The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-11-04

ViVe IN one case as IN the other. The pollt-
ical party organization that is best suited
10 the change will live. The political party
organization that is least suited to the
change will die. The class of society best
fitted to WELD power will have the power;
and will rule the nation. The class least
fitted to WELD power, win have to surren-
der its power and submit in turn to be
ruled by othen
He described eloquently the changing
conditions of the ruling powers of the
world. Speaking of ruling power, he
said When the commissions growing out
of the French revolution were ended by
the reinforcement of the First Napoleon,
the power in all civilized nations was
handed over to that class which has held
the power ever since; to that class which
holds the power to-day, but which to-
morrow will hold it no longer; to that
class which we call the aristocracy of
money. Their rule, too, was good. For
forty years, from 1915 to 1855, they gave
us rule of peace, progress and plenty,
such as no other period of the worlds
history can equal; and if to-day their rule
Is no longer good let us not be unjust and
forget the good we owe them in the past
Gentlemen, believe me, il is not wealth in
itself that corrupts it is only the wealth
| gained by dishonor. There are as many
noble men among the ranks of the moneyed
aristocracy as among any other class.
TheIe are many rich men in this city who
if they would but sound their consciences
in their silent chamber in the dark of night
would wish to stand where now stand
would speak my words, would envy me
the sight of all your upturned faces, would
envy me the thought that all your hearts
beat now in unison with mine-men who
share with me the shame and Indignation
at the infamy brought upoU their class by
the greed and corruption that pervades it.
While criticising class, let us not be I'M
just to individuals 4! But while doing
Justice TO individuals, let us not shrink
from saying openly, that as class, the
moneyed aristocracy is no longer fit to rule
and must give way TO others Conceived
is greed, born in Ostentation, nurtuled in
extravaganza, trained in the thought that
gold, and gold, and nothing but gold, was
the aim and object of human existence,
the moneyed classes have yielded to the
irresistible temptation TO pervert their
power 10 their own enrichment By in
famous tariffs, by ubiquitous bank mono
poles, by monstrous railroad corporations
| and combinations, by outrageous thefts of
the public land, by piling up mountains
upon mountains of national debt which
throw the burden OF taxation upon the
poor, they have gorged themselves with
wealth at the expense of the masses. Their
ill-gotten gains have fevered their blood
until the Unsuitable thirst after still greater
wealth has dried up their courage shrivel-
ed their hearts, and withered their man
hood. The deliruim of the money fever
| ha hair sic Ana 1n,. 81,
very conscience, until on the Sabbath dav.
wrapped in the gorgeous blood-stained
livery Of fraud, they kneel before the throne
of God and ask His blessing on the snow
white garments Of their innocence
Pulled up in the CONSCIOUSNESS of their
own importance they have come to be-
lieve the power they hold in theirs by
right, and that this fair, Gods earth was
made for them alone They have forgotten
that their is a people. So long as the
rights and comforts of their own class
were but duly cared for, what cared they
for the people? Is there in this great
cily, one single spot that the masses can
call their own, where they can meet and
discuss their tights and duties as free cit
liens of a Democratic Republic? Is there
in this great city one single official whose
Of the million Millions npon millions are
wrung from the POOR TO lay out miles upon
boulevards and acres upon acres of parks
by which the land of the rich is increased
in value one hundred fold, while the
lab ring thousands pine in. murky tene-
ments for breath of God free air Fifth
avenue and Wall street are paved and
swept and severed and graded at the
common expense of all, hut in the poorer
districts garbage and nOisome filth cover
the dalk and unpaved streets, and i'll.
drained sewers breathe forth pestilence
upon the very homes of labor This is
what our monied aristocracy has done
STEPPED in luxurious extravaganza
lahonng to devise fresh means of foolish
expenditure, brooding over new schemes
OF corruption, or absorbed in giant com
binaiions and games of speculation, they
have forgotten the responsibilities attach
ing 10 the power entrusted 70 them by the
people They have allowed the govern
ment everywhere to pass from their OWE
Idle hands into the hands of low politi-
cal tricksters and thieves Amazed at the
sublime impudence of these vile creatures
of their own creation, they have fallen
down and worshiped them: and, when
the people; writhng and struggling against
double oppression, demands redress, with
folly inconceivable, instead of calling on
the people for aid, they hide behind secret
committees and think to beat the thieves
by passing resolutions and squirting rose.
water. Gentlemen, as political power
the aristocracy of money is no longer
equal to the occasion. Whatever is moi
suited to the. changed conditions cannot
live. The aristocracy of wealth has had
its day. Its fate is written. Its reign is
ended. Its doom is nigh As the aristocra-
cies of priests of arms, of comt; have passed
away as political powers so too the aristoc-
acy of money will this day disappear from
sight And who is it to succeed them
Why are we gathered here? Why am l
speaking to you? You are gathered here
to answer that very question, and if ]
understand right, l am here to be your
spokesman. And the answer that You
now send forth to the listening millions OF
the oppressed throughout the globe is this
The power that is dropping from the
palsied hands of corrupt wealth is passing
into the horny hands of honest labor"
This is the announcement that goes forth
as yours. Do you accept it? Have | spo-
| ken VOur Thoughts i'll have SnCken truIv