The Labor enquirer., 1883-11-10
SKINNER BROS VRICHT'S 5
COR16TH& LAWR[NC[sTS. DENVER.
TO THE PEOPLE.
The Ills We Suffer Under--Work to
Be Done by the
Masses.

For The Enquirer.
Byron said long ago, Il think ! hear q
little bird that sings, the people bye and
bye will be the stronger =" and we ad,
dress our article in sincerity to the
masses of wageworkers of both sexes in
Denver and this new giant state and urge
them to be vigilant, sober and steady
thinkers. Stand firm in the majesty of
your power for the right be not led
astray by any subterfuges and sophistries
resorted to by subsidized press, which
often misrepresents facts and distorts
truth, to keep you socially, morally and
politically divided. They are ever on
the alert to clog the wheels of action in
the reform of abuses. You have but to
see the lukewarm reports and mutilation
of addresses or lectures delivered by any
one in behalf of common humanity.
How these misera BILE ink-slingers con-
dense, mutilate and distort truth and
whitewash evil to suit their servile pur-
pose, to gain the smile of approval of
their master, capital. The columns of a
subsidized press are not open to you and
their tone is a standing menace to the
moral sense and dignity ofa free people.
The old adage says, "God helps those
who help themselves" and the people
| must not wait for the millennium to come
through the efforts of capitalists. They
must rise up in the majesty of their
power and agitate by all lawful means
by stern moral force, to obtain the most
needed reforms. ~
Tie first reform we believe to be re.
duction in the hours of labor; because
the many useful appliances, brought into
action in so many diversified forms in
mechanical arts, the producing power
has increased to a fabulous extent; yet
in reality the toiling millions are not
benefited, but in many instances worse
off by production and panics, which
take place about every seven years. De
mand and supply would be regulated
and panics would cease, and the great
prole,arian masses would have more
time for mental culture, and disease and
crime would diminish beyond all paral
lei, as they became better educated and
refined. And as the poet, Macay, says
"Once we thought that education was a lux
| ury for the few,
That to give it to the many was to give ii
That the poor man educated quarreled with
Old opinions, rags and tatters, get you gone
Get you gomez
Secondly, we should have just share
in the profits of labor as in co-opera,
tive form, which should ennoble and
dignity it, and destroy that feeling so
irksome to sensitive minds-the curse Of
service.
Thirdly, municipal and state legisla-
tors must be made to understand that
the people do not want so much mistl-
fed law as they do strict, stern justice,
and it behooves the masses to demand
that congress stop at once and forever
the giving away of the public lands to
railroad monopolies or any other species
of fraud, through corrupt rings, with
which this nation has 80 long been
cursed.
a new condition of things is required,
nay, demanded. God is no respecter Of
persons, and our free, republican, repre-
sentative form of government is sup
posed to admit of no class legislation, no
social inequality. Laws exist; all should
be equal before the law.
But capital seems blind to anything
but getting richer and richer, at light
ming speed, regardless of every other OBJ
iect in life. Virtue and moral honesty
find no place in their code of ethics, and
society is shaken from center to clrcum-
ference by the moral degradation in our
various forms of governmental policy.
Political intrigue and chicanery every
where abound, and no matter who is sent
to legislate for the people, all seem bent
to agree that they will not do anything
to confer lasting benefit on the masses
The moneyed oligarchy, it appears; is at
all times able to buy the politicians, at
SO much per head, to frame and make
laws to suit its purposes.
1 sincerely hope and trust that the day
is not far distant when the great mass of
bread-winners will see the necessity of
forever banishing thatfeeling of jealousy
and distrust which has kept them
divided, just as capital wishes. would
70 God they would emulate that spirit or
law of mutual support that prevails
among the money changers or stock job
bers of every kind and degree. When
their interests are assailed or endangered
they are unit at once. May God de-
fend the right LoNeRIGG.
Trades Assembly.