The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-13
A FAMILIAR TALK.


Why don't they know their own strength :
Why don't they, or why won't they stand
by one another We have no desire To
censure, but it is well known alike to
friend and foe that the fault lies in the
MAN at their own door, and it is a false
friendship that conceals this truth We
are all too prone to lay that blame on the
shoulders Of theirs which rightfully belongs
to ourselves The serpent beguiled me,
and did eat, " is the too common subter-
fuge INDUCED in.
Now, this apathy, this treachery to one
anothers best interests, would be criminal
under any circumstances but it is es-
pecially So among men who have the rem
edy for the wrongs complained Of in their
avn hands whose access to the ballot-box
is free and undlsturbed who prefer to
use the privileges possessed to perpetuate
rather than remove these wrongs. Take,
for example, the position Of those connect
rd with the Labor Movement who advo-
cate their claims and defend their inter
ests. The cry Of demagogue. seems to be
sufficient to distract attention, and the rea-
son is obvious. Men argue from premises
IL conclusions. They ask with a deal Of
plausihility: Where is the evidence that
the working people are subjected to the
wrongs Of which you complain No mat
ter what You or they may say do they
mot invariably endorse the action Of this
"or that party Republican or Democrat
:" ic do they not elect to our State and
National Legislatures representatives
" from these parties, knowing that they are
pledged 10 carry out partizan views, in
which their interests will be ignored
= when. if they Sllled, the claims Of labor
" could be made the paramount issue, and
4" its interests conhded to ITS chosen repre-
" sentatives n While this style Of argu-
ment may be deemed superficial, as having
little bearing upon the merits of the case
ii is sufficiently truthful and plausible to
dctract 4 great deal from the force Of the
Labt.r Movement.
We have seen a Thousand men applaud
to the echo the speaker who explained the
principles # the National Labor Union
and JOIN i'll denunciation of the class legis-
lation which pervades our State and Ma
tional Councils and yet on the morrow
these same men have gwen the lie to their
professions, betrayed their interests and
their friends by depositing their ballots for
the party hacks they had cried themselves
hoarse IN denouncing Faith without works
is dead. If a man is in danger Of being
drowned he is very apt to seize the plank
extended for his relief, and We should GER
tainly have little sympathy for any one
who implored assistance, and yet refused
10 accept it when offered. We wOuldn Z
give hg for all the declarations, preambles
and resolutions put forward by the on
pressed SO long As they neglected to re-
move their grievances when the remedy
was placed within their reach. And this
is exactly the position occupied by large
majority of the working classes.
Again, another defect in their character
is their jealousy Of, and unfaithfulness to
, each other. Instead Of strengthening each
others hands Of taking al example from
the monied class of working in unison of
rejoicing over or aiding in the prosperity of
their associates, we find them too frequent
y actuated by ignoble motives, ready rath-
er to pull an angel down than help NOR
tai up too ready to SOW the seeds of dis
cord, to scatter inrendoes which are fire.
quently more damaging than direct accusa-
tons; in short to occupy the position Of an
Ishmailite-at the same time they are crying
out aboutthe oppression Of the poor, and the
soulless demands of capital
Honest differences of opinion may be
found in all grades Of society, yet work
ingmen- those most deeply Interested
who place their muscle against money, and
whose only hope of success depends in unity
Of action-in practically illustrating the
oft quoted expression, ''In union there is
strength are the only class who seem to
ignore the lesson conveyed have but
one opinion, and that is to belittle all ef-
forts made for their amelioration, to asperse
the motives and honesty Of those working
in their interests, and give the cold shout
der to the only principles which can bring
them permanent relief
In conclusion, friends, we desire to as
sure you these remarks have been penned
in kindness, by one who has your best in
terests at heart, yet who knows your fail
ings, and believes that the reproof of a
friend is better than the kiss of an enemy.
We know there are two sides to the ques-
ton, but we desire you to look at the side
which we have presented, and tell us in all
candor, if there is not some cause Of com
plant so far as your own acts and responsi-
bility are concesned. We believe you can
afford to have the truth told you, however
unpleasant it may be; and if this article
will have the effect Of turning one profess
ed labor reformer from the evil of his ways,
the object of the writer will have been &C.
complished.
FREEDOM WITH A VENGEANCE.