The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-02-03
FROM IOWA.
ENJANIN SKINNER.



always pleased to receive copies Of those
journals that are earnestly and honestly
working to advance the best interests of
the working classes, having identified my
self with the workingmen OF America in
boyhood have always felt deep inter
est il advocating their rights, and endeav
oriug 70 unite them in one solid phalanx
to resist the fearful pressure Of the CAPT
talists that have usurped 50 many rights
and claimed SO many arlstocratic privileges
in this great Republic Ii would seem AS
if God, IN His infinite goodness and prov
idence, had set apart this great continent,
Astounding in all the elements that is ne
cessary TO develop a mighty nation,
for the express purpose of e1-
hibiting TO the rest of the world
what nation of honest workers and in
tenigont republicans could accomplish.
We have drawn from all the civilized ma
lions Of the earth the best and most ener-
getic Of their population, and the result is
manifest in a people that is renowned the
world over for their pluck and enterprise /;
and much as many run down and deride
the poor emigrant, yet Il IS this very class
that Is developing our nation, and their
descendants are the highest type Of our
citizens. With this view 81 the case, il il
not a strange result If the late election
that The best friend that the workiugmen
If America ever had, the most intelligent
and patriotic Of the whole mass-a man
hose whole life has been devoted to ad-
vancing the true interest of the industrial
classes, and the only candidate ever pre-
scented to the American people as a work
Ingman's candidate should have been de-
feated 10y railroad attorney, man that
the people and the party that elected him
had denounced as not Ia harmony with
them Z Be ms claims what they may, they
shruuk into insignincance in comparison
d those of honest old Peter Cooper, the
best type of the American workingman
living | was one u those who entreated
Mr. Cooper TO accept the nomination as
means Of saving the country from the
party hacks ana wire workers If both
parties thought that Mr. COoper's
wen. known philanthropy and bene Violence
would create a perfect Juror in his favor
but Il is MT the first time good man has
been sacrificed between two schemers
W ell, that Is all passed and cannot BE- re-
called but it brings me back to my subject
the necessity Of educating the mass $ to
a better understanding Of their power and
rights. Our nation presents strange
spectacle today. We are essentially
ua.ion Of workers yet, with population
OF over SIX millions Of farmers, over four
millions of mechanics. and eight millions
Vi iahorers, class Of lawyers representing
only 10000, control the destInies of our
whole couutry. till All our offices. our halls
.t Congress, our legislatures, and every
position NJ trust ana profit, and place all
Tile judges un the bench to play into their
hands, and prIloug litigation, 81 that they
can plumber their clients at their leisure
/ have a couple ~ little items before ne
that illustrates this point fully. The 43d
Congress vas composed Of 25O lawyers,
bankers, stock brokers, etc. - farmers
+jth Congress was composed Of 379 mem
beers, divided as follows l. merchants, 10
farmers, 10 manufacturers, doctors, one
mechanic, 80 lawyers, and ls9 bankers,
money br kers and note shavers
At tins point would call attention to
the following statute, passed the 18th of
January, 1874, in Congress, and signed by
George Washington, as President Wide
p. 20 journal of the United States Senate
II the 81 Congress- " Any person hold
iu. Ing eFoe ., stock ~ any institution in
the nature of bank for issuing or dis
counting bills pr notes payable to bearer
or order, under the authority Of the United
States, cannot By q member ~ yit,er house,
while he holds such office W stock. What
a set II Old iogies y
HoN can the workingmen be truly rep
resented by any such class Is there the
least chance Of their rights and interests
being properly considered What common
interest exists between those who fill our
Congress and Legislatures and the work
ing class Is It any wonder that the rights
II labor are ignored, and special legisla-
ton 70 protect the capitalist is always
available when there is money enough to
Zee the legal gentlemen that condescend to
represent us, and who are Just as keen
after fee after election as they we're be-
fore il is very evident that our Re
public IS drifting on to some shoals that
has proved the destruction Of all the re-
publics Of the past. We want an able
pilot and a good crew to save the old ship.
Already the waves Of general bankruptcy
ana Impoverishment are sweeping our
decks. The captain and chief officers are
reveling in the cabin. The crew are de-
moralized from want Of confidence in their
officers and having their wages held back.
But there is enough of true and good men
on board to save the ship, only let them
he united. Spot every man that seeks to
SOW dlscord among you. Let the old par
ties 90, and let the party hacks do the
guarding among themselves. Let labor
unite IN one solid body-let the farmer,
the mechanic and the laborer unite in self
defense. and create a body and infinAnca