The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-07-27
THE LESSON wORKINGMBN MUST
LEARN. NOS.

Slf independence, is another. and very
important trait, that workingInen should
They must learn to place
higher value on their own Judgment. and
less ON other peoples and that the iudg-
ment thus formed, may not be mere self
Viii, without regard to the real merits Of
m question passed upon. they must seek
the best sources Of information pertain
ing to the same, and make il of the utmost
Importance To fully investigate, before they
decide. Then their decision. when made.
they can afford To rely upon a. correct :;
not to be changed, butupOn such light Is
shows mcorrectness. Ii is not to he charg-
ed upon workmgmen Justly, as crime,
that they do not strive OF have not strivcn
To understand the great problems that are
now coming up for serious decision They
have never been placed IN any position
where they could discuss these questions
with any degree Of intelligence, for the
very obvious reason, that such has been
the blind adherence to institutions. and
such the covert manner in which a few
Of the ruling-cias have. under color Of
Law, continued from aye a. age to rob
them and reap the fruits Of their robbery
with IMMUNITY that. but very few #
the most philosophic and enquiring minds
could possibly penetrate the mysteries Of
Legislative wisdom and the decisions Of the
blind Goddess Of Justice. This want Of
knowledge on the part Of the workin.men,
however, is a very great misfortune. and
to overcome the obstacles which are still in
the way II their advancement. very great
labor Is required. But they can, and We
trust Will be overcome, and the efforts
already made IN that direction furnish the
most cheering prospects for the ultimate
triumph Of the workingmen, in the Just
cause in which they are now engaged.
Another important item not tu be over
looked is perseverance,. Don't he discour-
aged, because youhave not succeeded as well
as you expected, and he especially careful
To cultivate this frame of mind in relation
to the labor organizations. They are yet,
in this country, III their infancy. That
they have not done as much as you eN-
pected, is very probable, but that organlza-
tion among workingmen is necessary. is a
self evident truth. All the great enter
prises Of the age are carried On at present
by organized effort and the very reason
that workingmen's organizations have not
succeeded better than they have, is the
fact that workingmen have not been rs
careful to note the facts relating to organic
effort, as carefully as they ought. Another
question uf great importance to he cnnsid-
cred, is, what changes, If any, should he
adopted in the trades unions to
make them most effective Do not take
it for granted that your organization is
complete, and needs no further improve
mrnt. ON the one hand. do not seek more
change. for the sake Of change, nor on the
other. do not be afraid To- make ntelli-
gent and full enquiry into all the ques
tons which bear upon the labor question.
Because, men have thought and acted i'll
one way for a long time, that Is no suih-
cient reason Of itself. that they should con
tinue thus to- act. Especially SO, if they
have not been successful in the past but
while change is necessary to advancement,
yet it is not every crude idea that should
be greeted as the needed improvement.
1t requires careful and thorough inyesti-
CATION and consideration If all the facts
surrounding subject To determine 1t
wisely. Thorough discussion, with minds
open To take in the bearing Of every fact.
and principles bearing upon the labor ques-
ton is what We need. Ard in this con-
nection. We must not omit to notice that
our organizations. while they have been
modelled with a view to meet our comdi-
tions under the government, under which
We live yet the history and the bearing
of the principles like our government
itself. has come from the despotic coun-
tries Of the Old World, and have origina-
ted out Of an effort to protect working
men against the tyranny of an old order
Of society. Now, in a thickly settled
country where changes are not 50 frequent,
it is easier To combine, and besides the
l.l ha M
ganization must meet long established
order. There is this difference here, there
are more changes from city to country,
from one occupation for another, and there
are to many natural undeveloped resources
that workingInen are naturally led to seek
advantageous changes Of locality, rather
than to study the laws and customs which
will benefit them. OF otherwise, in every
locality. Hence, the disposition toward
organization and to rely upon it is very
weak. and men are too much induced to
expect immediate benefits hy joining socie-
ties, and if they do not realize them. they
are dissatisfied and tno often desert their
cause, and become its enemy rather than
its supporter and iirm friend All these
items are important q ~ considered well
by every workinginan, with deterniina-
ton to ferret out and do what is neces-
sary to be done t. make our cause sue
cess, and with this spirit inculcated among
us We shall suc,aed