was this gen
tlemen who made the announcement in
New York that it was only by the most
strenuous efforts that the Cincinnati
Congress failed to endorse the scheme
OF reputation, from which it is painfully
evident that be has little if any sympa.
thy with the main issues of the Ma
tonal Labor Union. We are at loss
TO understand why such a resolution as
the above should be lugged into an
eight hour meeting, where the question
OF reputation had never been breach.
ed We suppose it was intended as OH
answer to the stand taken by the New
England Labor Reformers, whe regard
or profess to regard ali interest on mo-
ney, as usury, but it is very evident that
the money power are perfectly willing
TO endorse tile eight honr resolutions 50
long as their right 10 the pound Of flesh
Is conceded.
Whether purposely intended or mo-
the tendency Of all such inslnuations i.
to divert the attention of the working
classes from the only system which car
afford them permanent relief, and place
them in a false position before the pub
lie. This halo Of mysticism has too
long hung around our present lniqu
tous labor robbing, financial system, an
under this halo they have virtually e.
dorsed a scheme which has sucked, i.
sucking and will continue to suck thAl
life's blood.
The eight movement is grand sttT
in the right direction, as means to X
end, and We wish it God speed, blu
something more than Eight Hours Of
Trades Unions is demanded, if a more
equal distribution Of the products .ot
labor and capital is to be attained. Tht
system which gives to the robber iht
products Of the robbed, which gives t.
the mechanic the rent Of cottage AnC
to the drone the title to a mansion, mus
be destroyed root and branch, and ID %
way can this be done so effectually a.
by the adoption Of the principles Of th,
National Labor Union.
1t is folly to make faces at or de
nounce the possessors of this world,
wealth as robbers and swindlers, Sc
long as the machinery which enables
them 70 rob labor is left in their posses
sion.
Shortly after the meeting of the Chi
cagO Congress and old an valued FRIEND
wrote as follows; 81 am delighted Will
the platform Of principles you hav,
adopted, but do not be deceived TIL,
struggle will be a long and arduous one
and is just commencing. The none,
power will concede any thing asked
the eight hour law, protection to laLo
and cooperative associations, &C..
persisted in, but, mark my prediction
the working classes will never Obtain
the financial reforms demanded, excep
by fighting for them"
Now, Mr.. Phillips, you are a yer
able, eloquent and influential advocat
Of the rights Of labor, but there are hun
dreds of thousands of working mel
who are anxious you should throttle tn,
Ku Kux Of tile North, many Of whom
may be found within a stones throw 0
the classic precincts of Fanuel Hall
thousands who are anxious you woulC
define your position on the proposed Fl
nanclal reforms which undellie al
others Are you or are you not in favo
OF the gold basis fallacy" which per
mlts lew scheming tricksters to rul,
the money markets of the country =,
dictate their own terms, to charge tbr.,
or four times as much for interest a
honest labor produces; are you or ar
you not in favor Of the abolition of tn
National Bank swindles, the establish
ment Of national self-regulatang PAL q
currency, based on the wealth Of the cour
try, receivable for all debts public an
private, imports included, convertible q
Hpleasure Of the holder into govern