The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-10-14
FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

SAN Francisco. Sept. 81, 1876.
To the Editor Of the woRKISeNASs ADVOCATE
What mean these omin0us words Re
publican government in this country i
about played" what do We care for the
nagers." If Tilden is elected there will
be civil war" Do they mean tina. portion
Of our people, despairing over the prevail
ing corruption, are ready to accept mon
archy Or that some of the working peo-
pie believe that the interest of the negro,
because be is black man is not identical
with that u every other working mani Or
do they believe if elected Tilden will never
fill the chair of the executivei
There must be some deep and moving
cause agitating the American people when
sentiments like these are uttered forbod-
ing bloody strife, and intimating that the
freedman may again be returned TO bond
age that civil and religious liberty is to
become thing Of the past. Are not these
the mutterings Of the distant thunder, and
is there not storm brewing Political
partIzans are everywhere organizing and
training
What does it all mean
While these indications II coming con
tentions are heard on all sides. We find that
the two parties Democratic and Republi-
can do not differ materially in their plat
forms. Though accusing each other u
being traitors and public plunderers. and
if We are to judge by what We see and hear.
we cannot doubt but that both are right.
Yet between these two parties the working
man must choose or lose his vote. Of
what value has the elective franchise been
to the working mani Franchise make
free-what name to apply to freeman 8
right to choose his servants. SERVANTS
privileged robbers more like. Men who
make laws to legalize stealing, and appoint
their minions to execute them If this is
government better return to barbarisIn.
Is ours a government of the greatest
good to the greatest number When laws
are made to enable few to gobble IN all
the lands. Build all the Railroads and en-
tail an endless debt upon our children.
monopolise the money and make all the
industrial classes pay tribute to shylocks
Is this the function Of government If il
is then our legislators have relIgiously per
formed their duties. But these acts make
slaves not freemen, and have from the be-
ginning.
The land was provided by nature, and
none can monopolize it without violating
the commads of God.
The railroads can be built without Dor
rowing money abroad. If we have the raw
material, skilled workmen and laborers.
we need nothing more but legal tenders,
for q circulating medium. To provide
these is the true functions of government.
If we were 10 build our railroads in this
manner and pay the same rates now charg-
ed for freights and fares, these railroads
would be pal for in very few years, and
thenceforth no more charges need be levied
for transportation then the mere cost Of
operating the roads and keeping them in
repairs. Instead Of this simple plan, the
example of which was furnished us by that
wise and good Governor of the Island of
Guernsey, Daniel De Lille Brook, when
building . markat-house for the town Of
st. Peters, we, when making our public
improvements, have wickedly and design
eddy contrived to make them the means of
making the people slaves. We have given