The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-21

AONiiAe, bOPb- A=' AOt g.
To the Editor Of the WoRkSsxASs ADVOCATE
Our failure at Columbus to enter the
presidential campaign as a distinct party
ought to teach us a lesson, and that IS t.
rely upon ourselves, and upon men IN our
own ranks. What possible sympathy could
Davis and Parker have with the working
men If they had been adopted by one
or the other parties, we should simply have
merged into that party, and could have
accomplished nothing. The politicians
would have been too many for us. The
present political position shows US another
thing, and that is, that the existing parties
although ready to accept our individual
votes, want nothing to do with US as a
distinct organization They ignore us as
party, and kick our platform away from
them. They do this because the success
Of the workingman's party and principles
would be fatal to all other parties, all trad
ing politicians, all ring combinations, and
all exclusive interests.
The Liberal Republicans and GRANTEES
are a distinction in names without mate
rial difference in principles or general re-
suits. They will neither of them help us
The one is the more immediate represent
alive of the aristocratic, bondholding, rail
road and combination interests, while the
other is more devoted to middle class or
bourgeois lit, rests. Each is equally in
opposition to workingmon, and it is not
possible for either OF them to assist in re
forming the monetary and industrial abus-
es we labor under.
The New York Star has some excellent
excellent advice, viz That We must
not allow ourselves to be- deceived into
the support Of any man who is not clearly
with US in principle, and much more to
the same effect. Norklngnen can there
have no possible interest in supporting
either of the old candidates-Sffered BY the
old parties. Still, most Of us will from
habit 20 and vote the Old party ticket, and
at the end Of four Years will stand where
we do to-day, 50 far as any party will help
US.
No great reform ever makes Roadway
by minclng matters, and hang AFRAID u
speak out. If the objects contemplated
by the workingmens hfrty consist In fur
nishIng cheap money to the masses, and
revolutionizing the existing system Of high
interest and exclusive benefits to favored
classes if we, in fact, see in the future a
union of capital and labor an one class, in
stead Of its separation as now into two an
tagonistic classes if our principles and
policies tend to the ultimate subversion Of
the existing social system, and its replace
ment by ons based on equitable Prin-
ciples, it is Of no use to attempt to dis
guise the fact, and pretend that We only
want eight hours labor, good wages &c
The tendency Of the present movement u
the working classes leads to The subVersion
Of the existing social system, with it's mil
honaires and its countless beggars. Every
interest favored " the existing SYSTEM
clearly sees this, and hence the opposition
of all other Classes against the wages
class. The movement and the opposition
is general throughout the world.
Now, this great uprising Of labor is not
due to the action Of demagogues, nor can
it be put down by brute force 1t is a
part of what is termed progress. The
Reformation was part Of it, Our Revolu-
ton Of l776 was another step. The cres-
ton Of new and equitable social system
comes within its sphere as much as changes
in government.
This Labor movement needs a thorough
discussion and ventilation. Every man
and woman should know what it is, and
where 1t is leading us to, and what there is
in the future for us. We need less killing
work, more leisure and physical enjoy
ment, more money to spend. How are we
to get it That is the great problem Of
the age, while workingmen are trying to
solve through union strikes, and damaging
conflicts with capital We waste much
time and money to little or no purpose.
All great movements 60 along blindly at
first, because we cannot grasp the end to
be ultimately attained We move with
fear and trembling, uncertain whether we
are in the right Or the wrong The men
that threw overheard the tea at Boston
harbor little dreamed of the great republic
that would ultimately result from their
action. The anti-slavery men never inn
agined a civil war, and the political en-
reimbursement Of the negro But events
grow out of each other, and great results
are accomplished which were originally
thought to be impossible.
And IN like manner the present move
ment of labor, although only contemplate
ing more pay and less work, will ultimately
eliminate in the destruction of usages and
abuses tolerated and sanctihed through
ages, and lead to the establishment Of a
great social as well as political republic
And that, not here only, but throughout
the world.