The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-07-11
FR0M NEW yoRk


= SYRACUSE, July D, 1874.
40 4 received "A letter recently from Mr.
=, blair, executive Of the Central Labo
4 Council Of New York City, ON which h
desired my opinion on contemplated
movement to put in nomination at tn,
coming election, a straight workingnani
ticket Will you oblige me with space il
your columns for this opinion, which is tn.
reflex Of every honest workingmans Mrs
IA this vicinity, which have come ip con
tact with, ana let 1t be our answe. to any
others Who would desire advice upon this
point from So poor source. There is an
old saying, = If wishes we're horses, beggars
might ride" IL WISHES would secure the
success of such a ticket, ! would not only
Y bid my brethren God speed IN the move
ment, bat the extent OF my aid should only
/ be hsunded by my ability TO assist. Under
the present circumstances, however, when
capital is rapidly clusing IN for death
struggle with the independence II toni. it
is no time for building castles IN the air
We must utilize every resource, and bare
every uncertain project t. the centralized
rays # easun aud logic, deduced from the
most adverse standpoInts. If she working
men were as true tu their own interests, as
are the bank robbers and ring thieves if
they could gather Wisdom from adversely,
and strength from defeat, and partially con
tinue the fight, with faith ia ultimate sue
cess. that nothing could shake, as did the
early Abohtlonlsts, | could say, with what
pleasure, | will not attempt to describe
facts from the past will not warrant MS in
believing any such thing.
To prove the tenableness Of my position,
and that 1t is not mere assumption, let
as take a cursory glance at the political am
tecedents Of the working masses, as con
nected with any direct effort for the ahieli
Grafton of their condition and maintenance
Of their rights. Class first, the recipients.
perhaps, If the most gracious consldera-
ton OF political knaves and bloated shylocks
because Of their perfect docllity, are men
who have SO long pursued the even tenor Of
their way, concedlng everything to, and
accepting anything as gospel, coming from
their cherished party, that little short of a
thunderbolt could awaken them to a realiz-
ing sense Of their dIsgraceful servility
They will listen increduouSly to your STIR
lng appeals with All l. difference bordering
upon stupidity, and you leave them with
only the impression that YOU are a trick
ster, sent out by their opposing party to
cheat them out of their votes. The next
class are what is termed by tradesmen gen
orally, Suckers Touch the sucker In his
pocket, let him be turned out of employ
ment or reuuced III his wages. aud he will
make the wekin ring with his shouts OF
+. On t. Richmond" but let the monied
corruptlOnlsts interpose with that magic
tallsman. a few dollars, OF the boys whisper
that the downfall OF the party he invites
him 70 betray, shall be the signal for his
restoration and what a change comes over
the spirit Of his dream. Ii YOU seek 10
learn the reason for his continued absence
from the Council, he will assure You hat
his children are teething, and he must, per
force, remain At home to assist his wife, or
that his grandmother has the dumps, and
can only be consoled by his presence. He
is as docile as a sucking dove, and
instead Of supporting the ticket his
pretended zeal, did so much to put i'll nom
nation, he may be found upon the morn
my Of election in the saloons, endeavoring
with the aid Of rot-got whiskey, to secLre
the votes of more honest, but deluded.
men for the republican or democratic
parties.
If Brother Blair or our sangulne friends
in Massachusetts who are also eamUring
for an independent ticket, will
give their attention to an effort
Of this kind, made but short
time since in our State, with the capable
and honest J. 5. Graham, of Rochester, at
the head Of the ticket, they will find that
these figures are facts and not fancies. |
claim that we cannot count upon more
than une-thlrd 81 the workingmens votes,
las an independent party, Just enough to
excite the derision and ridicule Of our ad
versaries, but wisely held As the balance of
power between existing parties sufficient
To command respect, and enable us to die
tate our own terms. In Syracuse the
labor unions have appointed two from each
union to constitute permanent standing
committee to investigate the past record of
every candidate upon either side, and
demand their pledges to our platform, if
one cannot stand thu. test. the committee is
to Issue a circular upon the eve of election
for the working Of his party to scratch his
name from their ticket, and go for his OPP
ponent. With our one third, IN ninty
nine cases in the hundred, he will be
handsomely laid out. Yours, etc
AUGUsT Dow.