The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-09-04
FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN Francisco. Aug. %. 1877

SAN Francisco, Aug. %, 1875
To the Editor q TnE wosKSoxASs Advocate
There are q great many labor reform adj
vocates who tell us that the masses must
5e educated. This il one " those glitter
ing generslties that don't amount tO a hill
# beans. If the working classes are igno-
rant and need instruction, Why not select
at least one truth Of which they need To
be enlightened, and prepare a concise and
lucid exposition Of the facts and publish
1t There are also a class Of labor reform
advocates who seem "a forget Ia az there
are any fundamental principles underlying
this subject, and Of such are those who
adopt some hobby like the eight hour ques-
ton, and seem To consider All other ques-
tions merely side issues.
1t has been proposed by some for the
working classes 70 strike for eight hours on
the next fourth Of July ! sincerely hope
they may. But what would w say W a
commanding general who sent word % his
opponent saying, look cut old fellow.
I'm coming for you some day next week
His enemy would most likely w prepared
to receive and defeat him, and 80 will capt
tallsts be prepared to defeat the efforts Of
laborers to shorten the hours Of labor; and
how will they do it, ny reducing them "
condition " starvation, and starving men.
women and children can't choose how
many hours they will work. The working
classes can be brought To a state III starva-
ton any time by contracting the currency.
and you will always find these one-horse
lobbyists Ia favor ~ the very measures
gold currency and contraction, by which
the masses can be starved into subsection
IL tried, as proposed the labor strike will
fall, and be the means uf much suffering
and misery. But Il may result w opening
the eyes Of the masses to the true causes
Of human suffering and slavery.
IL Is necessary for the labUring masses
70 understand that there is something
higher tor them t. aim AZ than " merely
shorten the hours Of labor, ANA the nearer
they aim the nearer they will come Co the
mark OF liberty and equality, which looms
up IA the future. The vorhmg classes
are the mere tenants at will II the money
power upon this n f0otstOul NJ God. III
he made Il for us all We have yet to find
IL out. When shall Wy learn to appreci-
ate that oft Enumerated but seldom appre-
clated TACT, that all mankind are created
Tree and equal, and that no man ana wo-
man should be compelled To- latr- tu SUD
port any other man and womau . idle
ness. IL was M indication ND LI.. prin-
clple that chattle slavery Vas abolished in
the United States. But, notwithstanding
worse form Of human slavery, bearing
the same fruits Is still IN operation. II
Is the interest On money, forbidden III the
bible, that enables those who never
labor To monoPolIze all the profits W labor
and all the bOuutIes of nature. Abolish
usury, aud the working men can d. II with
their votes, and would If they only knew
how easy Il could he done, and In A very
short time those Who labor will IVY the
owners a all the wealth of the world uow
accumulated IN the hands Of oilers and
drones. Although no one can deny the
Justice and equity IF this proposition. vet
those Who pront by using will resist even
TO the death, every attempt 10 abolish Id.
not that they will do any fighting them
selves, but sooner than give VIZ their
privileges they would invite hither the
ARMED leylons Of Europe u subdue ~ ana
crush out our liberties. The working elias
ses may consider tins forgone conclusion
il they should attempt w interfere with
the money lenders But they must do 10,
OF IN lew years their chains viii become
~ hrmly nvIted that they never can be
loosensd.
How many are there who are living Up
On the working classes, whom they have
made slaves by unjust legal enactments.
y ote them with bitterness, which they
DO not attempt 70 disguise Call them all
manner Of opprobrious names, communists
and conspirators, because they prefer to
suffer D. ivation rather than submit to in
Justice and fraud.
FERG
Why should our millionaires-ye even
,ur profit mongers, and every class Of our
citizens who do not labor-why should
hey hate their benefactors For without
hese iaboring men and women whom they
lespise, they would starve, Or be compel
ed to 60 to work themselves 10 supply
heir daily wants, notwithstanding all their
Continued on third page.