The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-01-20
Fa0M MICHIGAN.
PONTIAC, Jan. 4. 1877

AONilAC, jan 4, 1871. .
To the Eiitor q ths woEKISeHASs ADvoc.rr:
The Republican and Democratic partiea
have lorg been governed by politics in
stead If principles. II is hard to tell one
platform from the other. While both par
ties are honest, they have ca IN come ander
the control of greedy and unscrupulous
politicians. Having no dist ,nctivs urfsaa-
pies, the time must soon c, me fer ma
promises between the leaders, and the All
vision Of public offices betv cen them.
To light for this or that prenident, Is out
q the question Il would simply be o
conflict " neighbor with neighbUr. The
monled power, which really controls both
parties, will act mediator, and dictate
terms q peace. Its bonds and securities
are TOO precious to be risked by internecine
war
Compromises will naturally produce the
disintegration ofexistilg parties by demotI-
strating the folly 81 the people III fighting
the battles o. rival politicians. For why.
should We MAINTAIN hostility as Repubh.
cans and Democrats simply 70 insure the
triumph of Jack or Gill The leaders "
both combinations have betrayed the peo-
pie A new political orgaization is there
fore certain. What shall BE- its character
istics The old party cr.es ard policies
are worn threadbare. The people ark too
deoauched and mislead to rally to the de-
Tense " the republic and hurl back the
growing despotism Neither would Il avail
anything, for the same causes that are de-
stro- ing our republic have been fatal to all
others
political reorganization that shall be
triumphant in the future must Be based
on some principle Of vital importance to
the majority. That majority il constituted
" The wages class and farmers, wlo sup.
port all other classes
What are the great evils Of the present
day, that call loudly for remedy ! In
stability In labor, commerce and manufac-
lures. Everthing is at loose ends. There
Is no certainty IN business or prices. The
existing machinery of government cannot
graPple with or regulate anything Gluta
and panics, starvation and hard times,
cone IN their turns, and government IL
poECriess to foIvsrd them.
While the people have political rights
and nee essities, they have also industrial
rights az q Lee, ssItIes, and thee latter
have never yet Lecn within the score of
gov,Hnent a o.itical gcyen nelt Vss
not formed for this pulpcse But the
lime has arrived among us when mere
political l,vurmcut y obsolete, ana Of
no use whatever. No one vii affirm that
our political government for a century past
has been of any political service to the
people Our IL declaration III lLdeI IendeBce
really F''t'iere,i cirri, a ! lcvrrrn7rrts IN
necessary, for our rights and lib, rites ex-
Ist independent # them. Our covernnen
has come IN be a standing menace ~ the
liberties ~ the people. It, laws, police
and bayUucts are under the control of
favored classes and Interests
What We now need Is All industrial gov
ernment, -Ormed Of and by the farmers
ana wages class. With power tO measurn-
bly, control the financial and industrial ar
rang,ments ut society But such a gov
ernmtnt, Ike the present, must be based
upon A declaration N rights. That declar-
atiou must involve the independence of
the wages class from the control ~ capital.
and their self employment and self gov
ernment. 10 Is hut an extension Of exist
lug political rights to industrial affairs.
Labor must IVY elevated from serfdom to
industrial freedom Its inahenable rights
as men are now smothsred and ubhtersted
by an OvergrOwu capital
III " Gp.v