The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-15
wORKTNGMEN,s GOVERNMENT.

nearly two hundred years.
WORKINGMEN's GOVERNMENT.
Nothing is more encouraging to the pa
triot, the christian, and the philanthropist,
than the rapid progress of sound ideas among
the working classes everywhere. The
movement, which at first was mere resist
ance to the encroachment of capital, nega-
tive in spirit, and often barren of results, has
now become positive and constructive. Re-
organizing the harmony of labor and capi-
tai, it seeks to combine both on just and
fraternal principles, to work out the deliv-
erance of the race from want, poverty, and
degradation.
There are crude theories and mistakes of
detail and fallacious plans enough, but the
new spirit infused into the movement, is such
as to inspire the best hopes. Mistakes and
errors will be corrected in the light of in
creasing intelligence. The way at first, brist-
ling with difficulties, will open fair and
smooth to the crowding millions, as they
press on to higher life and ampler oppor-
tunities and enjoyments. We print below,
a notice of an important meeting of the
workingmen and their friends, from the
New York Star !, e. e
s What Shall the Workiagmen Dogn This was
the title of a lecture delivered last night by Mr.
w l.. Ormsby; before the Liberal Club, at
Plinpton Building. He said that cooperation
was the great panacea for all the ills that alict
the working community. BY cooperation he
meant not the banding together OF one class for
the purpose of tyrannizng over another, but q
general cooperation for production and consump-
tion. 2sA 8iG a .iltstssi taf tnae'
THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENTS
of the present day had their failures as well as
their successes. The world is not yet sufficiently
advanced in civilization, not sufficiently honest
and generous to admit of a general Communism
The late history of France proves that the world
Is not ripe for Communism, nor will it be SO until
men are sufficiently honest, liberal and unselfish
TO divide fairly the goods of life-giving an equal
share to producer and capitalist For a success
ful cooperative society it is necessary that men
be free from tts4 Atts4
AvARIcE, LAzfNEss AND DISHONESTY
and be it satisfied to do fair work for fair COM
avail themselves of all the advantages which CO
operation is calculated to afford, is because ;ll
are not sufficiently honest to gain the conf
denee of their fellow men. He showed that banks
stores, newspapers, governments, and all other
successful enterprises, are the result of some form
of cooperation. When workingmen complain of
the adulteratlOn, lley should remember that
there can be no adulterated articles a as
= WITHOUT THEY, THE woRKINeMES, MAKE THEM.
He said that in the unfair obstacles that Trades
Unions placed in the way of q mans working
long as he pleased, in the restrictions which they
imposed upon mans working at more than one
trade, and in the time they compelled apprentices
to serve, they were objectionable, but that those
objections were now rapidly passing away.
Trades Unions, he said, are not an unmixed
good. The crueites practised by hard-hearted
capitalists against workingmen is mercy when
compared with the tyranny exercised by Trades
'Unionists towards non -unionists He instanced
the action recently taken by them against the
Chinese. whom they designated white slaves,
and as such waged war against them instead of
against the men who made them slaves He had
sympathy for Trades Unions but he had also
sAA& SYMPATHY wrrH THE CHINESE
and the men who were not unionsts, and he
thought that the latter classes Were treated by
the former very much on the same principle as
that which regulated the action of capitalists To-
wards Trades Unions> He concluded his lecture
with a review of the history of the Commune of
Paris, showing that the men and not the princi-
pies they advocated were at fault. ait
ii eagasss COOPERATION. Af
Announcement was made that IL nunilerl of
worlsingmen had determined to form a Co0pera-
tive Association to be called the
COSMOPOLITAN COMMONWEALTH.
Mr.. Davis proceeded to read the constitution and
bylaws of the association, which in some very
important points are entirely different from those
of any of the cooperative associations now exist
ing. There is to be no limit to the number of
shares but each stoolxholder will be entitled to
one vote only A man may pnt in $4,000 if he
likes, but he will be allowed no more to say than
his brother who buys single share,
NO DIVIDENDS ARE TO BE DECLARED,
but the profits are to be employed in paying liy-
ing wages, and the surplus expended in starting
new industries, or in the purchase of land to be-
long to the entire Commonwealth. Mf. Davis
made an urgent appeal to those present to sustain
this movement, which he considered eminently
practicable. He said that worlSingmen must learn
to initiate their oppressors in the matter of trade
They must take hold of this matter of co6pera-
tion with heartness, become capitalists Them
selves if they wish to happier times inaugur-
ated. BY this new idea of no dividends, the sell
fish woud be excluded, and the association soon
be power in the land.
Mr. Leavitt followedin favor of the plan pro-
posed. He spoke at some length on Communism,
and believed it could be successful only on re-
lig;ous basis.
market basket filled with bread, meat and tea
He demonstrated that everybody was paying
twice us much as he ought for the necessary ar
tcles and urged that it would be most excellent
idea to establish IN eating house where good
cup of tea could be had for five cents and goodies
in proportion.
Mr. Hill retired with his basket amid applause
and was succeeded by number of learned doc
tors, who said nothing remarkable and contin.
ually wandered from that point k
Professor Hume made some sensible remarks
in favor of cooperation He said that 1t was fight
ing capital withits own sword. He was in favor
of the plan presented, for there was something
to put i'll and nothing to take out, men will joir
with pure motives.
Next Sunday the same subject will be dis
cussed.