The examiner., 1882-03-11
What are we going to do About It3'

What are we going to do About It9'
 What an uneasy set we are in this {" glo- rious repubhc,'' the envy of the world !! One would think, with our "free" govern ment, we ought to be the happiest people on earth Other nations think that if they only had the ballot and a republic, as we have, they could remedy all evils. It is a delusion. With the present system of finance and trade, and class dependencA, a republic has no pre- eminence above 8 monarchy, so far as the welfare of the peo- pie is concerned.
 It may be safely asserted that we have more political knaves, more financial ras- calls, more corporate thieves, than any other nation, while industrial despotism is as rampant here as anywhere, and the people as credulous as can be in regard to their political parties. What business have monopolies to exist here? Why should labor be constantly on the strike Why should the many suffer constant toll and poverty that the few may riot in wealth?
 Something is wrong, that is very clear. and greenbackers, trades unionists, and labor organizations of one kind or another are trying to right things. Have they any cause to be dissatisfied? They hove not, | if it is the order of Providence that some classes should spend their lives in poverty and servitude to enrich others. They hove cause, if mankind are entitled to equal rights, and owe each other equal duties.
 | Tkere is an immense amount of wealth among us in the shape of cities, factories machinery, food and clothing. None o these things grew up like mushrooms, but all are results of labor. Whose labor That of the men who possess them, or the men who created them?
 All rights and wrongs hang on this: Dc the men who created the wealth of the world possess and enjoy it, or is it hClG and enjoyed by men who never ploughee furrow, laid a brick, made machine, ol created one single thing that they hold This is the true test.
 l The men who toll hard all their lives have come to the conclusion that they are entitled to large share of the good things they create, and are in chronic rebellion against those that somehow or other get hold of everything as soon as it leaves the workers hands. They find that their old democratic and republican parties are cen. Alo; Ebo 1iofc Their national lands are stolen by railroad corporations. The money lender is ele. vated above the wheat-raiser and the fac tory slave. They try to remedy this through trades unions, granges, and other labor organizations. They demand more wages and less hours of work. There are multitude of advisers and penaceas, political and social.
 Now, it ought to be clear to every man, that any political party or union of any kind that cannot free labor from it's bur- dens is not worth anything. The promises of politicians amount to nothing. It is only bottom principles that can be depend ed on. Therefore, if labor is in soc1al or | LULU O6TUCCUNS UCUot be abolished, and not merely eased. A few less hours or little more wages do not "touch the spot" because they dc not put an end to servitude and the dependence of one man upon another fol work and bread.
 There are great and grand ideas yet to come up out of this popular restlessness, and, in accordance with the laws of pro- gress, great social, industrial and political changes will take place. If they are to come through trades unions, the unions must rest on some fundamental idea that will set them free. If they are to come through political party, that must pro claim the same idea. and be governed by corresponding parties. Every union o1 party must be made to state broadly anG clearly just aUhGt it means, and how far i intends to go. If for mere palliatives o servitude, so be it. If for the abolition o servitude, so be it.
 Let every platform and policy be dis sected. What ,OiI it do for lobors Thi' is the question of questions.
 Pontiac, Mich. J. F. BRAY. .
 DarWinianiSm.
 |