The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-03-06

NEW YORK, Feb. %, rs.
II the Editor N the woHKNesASs ADVOCATE.
Cnless We who realize the evils existing
III this country, and dare to denounce them,
do 40 and work diligently for
their reform-the very stones will cry out
My life is spent in the thickest of the
whirl Of this whirhng metropolis, and my
COMPANIONS are editors, 6nanciers and
others Of the most feverish classes ! go
in and out among them, as have for
twenty years, a stranger in q strange
land. My ways are not their ways nor
my thoughts their thoughts. | am found
among them from the necessity Of gaining
ing livelihood. Because will not float
upon the tides that bear them TO fame and
fortune, | have ever to assume subordi-
nate positions. So much concerning self.
1t is hot strange that at this time when
corruption, bribery, usury; rings, luxury,
extravaganza and sensuality are rampant,
the faith Of many reformers waxes weak
and they too conclude to look out wholly
for themselS IS. But the signs of The
times are about equally balanced. There
are as many good as evil. Last night, for
the frst time in year | attended the
Labor Lvceum' at Cooper Institute !;
and az ! heard Of the honest workers
there beWsiiing the fact that steam and
machinery produce all factory made srti-
cles so rapidly that men cannot find en-
in good years, | reiuiced to think that
the time viii certainly come when the
workers viii quietly and lrresistioly assume
the control Of the fruits OF their o. n labor,
and then steam Vii enrich all the indus
trlous Who WORK few hours each gay.
The madness that nov keeps the pro-
duces from any continuous unity of &C
tion will pass away.
The Industrial Brotherhood offered apre-
MUM last year for platform upon which
the workers would unite But the thing
most needed among them Is q faculty OF
agreement and Of working together. 1t,
however, shall show ho~ the industrial
army shall he brought to that unity Of
purpose and action that characterizes the
Catholic Church. or characterized Napole-
ons legions, will show the way to victory.
As take my daily walks through the
grand avenues among the palaces, mem
tally say to their possessors, Il am against
you. | was raised among yon, and could |
be of you If chose; but 1 am against you
along the whole line, and will do what |
can do decently to curtail your power and |
income and luxury" And it strikes me at |
this moment that nowhere in the terrible |
city is there any striking visible product
Of unity Of action among the poor, even |
Tor their own supposed benefit, but in the |
Catholic churches and converts. When |
shall the time arrive for the poor and |
weak to do grand united work, such a. |
produces the cathedral on Fifth avenue,
without being largely impelled there to by
lear and bigotry.
FINANCE AND CURRENCY.
Ut course, with all those who are think |
ng and working most intelligently for the |
hitting Of the lowly, finance and currency
'eform Is q prominent topic. My business
eads me much among W all street magntaes,
md az | discuss the great financial facts |
hat happen to be prominent in the ordi-
lary, orthodox way, smile inwardly to
hlnk how Mortified they would be Il they
new that ! secretly believe that all pay
nAnf tlf mr. -
hing for nothing-is nuisance to be
IePt down as much as possible that the
I'D lawgivers and religions sects were right
when they called all interest usury, and
trictly forbade it.
Think Of it-S6O, 600, 900 Of money was
landed over through Wall street lately.
. the semi-annual dividends on A lot Of
regular dividend paying stocks" What
wrath and horror would have come over
he recipients OF this money-scattered "A
hey are all over two hemispheres, If word
hould have been sent to them with the
This is the last interest
END for yeur bonds and stocks If won
lease but the sovereign people have d.
reed that hereafter it shall be deemed
Unlawful usury for any one to receive
money for the use Of money; that inasmuch
3 all wealth Is the product of labor. and
ne mere act Of lending wealth for any
eriod Of time il not Of the nature of in. 4,
rement- producing labor, the owner must
Q satisfied to net back exactly the sum he
ave, or its equivalent. OF course itis {
OF exPediept for Us to demand the abso-
lte cessation Of interest but the 3.65
'nvertible bond would be fine step in
mt direction
How the hireling press ramp and roar
saanst Judge Kelly and the other true
arrency reformsrs. But meanwhile the
eopis are slowly learning the truth.
kvsn the Trbslrs, edited by "Jay \
oulds boy Inns occasionally glance 81
'ason. Its money article nov innocsntly
I'd the other day: "Hew i il that ne /
INKS are lcaning % ArRsly- ! 4
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