The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-28
MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY

MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY.
1T is all sheer nonsense to expect any
thing from the laboring classes a working
man will be a worklngman to the end Of the
chapter, and he willnever occupy other than
a subordinate position, said friend the
other evening, who had been constant
reader of the ADVOCATE Men who are
IN earnest can do anything within the range
Of possibility, but most Of our meccshaui
seem perfectly content with their positions
and act upon the principle, To-day iet ms
eat and drink for tomorrow va die
While the pride Of somewould rebel against
any such conclusion. If their conduct during
the past is any index for the future w
are panied to admit there WAS NOR, truth
than poetry in these remarks Working
men you tcW continue to be workinmyn
that is remain stamped with the ban If
lnferiority both III the social ana intelley-
tual world until you are actuated hy
nobler ambition and reals, your DESTINY
must be carved BY your oV,, hands Your
position IS similar to that Of drowning
man calling for help, while you refuse ID
accept the life preserver within your reach
We are sick and tired Of reading and hear
ing Of this and that strike, which in 4 u.5
Jorlty Of cases, results more disastrously a.
the employed than the employers, while
you refuse e. adopt measures which would
render these strikes impossible Neither
does it avail "a be continually harrangmng
on the &ggresslons OF greed Of capital
while you neglect to strip 1t Of its power
by systematic cooperation. The admis
sion Of the existence Of an evil accomplish
IS nothing, if your action is not predl-
Gated on determination 70 change it. AZ
matters stand At present, the privileges
which you possess as American citizens are
a curse instead Of blessing toyou These
advantages, which, in the hands of earnest
men would prove your salvation, have
been the means Of debasing you, for if you
had not possessed them you could not have
exercised them 70 your own injury. Sup
pose the mechanics Of Sheffield or Birming-
ham possessed the elective franchise for
ohe year, would they occupy the position
you do to-day Did you ever think what
the intelligent, united efforts Of 20, OOOmen
could accomplish, and then bring the mat
ter home and ask yourselves the question
what have the workingmeA Of Chicago
done-or 20 make the matter personal
one, What hare I done, as one of these
10000, to raise myself or fellow-men from
the slough Of contempt, to give practical
illustration Of the dignity Of labor or repu-
date the Islander that we are not the mud
sills Of society Have you worked as ear
nestly for the establishment Of Trades
Union-the first step in the right direc-
ton, the success of the Cooperative Asso-
cation, the establishment of a Mechanics
Institute OF Reading Room, as you have
for the election Of ward constable OF
a pound master Did your tongue ever
tire in urging upon your fellow mechanic /
the necessity Of uniting his influence to
your own i'll building these essentials, as
often as it has tired in defending the policy !
of the Democratic or Republican parties :
II yop cannot answer these questions in a
direct satisfactory manner, you are directly
chdrgedble with this apathy, and should lay
the blame where it eKists-at yoUr otor,
door
We have reason to believe traitors exist !
in our own ranks, who are loud il their !
professions of loyalty to the labor interests, \
but whose actions belle their professions . /
who are always ready to throw cold water .
on every enterprise and prognosticate de-
feat And yet is it strange that such crea-
lures should exercise any influence with !
earnest, Intelligent men. What, forexam- |
pie would the Republicans have thought |
Of the man who, while advocating the \
principles Of that party, cast his own vote
on the day of election for the Democratic
npIulhccs dliu uikcu blHtis " W. LAW iSC 7
And vet not more inconsistent is the ac-
ton Of these men But this Is begging
the question. Every privilege which you
can expect, workingmen Of Chicago. is al
ready guaranteed ;ifyou fail 10 use them for
your own advantage, yoH alone ore reSpon-
sible ! and you alone will be III. sufferers,
as you richly deserve to be But it is a
long lane which has no turn. and though
your day of probation is fast passing away,
after which your regrets like those of the
lost, will come too late, An opportunity is
yet presented TO redeem yourselves. = At
tempt great things and expect great things
Remember. as DR.. Collyer says, to be
somebody you must do something, and let
that something be the determination to
cultivate those traits of character which
dignity mankind, to foster a manly indie
pendence, to cease croakins and 20 to work
"A men Who are in earnest, to determine
YOU WILL BIZ somebody, redeem the time
left, and prove your ability TO occupy
mare exalted position. Give 1t but one
fair. honest, impartial trial, snd like the
oseen Of sheba, you will be convinced the
half has not been told you. /,