The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-01-08


very rich. Now very rich New Yorker
has to have that much per year. "More's
the pity =
How changed il its business, since ma
tive Americans were its merchants, and
those who failed did very serious
thing. Now strange foreign names are on
most mercantile signs, and failures are
considered the readiest means of . in
creaslng ones capital. How changed IN
its politics, since the best citizens were
proud of being its officials.
1t will be well if We do not see greater
changes than ever here before long. SO
nany are crying out that democratic gov
ernment IN cities is failure, We begin to
wonder how long we shall have anything
better than anaichy In view Of this
state Of things, a sort Of Committee Of
Salty called by the modest name Of
" Municipal Society has been formed;
but as | see IN it only names OF very rich
men, | presume it is Intended to promote
the safety Of property. 1t is to lie hoped
1t will work better than the Committee
of Seventy, who nearly all became office
holders
NEVERTHELESS CHRISTMAS.
Bu' Christmas comes around To all places
Of Christendom, no matter nov gloomy
the times: and alXays and everywhere a
multitude are full of zeal 10 celebrate the
grand old festival with evergreens and all
sorts uf rejoiciugs. AS | see things i'll the
city wearing much Of the old Christmas
time look, an1 the rich rolling around IN
ther carriages buying presents, | say, u" Is
there anything the matter, anywho~
Amt We who are crying out against evil
dUers, and seeing everywhere slgns Of the
ruin of the country, making too much
fuss a.
Let US not be deceived. In the very
worst times of history, since Noahs fellow
citizens thought there e" would not be much
of shower the great mass of the people
have been stupid that they saw nothing
strange in passing events. 4 Western
friend wrote to me to-day " Come ont to
the prairie and get your head cool. - No
no | would wish to be ten times as
as earnest as | am now oh, that my
head were waters and mine eyes fountain
Of tears, that | might weep day and night
f,Y Tho al ,.fr uanr.i.. "
Here We are, with everything ready for
4" millennium. All manner OF wonder
ful productions of the earth and Of human
skill brought forth. Novel and ingenious
applications Of steam and electricity, max
ing an easy and pleasant life for all man
kind continually easier, and yet the greedy
few insist on enslavIng the simple many.
AS ia; back as lS48, a poet sang this
song Of steam:
I've nn muscle weary, no breast % decay.
No bones to bc laiJ the Shelf
And soon / intend ou may 90 and play.
While manage the world mysef"
And here We are IN 1876, with far more
reason for making such poems, as far as
ever almost from their realization.
THE EIvINE RIGHT OF KINGS.
But about those sharp business men.
They put he in a perpetual tidget. | study
them carefully, TO find out how the people
can thwart their evil schemes They are SO
+" almighty cute" and active, that ! often
despair There is one great consolation.
Each Of them works on his own hook, aud
for himself. If the producers will work
together, with a real honest purpose Of
being helpful to each other, they can rule
the land.
went to Jersey lately, to spend nighs
with that sturdy Reforner, John G. Drew;
50 that We could sit down together, and at
least give the enemy good cussing
Coming back, | noticed that the company
oh the cars were nearly all prosperous
looking merchants. At the present rail
road rates, such, such alone can afford to
live dozen miles from business. Many
of them looked SO bright and sharp and
handsome, that | said d" What if we
should be all wrong. and 1t should be true
that these pretty fellows have natural
right to the unremunerated services of the
mudsiils Suppose the old doctrine
sh puld be true, that = the many are born
ready saddled and bridled, that the few
may ride.
just then my eye fell on Sankey's hymn
Of the . Ninety sheep who we're left
while the shepherd wandered over the
mountains with bleeding feet, in search of
the one lost, and | said, = i guess 'sus
Christ did not take much stock in the sad
die and bride doctrine" These men are
given great gifts and advantages that they
may gently help the weaker brethren
They have got to answer for this selfish
life they lead.
STRANGE RUSSIAN PLOTS.
Turning now to Europe, we see some
singular results Of the pressure Of the
upper milestone Of society upon the lower
in Russia. A formidable conspiracy, with
its leaders residing abroad, but with its
Local rapraaopfativas in NEARLY auarx oonfr4a