The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-06-26
FROM ILLINOIS.
THE PRIVILEGES OF VOTING.


THE PRIVILEGES OF VOTING.
CoLcHEsrER. Ills, June 18th, 1876.
To the Editor Of the woRKNsAAS's ADVOCATE.
There is probably no country in the
civilized world where the working class
enjoy 50 many political advantages as in
the United States, the land of liberty,
where the inalienable right of franchise is
conferred alike on rich and poor, the great
and small. This government is founded
soley on the consent Of the people, and
the greater number Of the people in the
United States are the producers, the farm
ers, miners, mechanics and laborers, the
true source of all the nations greatness,
for if we are great in war, they are the
warriors If we are great in our industrial
worth, they are the producers. In view
OF these facts, one would very naturally
suppose that as the voice Of the people
is the true lever that moves the great wheel
of legislation in this country, that, if the
greater number of the people are laboring
under evils that could be remedied by leg
islation, | say, one would suppose the
remedy could be applied without The least
difficulty, as the public officers, the law
makers, from the greatest to the least are
but the servants at the public, but how is
it to-day False representations have set
the will of the greater number of the peo-
pie at naught, and through series of
cunningly devised laws are legislating for
the few and regardless of the wants of the
people, SO much that they have crippled
the industrial powers of America and that
is the cause of the panics. The industrial
classes of this country ought to be in the
height of prosperity instead Of being at
the point Of starvation, as thousands are
to-day. But financial success is confined
to a few men at the expense of the bal
ance, who are fast becoming pauperized,
and at the next election the producers will
be asked to cast their vote to bind their
chains still closer. | care not i'll what
party's name, the Republican or Demo
cratict, it only means that there are two
mouths open, and it matters not in which
the producer casts his vote, as it will
eventually be deposited in one body.
Then it is time men begun to look about
for some means Of escape from their evils
| Where is the true remedy Ii the history
of the past years confirm the statement,
| that of both old parties are corrupt, las
we are confident it will what course
will the workingmen pursue (For we
know full well the course the other class
will pursue The bankers, capitalists and
manipulators Of the wealth of the people. }
They will support the party that will con-
time to make laws wholly for their bene-
| fit, unlike the poor ignorant laborers,
who vote for the party to make laws for
the especial benefit Of those that need leg
islating the least 1t is but mortal to do
wrong through ignorance, but 1t IS wicked
to perservere in wrong doing, when the
great rule of Right proves beyond a
shadow Of Doubt, that the working class Of
America. are not only in possession Of their
Just and heaven born rights, but that they
are doing wrong in blindly following a
course that never will give them their Just
dues. They should retrace their steps, and
try and help TO undo the acts of wrong
they have allowed to be committed
through ignorance and prejudice. Men,
good noble hearted men, have been work
ing for the eradication Of these great evils
Not only in ancient, but in modern
history can the examiner find the record
of these facts. During the last decade
men have periled life and reputation in
the cause of labor Some have moved in
one way and some in another.
That the greatest number of the public
presses are working against the labor
cause is patens 10 the eye of every reas-
oner. But men have withstood all of
these things, some even have been cour-
ageous enough to open the press, in the
great but unpopular cause, and have shed
clear streams of light into the minds Of the
people at the cost of being abused and
viliied by the servants of partizans have
been called demogagues, by men who have
taken advantage Of the ignorance Of the
majority of the people, and have been
abusing them for years. The time has
now arrived when the working class Of the
United States can show to the men who
have labored so long for them, that they
are not unappreciative of the opportunity
they are now giving to them.
Will they exercise the great privilege Of
voting for the party that will Danish pau
perism from our great nation, and place
them on an equal footing with all men in
this country, in life, liberty and the per-
suits of happiness. Will the workmen
support the men who are trying 20 elevate
the laboring class to a position never be-
fore obtained or will they adhere to Ger
tain false rulers, through ignorance and
prejudice
There are some of the qustions every
thinking man should ask himself before
exercising the great privilege of voting.
@. F. PERRY.