The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-11-14
1877

country yesterday is, in my opinion, onl
the public evidence Of the beginning Of
sitting which has been constantly going on
though there are, doubtless, a few. con,
paratively, who see the Importance of thi
peculiar change in political affairs. hav
long seen, and known, and proclaimed it
to me it is just such Q sweep as was expect
ed and worked for-uf course | shouls
have been better satisfied if the farmer
and workingmen, through whose organixs
tlon this result has been mainly forced
had them selves, in all cases, directed the
machinery but now all eyes are open t.
facts, which the wire-pullers thought were
covered by their own greatness and Gun.
ming.
Now the people will hope for more-far
more-to move the ball forward with even
greater rapidity than at first they expected.
| Now there can be no possible doubt OF
the forward going of the people, and with
them power which will make the tyrants
disgorge.
Just before the close Of the last Con-
gress / published an open letter, headed
LABOR REFORM GRANGERs AND FARMERS.
WHAT is OUR DUTY To-Day" q copy Of
which sent to the President, his Cabinet
and to each member Of Congress and
Senator. l, in that letter, used these
words
From what we have seen for the past few
months, and what we see at this dark hour,
the monopolists will keep up this war upon
the industries Of the country, change will
come, and wien it does come in angry ven
geance. the people will find a way to COMPEL
the monoPolists ro disgorge, and the issue is,
thank God, fairly made and understook the
Question has been ventilated, and its effects
illustrated, and the people know now Just
where they stand, and what they have to do"
Now, indeed, all have the evider ce !;
their eyes are open. and the facts shall
come out; the same evil exists, and the
same enemy will work, but will transfer
his great energies upon Democrats now
that Republicans have paid the penalty,
and gone under.
In looking briefly over the whole field,
it is manifest that the most salutary les
son which could have been taught Is the
present sweep in Massachusetts. The in
coming victors are by no manner Of means
n low order of men or minds. They have
either in Massachusetts or elsewhere risen
over the most unprlncipled and wickede3t
ring which has ever been created in the
history Of the State or nation. They we're
persuaded to believe that without them
selves the government would not exist,
and that the administration lived, moved,
and had its being in them, and in their
power alone, and the selfhood and AFRO
gance Of Massachusetts, with its compla-
cent assumption Of wisdom and weight,
and with its counterfeit philanthropy
withal has the nation been dragged on and
down. Sumner was a power, and un-
doubtedly taught them that their view was
the ultimation Of all things present and to
come. But Buffers juglery was kind of
magical power, which seemed to break
down all respect and reverence for anything
in the shape of justice, law, or order,
while his audacity seemed TO SO amuse the
people that they were lost to impending
dangers which he had the power TO control
He captured the workingmen for his own
purpose, and betrayed them when most
they needed mis- faith.
His appetite for greed, though trick and
sharpness, became so enormous, that the
whole state and country would come for
ward, as bare curiosity seekers before an
anaconda, with more spoils to see if his
capacious craw could take in and appropri-
ate them; while those, like the Labor Re
formers, who have trusted, and been cheat
ed and beaten by him, have, with few ex-
ceptions, held their tongues, and set to
work to draw others in, thereby averting
ridicule from themselves, and helping the
monster to fresh victories.
Massachusetts, needed the lesson and
have no regrets thst, nor will any portion
of the West or South, where the operation
Of her leeches have drawn the most blood.
Henceforth Massachusetts, steps into the
proper relation which small border state
is entitled to occupy, while the wealth she
has 50 successfully grasped will corrode
and tarnish the fair fame to which, at one
time, she might justly lay claim.
IN closing my address to the Illinois
Farmers State Convention, December,
1873, said: 8" Mark well my prediction;
the judgment day is Just dswning; we are
i'll the morning hour and have a mighty
tide to stem, but there will be no evening
to this day till this evil is swept from the
land.
This prediction is in part verihed-for
Grant and his mercenary cOnfederates the
high-noon Of this judgment-day has fairly
come; and if ne escapes impeachment and
everlasting disgrace, will have better luck
than one so lost disgrace deserves of
course there will be general overnauling,
and one need not have much stretch Of
vision to perceive future for Grant so full
Of plaques and torments as will make him
wish the White House had never opened
its doors for him.
Evidently the significance of this revolu-
tion is yet to be seen.
HORACE III. DAY.