The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-01-08
FROM ILLINOIS
COLCHESTER, Ill.,, Dec. 26, IL

COLCHESTER, ILL.,, Dec. 70, 1919.
To tn, Etitor Of the woRKISeNAN's Advocate.
Slowly but surely the great enemy Of the
world-the most powerful obstacle IN the
way o. the progressive march of the human
race-Ignorance, is being driven from off
the earth.
wish every one could realize this great
fact. Lord Bacon once said 4 The inquiry
of truth, which is the love making or WOO
lug Of it; the knowldge Of truth, which is
the presence Of it, and the belief Of truth,
which is the enjoying OF it. are the sover-
eign good Of human nature. Every one
who, by precept and example, fails to ac-
knowledge this fact, stands an open foe to
the advancement Of man.
But We must not expect too much in a
short time Look at the length of time 1t
took men to abolish human slavery from
the most civilized nations. 1t takes time
to accomplish these results. This question
of labor and capital cannot be settled in a
day. We must go step at a time. The past
generation did little in this direction, and
We have commenced where they left of,
and We must turn the great wheel of
emancipation as far as possible for the ben
eft Of posterity 1t reminds me of great
warfare, in which every one who desires
peace through equality, enlists for life to
wage an unceasIng warfare against the
common foe Ignorance. With regard to
those who never enlist, and those who de-
sert. would simply say they do not de-
serve the respect of any good soldier.
But how can Intelligence be perInea5ed
through the masses Take for an example
to illustrate the ignorance prevalent among
the laborlng classes. Let me ask what does
the ignorant miner know about the finance
question He has heard about it, in
general way; but as rule, he views the
question In about the same kind Of light as
the Irshman who, being IN bar room,
was asked by gentleman who had Just
finished learned account Of the Transit
Of Venus, if it was not clear to him. : Gls,
begorra, the Irishman answered: jist as
clear as mud.
We must have free reading rooms, clubs
and public libraries, where men can have
free access to knowledge Of those very i'm
portant questions. This kind of knowl-
edge does not die with the sound Of the
orators voice, but has a lasting effect.
The money power rely more upon the
general ignorance of the working classes to
accomplish their object than they do upon
the soundness of their position. With
half a million or more men out OF work,
and their wives and children shivering IN
the chilly blasts Of winter-in the face OF
these facts, the money bought presses have
no difficulty in making thousands Of people
believe that We are prosperous people
especially those who take no papers de-
voted to the interests of the producers,
and consequently see but one side Of the
picture
These enemies Of justice skulk behind
their forts built with gold, and shoot their
poisoned arrows at the soldiers Of freedom.
, But their walls are crumbllng to the ground; ;
their great truths are found to be wicked
lies: their boasted desires to beneht the
people are found to be demagoguery velled
in gauze. The thin covering Of this inlquity
is being torn away by brave Reformers,
both On the rostrum and through the Re
form press; and it is the duty of all who
desire to see our cause triumph, to extend
their support to these two instruments OF
/ the salvation of the labor world.
/ G. f. PERRY.