The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-06
TIDE COLUMBUS CONVICTION.

TEE COLUMBUS CONVICTION.
The real significance of the Columbus
Convention ia shown, noe % much By the
eclat with which it, nominations have essn
received, a. by the character Of the prin-
ciples enunciated and the favorable rscep-
ton both of principles and candidates by
the honest, thoughtful men of both parties.
At first, tie partisan portion OF the Repub-
hcan press seemed inclined to balieve that
the workingmen, in their ignorance, had
made great mistake: they had nominated
rich man, instead of a workingman; that
Judge Davis was no workingman-ived
somewhere down in Maryland; and it was
said there was no probability of his accept
ance. But ere the doubt could find rest
ing place, over the wires came the an
nouncement of his acceptance thus
promptly manifesting his hearty sympathy
with the Labor cause and his short, laconic
answer shows the workingmen have made
no mistake. And what is more, every day
makes it clearer that the enemies of the
Labor movement are well satisfied that no
mistake has been made in this nomination.
Indeed, there is in the very atmosphere Of
society something which makes every hon
est man and well-wisher of republican in
situations feel that Davis il the coming
man, whom the Fates have ordained to
clean out the Augean stables at Washing
ton, and to right up the government.
WashingtOns work in the first Revolution
was completed by Jefferson; and Lincoln's
needs the clear head and steady hand of
David Davis to disentangle the Grant web
of confusion, put down West Point misrule,
calm the conflicting elements Of hate and
discord and to inaagurate the reign Of
Justice
There may lie. and undoubtedly is a
great variety 81 opinions As to the real
causes which have deranged business, and
made peace more damaging to the material
interests Of labor than war /; yet none but
pampered and well-fed officials, or class
law, perquisite-fed bankers, gold gamblers,
stock iobhers. or other corporate monopo-
lists will deny that such is the fact. Our
shipping has been hanished from the
ocean: business has left the accustomed
channels If individual industry and thrift,
to seek capitalists; farm products are low
in the hands Of the producer, and the wages
If the mechanic and day-laborer are in the
same direction; while everything that labor
uses in field and Workshop is high in our
cities; food is 50 dear that Chicago fire
to four out Of every ive-would be a
blessing.
Now, this Columbus Platform, and the
discussion to which it will lead, win open
up the causes Of these labor wrongs broader
and deeper in this campaign than has beer
done since the formation Of our govern
ment. 1t reaches down to the bottom
plank of the rotten old hulk, which gift
enterprise, office-furnishing, four years i'm
perial rule has bequeathed US. One specia
benefit of this Convention il that it hal
fairly opened up the financial question, and
the lodging, lying, sneaking, gold-gam
bling, stock jobbing syndicate of the pres
ent Administration has got to come out il
broad daylight; the illegal brokerage pais
to the foreign labor-robber Insurers will b
fully disclosed the falsehood, monthly ut
tered, Of paying of the National debt
when in fact the interest and tax-payinI
burdens Of the people are largely increases
all changing the form Of the indebtedness
into railroad bonds, and imposing thes
mortgage railroad charges on the people q
payment, will be Overhauled, and the trutl
as to the non-payment of the greater por
ton Of this credit brought to light.
But, above all, the basis Of an homes
money has been laid; and that basest of al
baseness bankers gold-base robber,
will be SO thoroughly exposed that tn
wayfaring man, though fool, need not er
therein.
Such are few Of the benefits which vii
result from the sound financial doctrine
laid down by the Columbus Platform, Blu
we have only space this week to allude il
q general way to the important question
thus authoritatively brought before tn
public by the Labor party. The subjec
will be fully unfolded in the future issue
Of this journal.