The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-03-16
Com ys19s3licUfiOns.


GALbITsIN, July s. 1877.
EDITOR fKEEMAN-For years the working
men of this country have battled against the
oppressive rule of capital. Some times they
have be- II victorious in their struggle. but just
as often they have been compelled to submit
10 the base propositions of greedy specuiators.
Why is this the case? Simply because the
wof king people are different to each other, and
through this diversity of opinion a barrie. is
built up between them and their Just rights,
which lea yes them in thraldom under the
crushing heel OF capital. How will the toiline
millions eieyate themselves above the level of
slavery? First. they must uni.e. and wien
united. they must do away with all religious
and national differences, for these are the two
most auspicious points from which spectators
draw their plans, and must also be the starting
point of the working people, IL they want TO
burst fhe chains of tyranny that now bind them,
hand and foot. Let ms take n look throu2h h
this country, and what will we see? Poverty
in every place the eye can penetrate; robbery
in every town and village; murders that shock
the entire nation, and degradat ion such as WAS
never before witnessed IN the land Fathers
seek daily for employment by which they may
suppoit thcir surviving wives ana chIIdret'. and
alton, through which they commit some crime
less of their wives and children who are suffer
ing from starvation. Mothers look with des-
pair pair on thelr ragged ard st"rvins children,
no assistance. All the amls-houses in the land
are overcrowded all the prisons, too, are full
and crime daily Increases and viii continue 10
increase until the wrongs inflicted on the peo-
pie rig hted.
Now. MIR. Editor, TO prove these remarks are
not based on fiction. will say few words on
the plans resorted 10 by heartiess tyrants to re-
duce the working men in the anthracite coal
regions. AT certain coal mines i'm that region
two bosses were employed one was an Irish-
man and the other a Weishman. and to suit the
movement there was nearly any equal number
of men of both Dationali,ies employed in aud
around these works. and when the oinpany
canc to the conclusion to reduce the wages of
their employees. they gave notice OF reduc-
tion. which often caused a STRIKE the men
knowing that they were even then working ut
price below par, Now they begin their de-
ception. The Irish boss is sent to his country
Welsh boss a ctuin "
men. and they begin thusi Are you 60
ing to let those ID Welshmen or Irisbmen
the may be, gc to work? If you do,
you men will have TO leave, as there will be no
work for you" The consequence is, the Irish
miners and the Welsh miners meet at the mines,
each determined to go to work to bold his posi-
tion. In this maIitcr the miners of the anthra-
cite rceionf are reduced until to day sec
them starving or living on chop or corn mca l..
and We daily hear of men going 10 work with
empty dinner cans to hide their poverty, which
was forced upon them III the manner above
stated. Union after Union organized by
the working men in hopes TO obtain justice
but 'hc tyrant operators had their fun quota
of spies and agitatoTs. who were more destruc-
Tive among the working men than mad dog
would he an o g drove of cattle. They crea-
ted Il diversity of opinion in the labor ranks,
by making religion and nationality crimes
among the opposite pIItips. This follow
ed hy qtarTclS, strikes. poverty. starvation. in
cendiariSm, and murder; for the last named
crime eleven unfortunate wOrkinEinpn Sacri-
need their lives on the gaiiOwS, the 2lSt OF
last month, some of whom may have Eeen gull
ty. but others OF whom were undou bl ledy in
no ent. This terrible sacrifice of human life
has shocked the whole nation. Fathers. moth
erS. sisters and brothers and unhappy widows
anG orphans, weep bitterly for the departed
ones. white such men as Gowen can live i'm lux
ury nt the expense of death and starvation
among the working classes. Brother tOiIers,
think what the fate of our glorious Washington
and lis followers would have been had they
given themselves up to religious and national
prejudices. But they did not. Washington
was working FOR the interests of his people
hoi like the demagogues of our day, who only
work to fil their packets at the expense of hon
or and ali that is sacred,
Now. fellow wOrkingmen, for the duty YOU
owe to God, your country, and your family. do
/ away with these foolish prejDdiceS and be Tree
men. M longer he deludpd 10y smooth tongued
shHrperS. You may trace the history OF mt ions
ana religion nack TO the birth Of our Saviour,
and you viii find that il was sharpers in every
instance who melted IT. csc religious md nation
al differences, and even i'm this enlightened age
we find ii cherished i'm the hearts OF Il certain
portion OF All dcnominat ions but il is only the
ignorant portion OF them, whom death alone
can conquer. Ireland has been kept in bend
age for centuries by this very same reason. i,
has caused the sacrifice OF thousands of lives
in this nation and in England. France and
| Prussia are also divided on this account. The
! press of the country will not touch this Ques
/ tiOn, simply because it would enigtltpn the
people more than tney wish to them en-
| lightened. Then thc0niy plan is to and
control such newspapers as will illustrate al
| Such questions.
The Greenbacl> question is being discussed
/ frequently among workingmcn, and old pa rty
/ hacks groaning over future prospects
] Greepback men. arOuSci
Yours, respectfully.
JAMES KUIDr-EF