The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-13
THE BILLY AND THE BULLET.

From every section Of the country the
wall Of distress and the cry Of rebellion Is
heard. In the coal fields, in the lumber
regions, in our cotton factories, in our
workshops, reduction Of wages and lock
outs are the order Of the day. Labor,
crushed, starved and driven Ia desperation,
is in open revolt, and the future Is preg
nant with big results. Capital, gorged t.
repletion, looks supinely on soulless, az
parently Indifferent, blind even TO its own
selfish interests, defying as it were, the
sleeping agency that could crush 1t with a
blow.
We are no alsrmists; but the present is
no time for mincing matters. We tell the
oppressors of the poor-the monied power
which laugh at their distress that answers
their demands for bread or work by the
cry of canaille," that unless these de-
mands are needed, unless justice is done,
their lease Of wer is doomed, and they
will have themselves to blame for the re-
SultS- ne lHel WHdl tney may.
Forbearance has ceased 70 be virtue.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Des-
perate cases require desperate remedies.
When starvation comes in at the door,
conservatism flies out Of the window. To-
day the humiliating spectacle is presented,
in land Of plenty, Of millions Of idle,
almost starving, workmen, asking vainly
for employment and the necesssrles OF
lie, and millions more working for scanty
pittance that barely keeps body and soul
together. Will men remain passive under
such a state Of affairs Is it rational to
expect them to do 50 Is il any wonder
that they sometimes transgress the law p
that the sober second thought surrenders
to the impulse Of the moment, or thai
deeds Of violence are committed Let
those who are prone 10 condemn them put
themselves in their places, search then
own hearts, and ask how they would act
under similar provocation.
As matters stand at present, labor has
no rights which capital is bound to respect.
The billy or the bullet are the only re
sponses which greet its demands. The
policeman truncheou and the Winchester
rifle are the strongest and the only argu
ments, no matter what the merits Of the
case, employed to answer, or disprovt
the plea Of justice, or the appeal IF the
downtrodden. Thank God. that day i.
is drawing to a close. The organization
ami consolidation Of the toilIng masse:
will present q barrier to this worse than
barbar0us resort to brute force. Reason
viii reassert its sway, or the tyrants wht
oppose it, now slumbering over volcano
will be swept as with the bosom Of destruc
ton. The bligthIng influence Of the monied
power-Callous, soulless, selfish, oppres
sive-must be and will be destroyed, o.
she fate Of the Republic is sealed beyond
a peradventure.
What though the mortgages on the
What though their wives and little ones z
in rags and tatters Do they not earn d
I9,lar q idV, and certainly they have reason
t. thank God they enjoy srsH that privi-
lege.
Workingmen, y0u are not guiltless
Your recreancy, your treachery, your COW
ardlce. your selfshness are IN a great meas
ure responsible for the condition in y hicl
you now md yourselves placed. You had
more effective weapon than the bullet
the balot-to secure your rights, and you
failed to use It. You have been as clay
in the hands Of the potter. Yea have
obeyed the behests Of your taskmasters,
and refused 70 listen to the appeals 81 your
best and truest friends Resolutions.
platform harraDgues and lncendiary ap-
peals Sill never secure labor's redemption.
Spasmodic action generally does more harm
than good. You must think and act intel
hgently. Respect yourselves and Others
will respect you. Discard alike the appeal
Of the partisan and the Establishments OF
the demagogue. Organize, discuss and
become acquainted with the nature Of
your grievances and the remedy therefor.
Vote intelligently; vote unitedly. Vote
only for those who are pledged to represent
your interests. Consign to oblivion those
VINO have betrayed them. Follow up this
line Of policy, and vested rights and special
privileges will become thing Of the past,
and the commands Of labor will be obeyed
with the same alacrity that the demands Of
the monied power are to-day complied
with.