Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-25
TIRE Anusn or EABoR.
AN IRON workers. Appeal for Or
xnmswnsien 10 Resist Tyranny.


Am IRON workers. Appeal for or
Ennfmuaiem 30 Resist Tyranny.
National Labor Tribune.
MAasrIEoN, ONO, Jan. 9.--The great
Of the population Of this coun-
try are the working people, and we know
II haa been said that the government of
our country is "of the people, By the
people, and for the people, And weknow
that IL is the object Of the government
to conserve the greatest good to the
qrentest number of its constituents. And
we know that there does exist in this
country to-day this anomaly, viz: the |
great majority Of the constituents of this |
government complaining of injustice and |
hardship, and this in an enlightened age |
and in land of great plenty. Now, are
We iron workers SO ignorant and thus so
weak-too weak TO arouse ourselves to
ask what Ia the cause of this
nnfair state of things that now
EXISTS in this country? We know
that prevention is better than cure;
but wnen disease is upon us, then it
surely becomes us to arouse ourselves
10 the cure IL may be that we ourselves
have destroyed the balance of power by
our selfish ignorance in the past. We
have not paid due attention in the past to
the grand old Greek proverb, "An
injury 10 one is the concern of all.n Our
weakness has consisted in our disintegra-
ton. UNITED we stand, divided we fall"
Our good old friend capital has been
turned against us by the INSCRIPTIONS;
but all men that have money are not un-
scrupulous. And in a general sense
capital Is still our friend. So let us labor
ing men take fresh courage. Our
cause is good. Let us become the united
majority. Then, and not until then, will
labor find its true place. Let us read I;
let us write let us be capable of holding
our proper place. Then we surely shall
find our place, both physically and
morally. We believe that labor is now
on the grand march. The key has been
struck. "0rganize p is ringing on every
hand. Organize, not to destroy, but to
create harmony between capital and labor.
We know that the greed and misleading
statements made by capitalists and manu-
facturers in the past has made sad
breach in harmony between capital and
labor. We have known manufacturers to
make this statement, viz "We didn't
make anything last year. rat the same time
we have known that their mills and fac
tories have been kept in good repair and
in many cases improvements added in
surances, property and personal debts
have been paid their children have been
to college the necessities and luxuries OF
life have been supplied; but perhaps
there was nothing added to their aggre-
gate capital at that special time. But
how different when the workingman does
not make anything! We repeat that this
system of classifying has made sad
breach between capital and labor,
Organized labor must become more in.
telligent. It is presumed that such AND
similar statements are made to the igno
rant.
Organized labor does not mean to be q
power TO enforce unjust claims, but 9
power of natural law and order power
that can and will appreciate and maintain
God-given rights and liberties, based OIL
the equality and brotherhood of man
principles for which orr immortal Wash
ington and our forefathers fought, anG
many died in the struggle.
'And such as our forefathers were may W,
their children be,
And In our hearts their spirit live that baf
fed tyranny"
Organized labor will be blessing t,
capital and labor, feared only by the un
Just and falsifier, to whom it must neceE
sarily be an enemy. The great enem
that organized labor must fight is concen
trated capital used in various dark way
only for its own aggrandizement by tn
spoliation of its weaker contestants.
1t seems also imperative that organize
labor must combine to elect represents
tives from its own class in sufficient nun
bers to demonstrate that it is the majorit,
fact that must be demonstrated befol
it will be conceded. Millionaires, banker
and lawyers organize to take what the
want, and graciously leave labor to tai
what is left. But we must remember tn
they generally manage to have the
actions covered by law, which milliol
aires, bankers and lawyers will make
suit, every time. The past is our criteriC
in this matter. Workingmen must leal
to act as if they knew legislation is Il
root of the matter-the cause from viii
springs the effects of which we complai
We must let the old parties go, all
them. What does the majority of nui
bers amount tor If the majority has t
law-making power it looks to my mil
like a majority of feathers contestil
against their weightier neighbor, lead, I
the balance which springs up in unco
cerned defiance of their greater number
Shall we say that we are the lever tn
will move the affairs of this country
they ought to be? We may be the leve
but of what use is the lever if the fulcrr
is not in the hands of the millionaire
bankers and lawyers. Shall we be &C
tent to leave it there, and complain IL
10 np 49, ,uI.,,
man had enough tatfy yet ? 1t was W
sweet to hear Mr.. Blaine say, "rhe
dustrious workingman should have wag
enough to live decently, to educate
children, and some to lay by for raj
day" That is all labor asks. But,
the laboTers, do they get it, even WI
working? Ask the unemployed. What
sad picture to think upon And yet 1
political organ grinder can afford to [
pense this sweet taffy music to some pa
of labor, while at the same time he
grinding down another portion to a IN
scanty living. Now, Majority tworkil
men) tell me am right Can the p
teach us anything2 A great many wo
ingmen are well provided for. They
live comfortably; but shall we be satisi
and not try to amend matters for our
fortunate brothers? Heaven forbid. 7
is the selfish indifference which
helped to create these self-made lords
Gods creation, who would bring
laboring class to state of slavery We
than that which existed at the south,
account of which so much blood
shed. And this careless indifference
the part of those who have been mal
a good living is now reacting ON In
generally, and the price paid all labc
brought to the minimum point And
hear the lash of the slave drivers "
demanding more work for less money
Shall we still go on divided into
tions with the relentless slave driver
quering first one faction and then anot
or shall we organize and be able to ST
to our duty, and hand down the p,
leges we have received to our poster
Let us hear from our brothers. Yo
fraternally, MARTIN RICHARDS,
An Iron Worke
--le-k-