The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-03-22
The Great Labor Question.


Message OF the GOVernOrs OF Mass4chu-
setts and Maine, that these Officers concur
in and announce the opinion that the
Problem Of Labor, in its relations to Cap
ital, is the great question Of the day. To
quote the language of the Governor Of
Massachusetts, This is a question which
cannot be much longer postponed.
The same opinion prevails among the
great thinkers of Europe. Socialism
though the fact is denied by their Govern
ment organs-has burst out afresh, and in
blood, in Russia. 1t is murmurlng III Ger
many. And it burns, in its ashes, in
Wales. The frenzy of Communists, the
threatening aspect Of the Internationale,
are not the offspring Of any sympathy
which the masses have with Disorder, or
with AgrarIan notions. The eXcesses Of
organized Labor, when it assumes an often
sive shape are only SO many acts Of self
defense against the expressions and inva-
sIons Of heartless and constantly encroach-
ing Privilege and Capital Driven to
despair because statesmen and philanthro-
pists and capitalists seem to neglect and
forget them. the Sons of Toll acc ccept such
dangerous leadership as the Jack Cades of
the hour offer lunatlcs and demagogues.
who are filter for insane asyiums and prls-
ons than for such a solemn trust as are the
interests Of Labor.
The time has come when the war be
tween Labor and Capital cannot be safely
waged much longer Capital must be
warned in time Honest labor does not
malIciously envy the granite palace nor
the gilded equipage Honest Labor is
patient but not patient unto death 1t
demands work fair wages and Just
chance TO earn its share Of the soil and
square recognition by the Government
ana with this it viii be content
Look (among the great number of the
like which occurred last year. at the Welsh
Strike Of 1872 for moment, and observe
how, from one single conyulsion, the grave
est interests were imperlled. Ten thous-
and coal miners were reduced in their
scanty wages ten per cent, and struck.
BY this means Al 900 iron workers we're
thrown out of employ for want Of coal TO
carry on their business. Sympathetic in
dustries became involved, until-from this
one cause alone the aggregate Of unen-
ployed reached 10, 900 men and boys. The
result, IN its last stage, of this struggle,
was the spread Of the CHASTITY Famine Fe-
YER and drunkenness and crime, in a dis
trict where health and temperance and con
tent had before prevailed.
While Industry was thus suffering, and
boarding NJ the seeds Of hate for transmits
sion to its posterlty against Capital, Capi-
tai locked up its Golfers and calmly waited
for Necessity to reduce these helpless crea-
lures to its terms. In the single case
that Of the Dowlais Works over one mil
lion pounds sterling were left unemployed
by the masters What the meek sufferers
did was simpIy 70 suffer They commit
ted 10 trespasses no outbreaks occurred
They associated IN Trades Unions !" they
held conference" with the masters They
heard these masters say I'VE must make
cheap railroad iron, and, therefore, go,T
trag,S must come dorm ~ And, finally,
when the wolf stared in at every door of
these unfortunates. they sullenly succumb-
ed, and, who doubts il, with hatred III their
hearts. and secret VOWS of vengeance
against their tyrants. For, even while We
write. the telegraph informs us that these
Welsh strikes have Just burst out airesh.
Resting on this Volcano uf Hate, which
Is ready at any moment to belch forth rum
and destruction to society and t. all the
boarded gains uf selhshness, even despOtic
Europe Is not safe There where Monarchs
and Mobiles rule, and where Privilege is
respected, the so-called Powerful Classes
begin tJ feel their weakness in the fast
coming crisis Of the conflict between Labor
and Capital. To make cheap railroad iron
for the benefit Of Rings and Spectators,
while the producers are torn by the pangs
of want, to see these lords of aristocracy
fairly riding over their abased necks is not
a spectacle likely t. cement Labor in the
bond which alone can hold the dependent
links of the social chain unbroken-the
bond u fraternity and fello Sship which
binds mutual interests and inspired mu-
tual hopes among all degrees Of men. The
thinkers of Europe recognize the fact. and
appeal to the power Of Wealth and Birth
to tremble at these underground pulsations
an ~ be warned before the earthquake
oyertakes them.
And why should these people not be in
fear from this cause Is not History full
Of warnings, which repeat the lesson taught
By the blind Sampson This generation
cannot surely hope that the doom Of the
oppressor, if 1t be provoked, will be reversed
for them
If this oppression and neglect Of Labor
IN Europe be a danger in Society how much
more dangerous il such condition with
us in America Our political institutions
rest for their security on the proposition
that Labor must govern if We would pre-
serve our freedom. Our vitality does not
lie IN the ripe rottenness Of bloated Capt.
tai Our veins are fed by the blood If
Toll, and our liberty depends on the con
stant agtatiuns Of the Ballot, which in
spire the laborer with the spirit born Of the
sense Of his dignity as a Ruler Take
away from US this one check on Privilege
and Monopoly, and we instantly lapse into
anarchy aud faction. In such case, il we
survive, it must be AS a Despotism.
The American Laborer will not long pa
tently submit to witness either the Gov
ernment or Capital creating an impossible
gulf between him and the rights and rec
ognition which are secured other men.
Monopolies cannot long-with safety-in-
crease the price Of breadstuffs by cruel
freichts on cereals, and combine to put up
the price Of fuel when it is most needed.
Politicians cannot much longer with
safety demagogue it periodically with
Labor refuse 1t wholly such representa-
tives As Capital secures. in a comm ln Gov
ernment postpone its demands by windy
promises Of legislative reforms when votes
are needed, and then, when secure in
power, offer stones instead ~ bread to
those whom they have thus deuded and
used. Congress cannot much longer
impunity discriminate against Labor in
its subsidies and other legislation Nor
can the leaders in Labor Reform be much
longer bribed to betray to Capital those
who conhde in them.
Our fathers promptly recognized the
theory which we here advance These
great men-the last Of these champions
was Henry Clay clearly saw how distinct
i've from all other labor American Labor
must be, if we would insure perpetuity to
our form Of government And 80 they