The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-09-20

PONTIAU, Michigan,
September ~, 1873.
- the Editor II the woRkISsA,S's ADvooAu
The late meeting of the Indusi rial Con
gress at Cleveland was new starting point
for the toiler, and showed progress That
Congress recognized the alarming devel
opment and aggression Of aggregated
wealth, and the necessity for the organ
iZation, consolidation and cooperative
effort Of the producing asses, as a bar
rier to further its action Il went further
than this passive n sistance, and declared
it object TO he =" To secure the toilor an
equal share II the wealth which he helps
20 create This is to be effected through
1.-THE establishment VI cooperative lnstitu-
tions, productive and distrlbp--- ana
4 would have a epnryil matt ~ t'ii'l'-
ing na.Sls-.s.r, f-zuya directly To the people.
All this shows that the masses have al
length fairly entered into the coming
Reformation Or Revolution, or whatever
else that movement my be termed, which
is in the near future to change the exci-
ting relations between capital and labor,
and make the toiler JOINT capitalist and
sharer in all profits The demand for few er
hours of labor has grown INTO vast dimen-
sions, and now includes what neither labor
nor capital demanded a few years since.
Taken as a whole, the Industrial Cong sss
stands ON platform of social recunstruc-
ton, and to this We must all come, sooner
OF later. IL, in effort, tells the "monied
power" with its rings, monopolies, and ex-
tortions, that its empire Is coming to an
end, for money, the source Of its power
and oppression, shall, in future. be ISSUED
directly to the people. Do this, and a
death blow IS given TO monied tyranny.
The Industrial Congress has, in effect,
inaugurated social Revolution. 1t has
gone down to the causes IF existing pow
erty and degradation u the masses. What
the men Of rs did for political liberty has
been done by the men If '73 for social
liberty, and the last will have their place
in hiatdfy alongside Of the first. But a.
the Declaration Of rs was regarded by the
ruling power as the harmless ebulhtion Of
uneasy rebels, to be easily annihiliated at
any moment, SO it IS likely that this mod
eIn Declaration will be treated with the
like indifference and contempt, until il has
become strong enough to he feared and
fought against. When the struggle comes,
1t will end as fatally for despotism as it's
predecessor, for progress comes by natural
laws, and is invincible.
Like the colonists, the toiling masses
now need consolidation and organization
Nothing can be effected without this. All
their unions, no matter what their name
OF object, should come together and form
one body. The Industrial Congress has
presented platform broad enough for all
to stand upon, for il contains the ultimate
of all these minor movements, and its sue
cess insures their success. AT length we
see the clouds, no bigger than a mans
hand, which is To bring the cooling waters
which labor has prayed for through centu-
ries.
This was not Congress Of broken-down
politicians, with evasive and unmeaning
platforms, but a gathering Of some Of the
best men connected with the labor move
ment, and their object was solely The ele-
walton Of labor, and its freedom from the
tyranny and exactions Of capital. It was
truly grand and mOmentous event, the
importance Of which is not yet realized by
labor OF capital Labor has at length
thrown down the gauntlet, and presented
the ultimatum of freedom from bondage,
and an equal share Of the wealth created.
1t no longer petitions for boon, but de
mands as right. 1t has struck, not
for mere addition to its beggarly wages,
but for an equal share Of the good things
Of this life, more social advantages, privi-
leges and emoluments. 1t no longer pleads
a. Ahireling. but speaks as freeman.
The political press, an was to be expec-
ted, barely noticed this new phase Of the
labor movement They will not ten their
millions Of farmers and workingmen read
ers what the Industrial Congress has done
for them. This shows the absolute neces-
sity for supporting papers devoted 70 the
cause Of labor, whether in the workshop or
on the farm. Thousands Of dollars are
spent by workingmen on papers hostile to
their interests, where one dollar IS given
to press struggling TO help them. They
must have organs of their own, that will
fearlessly discuss all questions connected
with their welfare. All support given to
an anti labor press only helps the common
enemy. ). F. BRAY.