The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-02
Something for Workingmen to Con-
slider.

Editor of the ARGUS:
The yorkingmen of this city are making
.ho came fatal blunder that the leaders of
the Farmer's Movement made few years
oao While every intelligent citizen ad
ITS that both the leading political parties
hav. committed errors; while all admit
the necessity for the prompt correction of
abuses that have crept into the government,
and while many believe that the reform
can be accomplished only through the
medium of new organization, yet few of
our voters who have any self-respect can
tolerate the idea of having their platform
| built. and their candidates nominated, and
the policy of the new party shaped by a
| little batch of malcontents, demagogues,
and PLAYED out political tricksters.
| The 0reat mistake made by the working
men was in calling to the editorship of
their organ and making him the mouth
piece Of their principles, man who was
convicted of a felony against the govern
ment: a man who has been a corrupt and
unscrupulous partisan and demagogue all
his life: a man who was at heart rebel
during the late war; a man who, while a
resident of New York City, labored and
Intrigued for several years to worm him.
self into the confidence of the Tweed ring
in order to get share of the public steal
liugs: a man who never did an honest day S
work in his life; man who has always been
the tool and is to day of Capitalists, Aristo
Gratis and Menopolists; man VINO never
had, and has not now, single honest i'm
pulse 10 common with the labOring classes;
a man who secured the position he Occu-
pies by chicanery, for the purpose o.
advancing his personal interests and graft
flying little petty revenge, A man whC
will sell out and betray the WorkingmeI
whenever the opportunity occurs, "A man
in short, in whom nobody has any conf
dence, for whom nobody has any warn
respect, and who in all respects was thu
most unfortunate selection that could hav
: been made for the leadership of the new
= organization.
i Another mistake made by the Working
men was in allowing a few demagogue
and designing Schemers to lead them int
, a secret circle. Of course they are no
, oath bound" only honor bound "a
E though mans honor was of less binGin
force than his OATH An lnsinuation who
every decent Workiugman should despist
Another mistake is the genera, tenor {
j the harangues which the itinerant Work
n ingmen speakers make to their audiences
While much that they say is endorsed by th
( public, there is nevertheless studied effol
I on their part to convey the idea that theI
: is an ''irrepressible confict" between capita
i and labor; that capital is endeavoring I
/. Cypress labor; that laboring men shoul
- rise in their might and crush the arrogal
e mover of canifai This ia most DANCE
: Gus, absurd, and untruthful heresy. Lab
e and. capital are mutually dependent {
each other, There must be harmony b
tween them to ensure prosperity to Il
: country. When you attack one you a
o tack both, And if these irresponsible
8 ignorant and corrupt demagogues, insi
upon forcing a contest between the two,
:. think capital can stand the crash fully
u well as labor.
is Let me appeal to the sensible working
men of this city not to permit fe
e scheming demagogues to place them
antagonism to the men and to the iuteres
ID upon whose prosperity depends, the col
he fort and happiness of themselves and the
d families, Let me urge them to beware
= time.
- make no objection to the canddat
e whom you have nominated for the conf
Sc election. They may all be competent a
e reliable men. But their success can in
Il. way advance your interests it canDot
l. cure you more employment nor bet
AZ wages. On the contrary it will arouse
feeling of suspicion and distrust on t
part OF those to whom you naturally Ii
p for employment VOTER