The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-27
THE COLUMBUS CONVENTION AND
IT'S NOMINEES

uld the WOrkngmeh noHillAte ioi INC vi
fees Of President and Vice President men
of such distinguished ability, high moral
and social position. and in all respects 50
eminently qualified for the discharge Of the
duties Of these honorable and responsible
places Can il be that these men are fair
representatives Of that class that the gen
eral public have been taught, through the
press and. indeed, sometimes from the
sacred desk to believe Was disturbing,
If not dangerous element in so.;etyl
We propose To answer these questions in
the affirmative, and to show that men Of no
less ability and integrity could fairly re-
present the Labor Reform Paaty, or carry
INTO effect the principles advocated by 1t I;
and L. submit a few reasons why the gen
tlemcn selected were taken, iii preference
t. many others, equally able and distin-
guisht,i among whom were zen. Thomas
Ewing. ui Ohio. Gov. Geary, of Pennsyl-
wanna. ; r Carey, of Ohio; and many
others who heartily endorse the leading
principles ~ the organization and favor the
reforms contemplated These questions
are never seriously asked by those who
have used ordinary means to inform them
selves K the aims and objects Of the party
or investigated its principles
The action If the Columbus Convention
could have proved surprise to those only
who had not investigated for themselves,
but formed their Judgment ON the errone-
Gus statements Of the opponents Of the
movement, or Of persons wholly Ignorant Of
the subject We have been charged with
making war on Capital, and seeking to eff
feet an equal distribution q property de
nounced as repudiators Of public faith, and
sometimes. even as enemies Of the public
peace. We never advocated principle
that will afford the slightest pretext for,
nor is there shadow If evidence to sus
tain, a single one Of these charges. We
have. from the very inception Of the
movement, declared that Capital I2r the
SAVINGS IT past labor has rights, As well as
present labor. which the government is
bound to recognize and protect equally with
present labor and We have never advO-
Gated, ur even countenanced, the disturb
ance uf existing rights by any aggrarian or
other like distribution Of property nor
have We, by word or deed done or said
anything 10 violate or impair public faith ;
neither have We ever asked for the confer
ment nf artificial rights, exclusive privi-
leyes. bounties. subsidies, or emoluments
of anv kind or nature whatsoever, by ma
tional. state or municipal legislatures. Our
sole object is to secure wise, pure and
impartial administrationOf Justice nothing
more, nothing less Looking only to the
future, We demand that the government
shall hereafter be So administered as to
protect all i'll their natural rights to give
To all all unfettered start and fair chance in
the race Of life
To this end We ask that the government
shall provide sound uniform currency,
adapted to the genius of our institutions
and the wants and interests # the produc-
ing and commercial interests Of the nation
that the national debt shall he paid in the
utmost good faith, in accordance with the
terms II the contract that the public lands
the rightful heritage If the wholepeop!e-
shall he reserved FIR those who will occupy
and use them directly for their owl benefit,
and indirectly for the good IF society, and
not squandered on corporate monopolies or
sold to individuals III large quantities for
merely speculative purposes that existing
monupolies. whether corporate or other
wise. shall be restrained within proper
bounds, and not permitted to override the
natural rights Of the people, for the pro
lection Of which the government was insti-
tuted that the military power shall be
subjected t. the civil authorities; that such
reforms shall be introduced in the civil ser
vice Of the government as will remove it as
far as possible from partisan influence and
secure Just, faithful and economical ad-
in all branches Of the public
service that the revenue for the support
Of the government shall be collected main
~ from duties on imports, and 50 adjusted
as to bear equally on all classes and inter
ests that the One-Term principle be
adopted, and that the Constitution be 80
amended az to make the Chief Magistrate
ineligible to a second term and that gen
eral amnesty for political ofFenses be
granted and the Union restored, at once,
on the basis of equality Of rights and priv
ileges to all.
Such, in brief, are the fundamental prin-
ciples we have IN THE PAST advocated, and
for which we NOW contend, and which we
believe to be founded on the principles Of
Justice and equity and adapted to the high
est development Of our resources and the
best interest Of society. Such being our
object, and such the means by which we
propose to accomplish it, it will be admit
ted that none but men Of the highest order
Of ability and integrity could fifty repre-
sent us or carry our measures into effect
In the choice Of standard bearers the Con-
vention was not unmindful Of the fact that
there were those not inGmediately connect