The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-03-30
MASS MEETING OF WORKING MEN
AT BRAIDwOOD.
The Flrst nag Gam I'm tine west for Davis and
ParNer m President mnA Vice Pr~~IMema or
Ghe GmAsed States.

sor mhueW DamNeAs
On the 10th inst. large and enthusiastic
meeting of miners and workingmen was
held at Braidwood. 1t was announced for
several days before the day appointed, by
large posters circulated all over the town
and vicinity The Hon. Jno. Hinchcliffe
and several other members Of the Legisla-
ture were announced to speak ON the occa-
sion. Shortly after the hour appointed,
the hall being filled dtooverflowing, the meet
ing was called to order by Mr.. VIM. Mooney
suggesting the appointment Of a chairman
and secretary, that the business might be
facilitated and systematically conducted.
Mr.. Mooney was therefore nominated and
elected President and Mr.. John James as
Secretary. The Chairman thanked the
meeting for the honor they had conferred
on him, and read the subjects embraced
in the call for which the meeting had been
convened. He adverted briefly by few
appropriate remarks to these subjects and
their Importance to workingmen. He said
ne had much pleasure in introducing to
them true and tried friend Of theirs, Mr.
Hinchcliffe, from st. Clair county, who
had came there to talk to them, and he
hoped the gentleman would have that at
tention which he fully deserved at their
hands
MIR. Hinchcliffe, on rising, entered vigor
Ously into discourse which lasted some
thing over three hours. His remarks were
of a brilliant character, and extended over
quite large field He explained at some
length why governments were instituted, as
stated in the Constitution Of the United
States the functions Of government, and
how they should be exercised. The Gov
ernment Of the United States, what il was,
its powers and the sources Of its power
How that Government was corrupted end
abused the charge committed to them by
the people" They had assumed the livery Of
masters to the people, and acted as if they
were such instead Of being their servants
Government had used the property Of the
people for speculative purposes it had
gwen away whole tracts Of land to corpo-
rations (who were strangling the liberties
of the people with belts Of iron) larger than
independent nations Of the Old World
They had instituted a system of Finance,
which had driven our marine from the
ocean. The ship yards, where once was
heard the music Of the builders hammer.
was now silent and the grass grew there
the ocean, which was once studded BY Amer
lean merchantmen, over which waved the
Stars and Stripes, was now deserted by
them and on its waters no American yes
sci is seen. The ship carpenter was com
PEELED to leave the home he had reared for
himself and his little ones, and exc out his
existence at trade alike strange and dis
liked by him He was unfit to do this, be-
M "a. IN
wonder they cursed the folly which brought
them to it, The theory Of Finance asprac-
ticed by our Government is all wrong. Ithad
done lncalculable mischief to the interests
Of labor; it had no good trait in It to com
mend it to any one, unless indeed to the
capitalist whom alone it benefited. Con
traction added but to the Capitalization
process, and gave still greater facilities for
manipulating the interests Of money. This
monetary system of ours is the only reason
why we cannot compete with other nations
Of the world in the manufacture of every
thing. Adopt the plan laid down in the
platform Of the National Labor Reform
Party and this thing will be remedied. Pay
off all bonds that are due, and where no
specification is made to pay in gold, in
greenbacks. Issue a new reconvertible Sc
ries Of bonds, bearing low rate of interest,
and Immediately you have no longer need
for protection to natlxe industry. There
would be money enough then to do all le
ultimate business Our coal fields would
be more largely developed ; 50 also our
iron deposits. Iron manufacturers would
spring up all over, and our ship yards would
again resound with the busy hum Of labor
| As it is now, our Government pay as much
I for interest on our bonds as would be consid-
| cred good paying investment i'll England
I in any legitimate branch of trade. Hence
men in easy circumstances prefer to have
4 their money invested in such securities as
our bonds. Take away that inducement
and at once that money will find its way
into the channels Of trade over all the land,
creating plenty Of labor for all, and at q
low rate of interest.
The honorable gentleman took exception
to the Y. osent prohibitor laws He thought
it was an insult "a the intelligence Of the
American artisan u have il said he could
not compete with the workmen Of other ma.
tions. His opinion was that this was not
true. All that was wanted was cheap mo-
ney, and there was no means Of accom-
plishing this, other than by creating I
plentitude in the way he had described
This was all that was required, for the
American workman was capable Of enter
ing the market with any in the world.
The Labor Reform Party, he believed
was destined to success, and would worl
out this problem Their action at Colum
bus, Ohio, at their recent Convention wa.
such as to astonish united America. Tn,
nomination Of Judge Davis, Of Illinois
and Gov. Parker, Of New Jersey, and theil
acceptance was something unexpected BY
the partisans Of this country. Such men
Was the like ever before known Their
names were above the breath Of suspicion
in every respect. Every newspaper in tn,
nation Of any note speaks Of them AZ beinI
worthy, competent and virtuous. He en-
treated the wOrkingmen for their own SAX,
and the sake of the nation, to throw of
existing parties and give their undivided
support to these their candidates and hav,
them elected. After descanting consid
erable time on the defects of our Nationa
Banking system, the speaker read the Ma
tional Labor Reform Platform, and on it
conclusion the following resolution wa.
submitted and unanimously adopted
Resolved, That the principles Of the Labo
Reform Party be and they are hereby endors
ed and ratified and the nominees of tha
party for President and Vice President Of tn,
United States-Hon. David Davis, Of Illinois
and Gov. Parker Of New Jersey, meet oul
entire appreciation, and we hereby pledQ,
them our support at the polls.
Il The speaker then came In nnr Ck,k,