The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-02-13
FROM MICHIGAN.
PoNTIAc. Feb. 81. 1879.

Pontiac, Feb. 81, 1879.
To the Editor % tie WokKISsMANs ApyocAIE
There never was a time at country in
which those occuving high positions. cloth
ed with power and rolling IN wealth, did
not strenuously advocate such a condition
of things. The world could not get along
without every baron Of old considered
monarchy and feudality a. divine instltu-
tions. Self government and republic
would have been denounced as the extreme
of insanity Nevertheless. we have done
without monarchy and its Accomplishments
for century, and We are ready FIR greater
changes and further progress. But we
have sustained the spirit % the old feudal-
| ity. We have in all directions the money
lordI Of the bank, the mine, the factory.
and the railway. To hint that industry
can get along better without such costly
incumbrances is considered little better
than blasphemy. But political economy
has demonstrated that labor il the parent
Of all weAlth-that capital is the result Of
labor BY somebody. that labor and capital
are all that are necessary to furnish IN
bounded wealth and enjoyment for every
one. The capitalist, as an individual, il
utterly ignored. He has no Iaore relation
to production than king Of titled aristo-
crat has
We have had religious and political ref
ormations, but never yet a social reforma-
ton, snch a. would place capi'al and labor
in equitable relaticas with each other.
Modern labor, in our republic, is as much
in serfdom as ancient labor under monarchs
and aristocrats. We have merely changed
the name, but not the nature o. social up
position. Every man and woman depend
ent On an employer for work, is also de-
pendent on him for bread aud shelter. We
must have work at some price, or starve
The man Of money 10 the autrOcat Of bread
and lodging His will brings Joy or misery
to thousands Is it not utterly absur and
monstrOuslY unjust to give such power to
especially in a republic formed
on the right Of all to life, liberty, and the I
pursuit Of happinessF
The proposition of a currency exchange 4
able for labor and produce gives individI- 4
ais this power over masses of men. A i
greenback currency was adequate for All .
purchase and exchange during the var. IA
well as now, and IN the future This cor
rency is merely general instrument u *
cha 81 Z
er wealthy they may he, have any special
right 10 its exclusive control. il belongs
to labor as much as to capital Its exclu-
sive issue to the capitalist. whereby he can
extort interest and profit from labor, i a
wrong and robbery upon labor keeping u
in perpetual serfdom 60 other classes. Sc
ing that we must have a currency, and that
it Is the constitutional prero gat We Of the
federal government, Or assured by 1t, u
issue a currency for the national us,, Why
not issue il to organized labor a. well az To
organized capitali Who is Justly entitled
t.. the profits Of labor more than labor
ITSELF Because capital has heretofore
skinned labor. ami appropriated nearly all
its c-eatiuns. does that give capital right !
to control and plumber labor IN perpetnityi
Surely not But there ~ no escape for ia
Dor unless II he furnished with currency 10
set itself to work. and become Independ-
ent If the dictation, tyranny and exaction
Of the classes.
The Independents Of labor from the
domination Of capital is the real issue OF the
day in all civilized countries, hosever lit
tie il may be compromised Or sought for.
Ii is the key TO unlock all financial and in
dustrial difficulties Labor reforIners may
not yet in general see it, but it will force ?
itself upon them as indispensable for the
SOLUTION " existing difficulties. There can
BE- no true liberty and no further social or '
political progress without it. Our very re-
public itself Is crumbling to pieces through
The assaults If ORGANIZED capital.