Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-10-12

rIghls AT the polis are hampereu, III not
destroyed, by the hidden influence of
the bride, the chicanery in the caucus,
and by the venal yielding of our legis-
lators (both State and NationaD, to the
corrupt demands of powerful syndicates
and corporations. The popular senti-
ment must be reused to these lament
able facts, and steps must be quickly
taken toward remedy, if the citizens
Of this country wish longer to believe
that they possess true freedom.
Looking still at the gloomy side of
modern civilization, what do we notice
regarding the existing methods of com
mercial and business life under thecom.
petitive plan? And here, if we seem
unnecessarily bitter and sarcastic, let it
be remembered that it is the system
which is attacked, and not the individ-
ual. We all know what an immense
change has taken place during the last
fifty years in the methods of conducting
all sorts of mercantile business. The
telegraph and the ocean cables have
revolutionized the old time ways. To-
day success in life, as it is the custom
TO term it, does not so much depend
and honesty, as upon blind luck. Pure
speculation has largely taken the place
OF wise foresight and prudence. Indeed,
the fool by taking greater risks than
the more prudent calculator, in many
cases accumulates wealth faster. 1t is
all a wretched gamble, Why, then,
should we have greater respect for
these so-called magnates of the business
world, than for that class which frankly
drO.cs its occupation to be one that is
condemned by public law and senti-
ment, filching unworthy gains by I'M
worthy means at the gaming table?
specifications, in this general arraign-
ment Of these social wrongs, are not
needed This whole competitive sys-
tenn, with capital held by individuals,
is grossly wrong, and its tendency Is to
encourage and cultivate the most selfish
qualities Of human nature. Our boys
are taught. from early childhood, that
it is their duty to accumulate property;
that their full energies must be expend
ed in the effort to outwit their fellows,
if possible, in this general game Of grab.
Many of our girls are forced to sink all
respect, in case of a choice between lily
paid toll and uncongenial marriage or
worse, to accept the latter bitter altern-
atives
If there is devil he certainly prompts
the spirit of this heartless civilization.
Our modern clergy, as class, though
there are notable exceptions in the
cases of some individuals, is calmly in
different to the constantly increasing
dangers of our present mode of life.
Obstinate bigotry in narrow beliefs fills
the minds of the majority of these
preachers of worn out dogmas, so that
they will not see the truth. They COM
fort themselves and their dupes, when
plain unhappy facts are presented to
their attention, by quoting Scripture
texts. 1t is so easy to repeat, with
solemn visage: Goods will be done;'
"hath He not said: The poor ye have
always with ye,'" and other discon
nected passages that have a comfort
ing sound. The congregations which
gather on one day of the week,
to hear these pretended apostles of a
Master who taught the doctrine of
the brotherhood of man, hear only d
perverted gospel of greed and selfish
ness. Their God is mammon. These
words sound harsh, but bear in MIND
that am now showing you the dark
SIDE of the picture.
1t Is certainly very aggravatlng to see
the ostentatious display of the vulgar
rich; to note the snobbish style and man
ners of large and growing class; and tc
detect the heartless tone adopted by
members of this class in their comments
on the efforts which noble men in the
past, and in the present, too, have made
and are now making for an improve
ment of the wrongful social relations OF
this present time.
Contrast the two extremes; the higher
classes, possessed of useless millions
wrung from the producers by a system
of clear robbery, for this is the correct
term to use, notwithstanding all sophis,
tical arguments to the contrary of the
political economists; the lower classes,
toiling toiling ceaselessly for the barest
living, if work can be obtained, starv-
ing. suffering, dying if competition
presses too closely on their masters; and,
hope of any change for themselve or for
tHelT CuiluTeu. Az lue one extreme,
supercilious disgust for anything be-
meath. AT the other, hopeless despond,
ency. AS the poet feelingly expresses it
" The deep dark underworld of woe
That underies lifes shining surfaces;
| Dim pOpulouS pain and multtadinous toll
Unheeded of the needless world, which tread,
| The piteOuS upturned faces underfoot
| In the gay route which PUSHES to its ends"
My friends: through all these clouds
we see little light breaking, a light
which is destined to grow and spread
until all these dark hindrances to clear
vision are dissipated, and we witness the
dawn of better day.
First among the forces which are al
work for the holy cause of united
brotherhood of man (Which phrase
means, with us, some form of State con