The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-09-10
COMMUNISM.


Prom the New York Truth Seeker.
BROTHER BKSNErT:-The hue and
cry raised by the capitalists through
their tools, the dailies, reminds
one OF the by-gone days OF pro-
slaveryism, when, where now and then
the people OF the country were alarmed
with a threatened uprising OF the Abo-
litionists and colored people, the diff
ference being that then the falsehoods
were coined in the interests OF Southern
capitalists, now they are coined for the
benefit of New England and British
capitalists. IL is an effort TO increase
the prejudices Of the non-producing
class, to secure more oppressive laws,
and support them by strong military
fo<ce, not in the interest OF the people
&C large, but TO assist capitalists in
their schemes OF enforcing unremuner-
ative servitude.
The Communists have not risen
against the oppressors, nor do they ex-
pect to in any other way than In that
manner marked out in our Mdrgna
Chartd. They expect to assert their
rights, and demand, them at the ballot
box; and through that instrument they
expect to secure them. They have
seen how the money power has always
been disposed to oppress labor, and
they have determined to achieve their
own emancipation; and 10 effect this,
they propose to vote for no person Tor
any Office who is not heart and soul
in sympathy with working men, and
who himself is not laborer.
The following is their platform:
WHEREAS, Political liberty without economi-
cal freedom u but an empty phrase therefore,
We will, IN the nrsi place direct our Efforts TO
the economical question. We repudiate entirely
connections with all political parties OF the prop
ertied classes without regard 10 their name.
We demand that All the means Of labor Qand,
machinery, railrcads, telegraphs canals, etc.,)
become the common property OF the whole peo-
pie, for tpe purpose OF abOlishng the wage sys-
with a Just distribution Of iis rewards.
Tue political action Of the party IL confined
generally 10 obtaining legislative acts In the IN
terest Of the working class proper. 10 will not
enter into "A political campaign before being
strong enough 10 exercise a perceptible innu-
ence, and then, In the first place, locally In the
towns or cities, when demands Of purely local
character may be presented, provided they are
not In conflict with the platform and principles
OF the party.
We work for organization OF the trades unions
upon a national and international basis 70 amel-
iOrate the condition OF the working people, and
seek 20 spread therein the above principles
The wOrkingmen's party of the United States
proposes 10 Introduce the following measure as
a means 20 improve the condition q tse laboring
classes.
/. Eight hours, for the present, as a nominal
working day. and legal PUNISHMENT OF all viola
tors.
2. Sanitary Inspection OF all conditions OF lab
bor, means OF subsistence and dwellings In
cluded.
3. Establishment ~ bureaus Of labor statistics
In all States as well as by the national govern
ment; the Officers OF these bureaus 20 be taken
from the ranks Of the. labor organizations and
elected Ny them.
private employers.
S. Prohibitory laws agalns the employment OF
children under fourteen years OF age In industri-
8. Oratuilous instruction In all edueatlonslin-
SsCutiOns.
accidents 10 the injury OF their employees.
). Gratuitious ADMINISTRATION OF justice IN al
our courts.
,. Abolition OF ali conspiracy laws.
10. Railroads, telegraphs, and all means OF
| transportation 10 be taken hold OF aud operated
by the government.
II. All Industrial enterprises 10 be placed un-
der control Of the government as fast as prac-
tlcable AIr operated 10y free cooperative trades
unions for the good Of the whele people.
What is there so terrible in this? All
lands, mines, wster-privileges, air, ETC.,
are natural wealth and belong to all
people alike. and no person has any
right 20 more land than he can culti-
vate, OF more mines than he can work,
or more air than he can use. This doc
trine was advocated many years ago by
what were then called land reformers.
/ embraced the heresy twenty-five years
ago, and though / am not Commun-
ist, / have not got over it yet. The
idea that certain sharks have the right
to shut back civilization by gobbling
up all the wild lands is too famous to
admit of defense.
Why should not the means of labor
such as railroads, telegraplis, canals,
etc. become the common property of
he whole people," since their labor
produced them? But we are answered,
The capitalists give his money and the
laboring man his time, aud one should
balance the other Not bit of it.
How come the capitalist by his money?
Money stands as the representative Of
wealth pretty much in the same man
ner that n deed represents a farm. L
work day and receive a dollar and q
half for it, The dollar and a half is
not pay, il is demand for my pay and
l can take it at any time, and draw my
pay from the market where the pro-
ceeds of labor are represented. III /
get bushel Of potatoes, watermelon
and piece Of meat, j have them ex-
changed my days work for its value in
these commodities-for the products
OF other persons labor. The capitalist
hires me to help build n railroad, and
pays me in money. The money he
pays me represents n certain amount OF
labor performed, but where hid he per-
| form that labor? He has got II by
some trick of trade without labor, and
| inasmuch as he holds in his hands the
! representative of labor, which he has
not earned. he came by il uDiustly and
has no right to it. therefore, the de-
mand Of tie Communist Is not extra
| ordinary.
But | had not intended TO branch off
upon topic so exhaustless. / merely
meant TO give your readers some of
the principles of that abused party and
show that they expect TO achieve their
aims in an entirely legitimate manner.
But why is 40 much said against the
organization Of workingmen? Capital
lists are thoroughly organized, offens-
i've and defensive, against laboring
men, and now that these men have
united for their mutual protection il
means blood aud thunder, and the dew
il is to pay generally. Laboring men
have rights, and il the government is
enlisted on the side of capital to disor-
ganize them, know OF some who are
not now Communists who will step in
10 the breach. ID. w. Hull, NJ. ID.
Montgomery, Mich.
FRow MIDDLE VILLAGE.