The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-22
FROM ILLINOIS.

terestlng and important questions OF the
day, by reading your valuable paper /
believe you have stood at the post Of duty
faithfully, and done the very best you
could, under the circumstances, to make
the people see the real cause Of our poit-
cal troubles, and how to commence the
work Of redemption. Line upon line and
precept after precept, well explained and
illustrated, have been scattered from your
editorial position. You have always been
on hand whenever there were State or ma
tIonal meetings Of labor organizations, or
IF the people, trying honestly OF other
wise to get on the real road OF reform
leading to prosperity and good times.
suppose and really hope you see some
signs Of the times indicating that there is
possibility Of the masses-tLe- m-asses, as
the Chicago Times lately named majority
Of its readers-the voters who are gener-
ally handled for the good Of the bankers
and bondholuers trying to do something
for their own interests in this Centennial
year, A ID. 1876
In my humble opinion, there is greater
need for change in favor of labor as the
laborers become more needy, under the
operations and laws of the present man
ayers. But we read in the Book ''The
destruction of the poor is their poverty"
and while | am not entirely discouraged
OF ready to give up efforts for real indie
pendent popular reform on financial ques-
tlons and taxation, the chances seem
against us for the present, from my view
Of the case. And it can do Ho harm to
mention briefly some Of the plainest things
now IN the way Of any material change
during this campaign in favor Of the pro-
ducers and common voters those really
most Interested in material relief
We tnd all the laws IN favor of capital
lists, office holders and professional men.
The money and political powers of the
country are used where it will do the most
good for those controlling them and seek
ing Office
The majority Of voters are almost slaves
to party leaders and ring caucuses.
The shrewd political bosses have nearly
all the newspapers iii their service, and by
local rings, whisky and church influences
sometimes combined, and caucus conven-
tions, they are trying to &eep the people
IN the present line, their foolish servants
Many Of the so-called Independents,
Who are or would be leaders, appear TO be
trying u lead the people into any place
that may possibly benefit themselves.
To oppose all that, We have many voters
not organized, a few newspapers and prom
inent men who seem to do their level best
III the peoples cause now pending. And
what should help them, and probably will
very much if the old hard-shell dyed in
the hide Democrats can be induced to keep
still, is the astounding corruption and Bel
knapping among the great men Of both
Old parties
There appears to be considerable feeling
among the people in favor Of a change
real reform; but how to proceed success
fully against the powers that rule, is the
leading question Those old party wheel
horses, political demireps, often blatant
scoundrels not tit to 70 to the devil, and
their servants, skilled in the business of
running and buying conventions, are now
trying to deceive many unsuspecting voters
in this boasted land Of freedom, this very
Centennial year. They seem determined
to manage it in some way so there shall be
only two tickets in the field, marked Re
publican or Democratic, for purposes of
fraud and deception. If the Republican
party, when warm weather comes, smells
too bad, becomes really nauseating, they
will try something called Democratic, with
a new popular color, cheap and worthless,
But the result in either choice will be the
same to the people. The monopolists will
win, and the so-called great statesmen will
be found on the winning side in time to be
in position to get share of that which is
always alwas placed where it will do the
most good.
IL the manipulstors Of the National
Convention fail to do the fair thing for the
people, then our only chance is in elections
for Legislatures and Congcess. And it
seems to me that this is the only way to
begin political work with much hope of
success. The nature of our people and
institutions require that there must be Q
strong public sentiment in favor of such
measures as the people want, and they
must be represented at the places where
laws are made and changed 1t would be
better to have political revolution and
elect President and majority Of Congress
in favor OF greenbacks and reform; but
the people are not pet sufficiently awake
to their own interests, and free from the
cunning, sleek-tongued syrens working in
the name of the old parties. Large
bodies move slowly" and it is so hard to
get ont Of the old ruts, we can only do the
best the present circumstances will allow,
and work and hope for real independent
reform | have seen the anti slavery SEN
timent Of l8AO, with here and there an
advocate in country places, increase, be-
come popular, elect men to Congress, and
get control OF the government / believe
that in managing national affairs az it may
heve seemed best, by the Free Soil Ad-
ministration, much wrong was done the
people of this country.
hope to live to see some of those great