The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-02-08
Address to the Miners Of the Western
States
REEB's STAnus, hHAR BKLLKvIhLR,
st CLAIR Co In Feb 2 isTt

REEBs sIAnos, HEAR BKLLEvILLK,
st. CLAIR Co, ILL.,, Feb. 2, 1878.
FELLOW WoRKINGMEN Permit me to
call your attention to question that not
only at the present time affects You, but
will hereafter when grasshopPe1 chirp
above the grassy mound that marks your
last resting place, and which affects your chill
dren. How many Of you who look with pride
upon your stalwart boys and lovely girls,
growing rapidly to manhood and woman
hood, forget the fact that your Incidence
to day will perhaps cause them to serve
lifetime Of servitude and bondage worse
than slavery, and bring bitter tears Of sor-
row and regret to those beings you idolize.
Are you not sensible to the fact that all
men are born equal, that all men die equal,
and that the Almighty desi Sned that all
men should live equal, and were it not for
the degenerate, pusillanimous spirit that
now, and for years has characterized your
lives, you would to-day be in position Of
equality with all men
The hon st man, though e'er poor,
Is ling . men for a that"
Are you aware that your labor-no mat
ter IN what capacity it is performed-is in
obedience TO the divine law Of Godl DO
you not know that whilst you labor, you
are following his example : DO you not
know that without your labor this genera
xyonlI ata nj H., 4
it a barren wilderness Do you know that
your labor is exalted, and makes you SOW
ereigns Of the earth ! Are you aware that
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln
and Others were men whose labors elevated
them to the highest pinnacle Of earthly
glory1 Are you not aware that ORCASIzA-
TON is also another plan of the Almighty
The earth, the planets, the various ele-
ments are all working under perfected
plan Of organization Men known as CAPT
talists, even, show you an example, and
that, too, at your cost initiate As far as
they can the works Of nature. All their
power is derived from a perfected plan of
organization. They realize from their in
fancy in fact, they are taught it from their
childhood, that the foundation Of their
success lies III organization. Would we
ever have been permitted to enjoy life in a
free democratic country, If its founders
had not organized to beat back Brtain's
myrmidonsl Would our country be one
great nation to-day only for organization
and combined effort J In those days neces-
slty compelled them to meet the emergency
in solid phalanx- To-day necessity de-
clares that wOrkingmen must combine or
game to meet their emergencies
Capital, with its greedy, Unsuitable NAV,
is steadily at work devouring the life blood
OF its creator your labor and yet your
inertness would indicate that you were IN
conscious Of approaching &Anger. The
past Is certainly guide tor your present
and future movements \ house divided
against itself cannot stand The same law
that gives To the capitalist unlimited OPP
pOrtunIty for abuse of power by the accu-
mutation Of his cents and dollars, also
gives you the power ~ unite brain ard
muscle to resist It's aggression, and throw
around you the mantle 81 brutherly pro
lection. There is more danger to be feared
amongst our own ranks through weakness
displayed, for want If that grand feeling Of
entity, than there is To- be apprehended
from our employers. Seltishness, bIgotry,
jealousy and prejudice must be thrown
aside. Those elements are At war with
unity. Love, benevolence and charity
must take their places Remember that
our lease If life is too short to admit Of tri-
fling distinctions We should also remem-
Der that no law ever passed will meet the
requirements Of every one Again, this is
a progressive age. What We do to-day We
can improve tomorrow but what can we
do without organization. Our workingmen
are loaded down with grievances that de-
mand redress There is not one solitary
nottingham in the whole country to-day
who will say he is being Justly treated Mi
ners more than any other class have need
to complain, but why complain when in
your disorganized condition it is beyond
your power to help yourselves (!
Fellow Miners Again ! say organize,
whether it be into county, State, or Ma
tional organizations. If you have been
deceived in the past, let it be guide for
you. Leave off this man worship. If you
get an honest man to lead you. pay him
for his labor, don't idOlize him aud make
him believe that he is the association. Give
him to understand that he is a servant I'M
der your employment, and Just a. soon as
he forgets his duty 50 far a. to disobey you,
discharge him and put some worthier man
in his place but your first duty is to orga-
nize. Organize yourselves into lodges
firm, compact, and true Let your watch
word be Union forever" Let your motto
be Love, charity and benevolence. Scat
terthe seeds Of brotherly affection wherever
the sun shines, ever remembering that the
world is your country, and all men are
your brothers
GEORGE KINGHoRN,
President State Council
Soldiers and Sailors Land and Bounty
Bill.