The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-16
BnArDwooD, ILL.,, August 9, 1873


DRAR SIN: A very large nesting Of
miners was held At this place on Saturday
Last. The object Of the meeting, - stated
in the bills and posters, which was largely
circulated for . week previously, "An Tor
the purpose of extending the number, and
thence the influence Of the Miners Bsnsv--
oIent and Protective Association OF the
Northwest to organize District Board.
and to hear an address from Mr.. George
KinRhorn" Before the hour Of meeting
the Miners Brass Band Of the city turned
out and marched through the city, followed
BY o large number Of our men TO the
grounds Of the Grove School House, the
place OF meeting. On arriving at the
place quite Q crowd VI men we're there
already waiting for those accompanying
the band, that they might get the meeting
opened and proceed to buAinsss. After
tune to stir them up little, the meeting
was opened BY Mr.. D. McLachlan, Presi-
dent Of the District, taking the Chair.
In . few remarks suitable to the oc-
casion, thu Chairman introduced the
President Of the Association, Mr.. King
horn, from Sc. Clair county. That gentle
man having taken his place was warmly
applAuded. When the applause had sub
aided he stated che had been invited for
tie purpose Of merely assisting in the bust
ness of the day, and did not intend TO
taks up o great deal of their time in talk
ilg to than. He believed more in work
Tug than in talking, and a. reason for
tia, poasibly, he might state no was no
geat crater, not having o great deal to
sg. The love Of the cause to which he
va attached, the elevation Of his clAss and
tn AmeliorAtion Of their condition urged
hin to speak, and If possible, inspire them
toseek a higher and nobler plane Of man
hod than they presently enjoyed. What
heasked was the condition Of the working
miner all over the United States 1t was
scscely necessary for him to reply. He
fell conscious that every man before him in
putting the question TO himself fels his
sod rise within him and the blood rush in
shane to his cheek as he reluctantly re-
cei'sd the reply, and was compelled to &C
kn,wledge it that he Is a slave. Tho causes
which produce this state of things are vAri-
ow One of the most important il the
fac that there il too little cohesion with
yut. You do not stick close enough ~
eah other. You do not trust each other
sufficiently. There is too much envy and
jeaDusly about you towards your fellow
MAI, and you fear that some men will
tain advantage Of you or use the position
you would place them in to serve them
selves and their own ends only This gen
tlanan is q prolific source OF making you
state the Rbject one II Is. For a moment
let me point you to the StArdIng OF your
craft over in the old world aud ask you
70 compare with them your. There, they
have worked themselves up-from menla
state OF serf-dom-by ths power Of then
Associations, to occupy an envlable posi-
ton among the trades # that section o.
the globe. Their Government and the
customs Of the peopIeln the upper classe'
had assigned them, Is were mutually, thu
lowest place in the structure-the Socia
Fabric. Here, undr n system Of Govern
r ment, the justest, the best, and whsI
, properly administered admits Of no in
7 euualities, you b, your own conceit tina
q YOUR rights are ssrure have slept until you
names are mentioned only with contemp
BY those who onploy you, and those out
side of you. Alch is the place society hA
assigned YOU a this land which we are az
customcd to all The Glorious Republic o
the West'-the Land OF the Free How
. long will 70 continue TO sleep the sleep o
? indifference and allow every form of evil
! in every cnceivable shape, to creep up OIL
you like thief in the night, until you
/. chains A. 20 reveted that no effort Of you
own vii break them asunder, nor max
YOU fve again. Remember the fAmou
mottoof the old Statesman, that 'sterns
viailnce Ia the price OF liberty, and thi
meas that you must ever guard thos
, rivbs Of yours with which natuks and thu
government was invested. You jealousl
ant carefully exercise the most stringen
scrtiny in every particular relation to you
wlfars. Many of you, no doubt, hav
NV partially sank into . state almost Q
y Npelessness an regards your ever bsttsrin
: iysur social condition. Many Of you fee
; discouraged because Of previous failures i
your efforts TO rise. But | would say :
you, one and all, he Of good cheer ! dee
pair not and point you to the times whe
our forsfsthers were struggling through ID
the dark, dreary winter - the darkness
being intensifed by the gloominess Of tn
prospects. Yet they tainted not, but hope
on, and fought on, and won the gloriou
victory, planting the Banner of Freedom
. Ia the sod Of thus great land, giving, A. .
B once, q lesson 10 persevere on in the caus
} Of right and lusCice, and success would b
the result, and beque athed to US = Jewel,
> gem priceIess and beyond value to the love
Of liberty all over the civilized worIu
Our case, however dismal, il not half a. OF
scure ~ was theirs, and all that 10 needle
to make our class As much respected as an
other Of the great army Of labor on TIL
side Of the Atlantic, in that we unite V
gether and work in harmony, one with til
other, in whatever movements it might B
! deemed judicious for the Association /
: make. Another thing would enjol
upon you, anu that Ii Have always
proper regard for yourselves and your ow
i good name. Man, IT is said, il tn
architect Of his own fortune, and what
the case with an individual In the case Ii
that particularly with class Of men Yo
make your own name in . great measure
and your condition. IL body of men a
! careless and Indifferent respecting thos
things that concern them, and pay no n
gard TO whatsoever mandate or restrictio
-tyrAmlss 40 much in the performance .
! IN the tacts themselves-that might
foisted upon them by the gods, the en-
r ployers = then these employers believ
Q their acts are right because their worl
o men are lAtIshed, and blame and scourv
! and Persrute those noble sPiritswho hav
: the audscty to call in question any of ih
acts whiA they know TO be oppressive
!; grevious and Pernicious. This Sittin
down qustly under those evils, and looI
4 ing on with stoicaI indifference, and fee
ing unmoved ct your fellows Osing pur
ished by ostrAcisment and vlctimizatIon b
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