The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-05-20

subscribers, at club rates. we will forward an
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FeR CLUB OF TEN yearly subscribers, we
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THE LABOR REFORM PARTY
Is making its way slowly, but very
surely. in the hearts and intellects Of
the people. Its sublime policy OF uni
versal justice; It's bold denunciation of
monopoly and class privilege; its
phrophecy of evils, political, social and
moral, which are realizing themselves
daily, have arrested the attention of the
people everywhere. Its first conven-
tons were treated by the pablo press
rs the meetings of revolutionists, an
archists, red republicans, tricksters and
fools. The first enunciation of it's pol
icies and purposes we're regarded and
characterized by the self-asserted
leaders of the old political parties as
the rawlings Of either impractical en-
thusiasts or the schemes OF lad MOI,
seeking power by awakening the preju-
dices of the working classes Sheer,
scot, contumely, charges Of agrarian-
ism, the subversion of modern civiliza-
ton, the overthrow of private rights
these are what the reform and the active
movers therein encountered on all
sides but few months since.
Meanwhile the wrongs embodied in
law, which first evoked the labor
movement the injustice of the partial
legislation which made the government
q huge and heartless mechanism, to
transfer the fruit Of labor into the peck
ct of the monopolist, against which it
uttered its incessant protest, went on
till their consequences, inevitable as
disastrous, left the people nominal
freedom only. And the people have
just opened their eyes to see their boast
ed liberty-their heritage from an an
cestry that perilled their lives for it
departing, and leaving in its stead a
hard, imperious necessity which weighs
upon muscle and brain. 1t is true
there remains the privilege of voting for
candidates for Office, if to ratify the Sc
lections of corrupt caucus can be
considered privilege there remains
the right Of accepting policies as set
forth in platforms and resolutions of
political conventions, if to support these
platforms and resolutions, of double
meaning and founded on error, may be
regarded as a right; but to own their
own labor-which is to be masters or
themselves-that is a privilege lost in
the policies by which they are now gov
erned.
The Labor Reform aimed to restore
this lost ownership of self; aimed to
abolish the legislation which establishes
class privilege and monopoly; aimed
to keep the public domain from grasp
ing railroad corporations; aimed 70
offer to every man the best market in
the world in which to sell the products
OF his industry, and the best market
from which to supply his wants ; aimed
to abolish excessive tax and Shylock
rates Of interest; aimed, in short, to
restore and reorganize the government
into . blessing and not q curse-to
make it light as feather on the in.
dustry Of the individual and an impass.
sble bulwark for his protection. And
these aims of the Labor Reform have
made it friends. Its conventions are
now filed with the ablest anc -urest
men in the nation; the newspapers, if
they have not wholly ceased sneerine
ut II, are calling attention to il A.
source of danger. if not controlled
mgacious politicians are coming TO see
In it Q menace 10 their ascendancy. if
they either do not check the tide or !
flow With it; while the people are
everywhere welcoming it as the only
relief from burdens which make their
labor proftless. Politicians. statesmen
"a name, We have too much reason to
say, for class Of men which no longer
exists--who could not be persuaded to
consider the rights Of the people; who
gxve to monopoly all it asked, and
robbed labor of the little it was satisfied
With, win listen and heed also, when it
isposeible that millionaire may take
The place Of poor negro AZ victim of
popular vengeance, and the flames of
burning Fifth Avenue palace = light
the mob TO other vislences. Let our
rulers learn, in tune, that the mob il
the creation Of law--that mob that lies
very near the surface of-the streets Of
New York; the mob which rsvels in
shsfk, outrage. incsndiarisn and murasra
In Psr.s; which, in Londen. sympa-