The Labor enquirer., 1885-12-26
THREE YEARS OLD.

December 16, 1882, the first number OF
THE LABoE ENQUIRER was issued. so last
Wednesday week was the third anniyer-
sarY. Three wears old. / can hardly
realize it; and yet when I try to look
back over those thirty-six months, those
eleven hundred days which have been
so full Of hard work, hopes, fears and
sometimes almost anguish. it seems that
the calendar is wrong, and that the
paper must be quarter ofa century old.
When our work is light time flies swiftly !;
but when we are beset upon every hand
with troubles, and there are discourage
ments at eterv step, the road seems long
and hard to travel.
It is not my purpose or desire to weary
my readers with recital of the mishaps
upon the rocky road of labor journalism !;
or to detail the hardships Of maintaing
paper which, because of its advanced
stand and uncompromising attitude
upon social and economic questions, is
misjud2ed and not appreciated by those
whose cause it is fighting. / suppose
such troubles are necessary under the
circumstances, and that my experience
is only what thousands of abler men
have endured for a principle. Suffice it
to say that the contests with the COM
mon enemy, capitalism, and its press and
| cohorts, have been feasts when COM
pared with the meager fare sometimes
served by "the labor people" themselves.
In looking back over the three years
since l began the publication of this
paper, see nothing to be ashamed of in
its files, nothing to be very sorry for IN the
manner of conducting it, but everything
to be proud of. I could have made more
money had / pursued a different course
with reference to political matters; but
had I done so, the cause would have suf-
fered while I alone would have been
benefted--a negative benefit, as 1 look
at it. I have struggled along, sometimes
almost disheartened, frequently "dead
broke" but always with clear con-
science and will begin the fourth year
proud of the record as an educator which
The ENQUIRER has made, and hoping to
occasionally come upon cool and shady
spot in the generally hot and dusty road.
To those who have SO often prophe-
sled the demise Of this paper, and who
have done most everything in their
power to carry out the prophecy, / have
only to say, they will find me ever
ready to cross swords with them; and
though I can congratulate myself upon
past victories, there is still nothing be-
hind THE ENQUIRER but an empty cash
box and an indomltable will, born of a
devotion to the cause of humanity. If
capitalism and its tools can overpower
these, it can stop the publication of the
paper, but its soul will go marching on.
/ have had two OF three good offers to
take editorial positions upon compatible
Journals in other cities, but have set
them aside, because believe l can do
more good where lam, and here shall
stay, so long as I can scrape up pennies
enough to pay expenses
Thanks from me to the noble COM
rades who have worked by my side and
lhelped me in the hour of need would be
superfuous, and SO I do notput upon
paper what my heart feels concerning
them. The good man does lives after
he has turned to dust, tits said; but let us
hope that many ofthe valiant champions
ofthe Cause of Humanity may enjoy the
blessings of a society made the purer and
nobler through their efforts.
! And so The ENQUIRER wishes you all a
4 thoughtful Christmas and hopeful
New Year.