The workingman's advocate., 1872-10-19
MICHIGAN.



another conservative and centralizing.
The last hundred years there has been
constant struggle the government against
those who claimed the right to govern
and for the last fifty years there has been
q conflict more OF less manifest, between
those who received wages and those who
paid them. In fact, present age is al
ways in protest against the dogmas, modes
government or usages Of preceding age.
As the Barons Of England threw off the
yoke of the king, so tho burgher in turn
threw off the dominion Of the mobiles, and
now, throughout the civilized world, the
toiling masses are engaged in struggle
against the burgers. The conflict is be-
tween the wise principles of democracy
and aristocracy, for there is an aristocracy
Of the counting house, the mill and the
workshop, as heartless and exacting as that
found within the feudal hall.
The masses have not grasped the idea
that they are waring against the existing
social system, with its tolls given to one
class and its accumulations to another
Nor did the burgher, in their struggle for
privileges, dream that they were arrayed
against and would ultimately destroy the
felKlal system. This conflict between
democracy and aristocracy is perpetual IN
progressive nations 1t led to our late
civil war, which was protest against the
ownership Of one man by another. Tho
labor movement Is a protest against the
control, the domination, the legalized
robbery Of labor by capital.
Now, as governments and paramount
interests had no power to prevent their
own overthrow in times past, neither can
these interests at the present day put down
or subdue the labor movement; there must
ultimately be conflict between capital
and labor. The present era Of strikes,
locAouts, and mutual ill-feeling and def
ance, cannot last forever, it must soon
come to focus. Neither party realizes
fully the immensity Of the struggle, and
the great social changes to grow out Of it.
All those will come by degrees, as our
republic grew out original petty conflicts.
No wonder that the so-called statesmen
of all countries look with dismay upon the
present condition of things, and the grow
ing power Of labor. The desire is in the
very vitsls of republics as well a. mon
arches. So far as labor is concerned, one
form of government has no pre-eminence
above another, and the remedy cannot
come from statesmen or politicians, but
will be furnished by the people themselves.
The politicians and their press are con-
tinually believing about state and federal
corruptions, and the atrocious robbery of
the people. But which Of them offers or
desires to render or destroy the govern
mental machinery which generates this
corruption Not one. They are all Of the
class that feast and fatten on pIunder and
corruption ; they are all ready to class as
visionary" or revolutionary" any
reform which is worthy Of the name. You
have over and over shown the immense
losses of the working class through exclu-
sive legislation in favor of capital, and
through national banks and high rates of
interest. Where is there a public man or
political party that will interfere with
these enormities, or give the workingman
cheap money, that he may create things
for himself Which of them does not
believe that labor is the natural born slave
Of capital to work for wages age after age
performing all the work while capital pos
sesses all the accumulations
Now it is Just this condition Of things
which the labor movement is seeking to
remedy, at present blindly, but with open
eyes before the end is reached. Some
British capitalists, partly realizing the
nature Of the conflict, are endeavoring to
save themselves by compromises, and
making labor in one sense a partner.
They share with their workmen the profits
above a certain percentage. This is good
as far as it goes, but it does not change
the. dependent position of the workman.
1t does not insure him work and pay under
all contingencies. He is still the paid man
Of master, liable to dismissal at any
moment, for joining in strike, refusing
to vote as directed, and scores of little
things, that may give Ofsnse. Where
one man Is dependant upon another for
his subsistence, there eau be no true hbeF-
ty or independence. But labor does not
yet contemplate such independence, as it
will ultimately attain to; it does not
dream Of uniting master and man, capital
And labor, in one individual il does not
yet realize the idea Of the vast possessions
and enjOyments it will create for itself
when delivered from bondage to c&pitSt
free and united labor, working for itself
with free money, cutting OF all outside in
terest and profits, would in less that twenty
years earn and own by honest labor, every
factory, mil, and Workshop in the union.
every mile Of railroad, every ship and
steamboat, every "hFQWn stone front, in
fact everything which is now possessed by
combinations Of capital, and obtained
through interest and profits.
Labor, as yet, Ia only learning 10 walk,
and cannot realise the mighty stature it
will obtain to. But it is awake, and its
conflicts for little things will gradually
take a broader view of its position, its
necessities, and its future. Great changes
come by degrees, and must 50 come, or
they would be fatal to society and the in
dividual, and the present conflict Of labor
is not to destroy but to recreate, to intro
duce new elements Of civilization and
progress
The fendality Of old times was necessary
up to q certain point, and the feudslity Of
labor to capital has been necessary up to
the present times. Progress now demands
changes that would have been destructive
at an earlier period Perfect liberty is of
slow growth, and must be learned and
earned like everything else.
And now we must look ut this labor
movement in its political economical as
pects-and see what It viii do for society
At large If II tcannoA make the world richer
happier, more enlightened and civilized
than at present, then any change is use
less. Robbery, violence and murder is
not progress, although, from the stupidity
and obstinacy Of the goyeFnment they are
tGo often lts sSc0mRARiments,
j, r. BRAY.
NEW H0Rk.
70 u. r.llsa - ~. Nc,