People's voice., 1892-04-01

there are three parties in the field, the
democratic, the republican and the
peoples party, the latter sometimes
being referred to as "the Farmers
Alliance" and which at the same time
claims 10 be labor party, or the work.
ingmen's party.
If we were to be guided in our estj-
mate of parties, predicated upon pro-
fessions expressed Immediately prior to
an election, we should be compelled to
aver that all political parties are deep
ly concerned about the welfare of
labor-that their solicitude for the hap
piness and prosperity of workingmen
absorbs a large per cent Of their
thoughts, and that they are ceaselesslY
wrestling with the subjects, how best
TO promote the interests of men whose
labor pays all interest taxes and reve-
nues, and keeps the world from stag
nation and decay.
This system of profession, chicane,
duplicity and hypocrisy has been prac-
ticed for years and has inspired many
a time, workingmen,
"With hopes, that but allure to fly,
With joys, that vanish while he sips,
Like Dead-Sea fruits that tempt the eye,
But turn 10 ashes at the lips.
Here and there, now and then, the
claims of workingmen have been recog-
nized and laws have been placed on
the statute books which modified some
outrage that had fastened itself upon
our Christian-savage Jurisprudence,
relic of barbarism and legacy from
the dead past, those dark and damned
ages when, in judicial parlance, it was
always master and servant" or mas
ter and slave" but never man and
man," when no workingman, either in
court or out of court sought to have
any right restored or respected, which
had been cloven down by his master. F"
The world of workers took hope when
the declaration Of independence de-
clared that "all men are created equal, "
and the day on which it was first read
is national holiday wherever float
the stars and stripes, and he shouts:
Forever float the standard Sheet
Where breathes the foe but falls before us,
With freedoms soil beneath our feet,
And freedoms banner waving DER US
But the question arises, over whom
does the starry banner float nova
DAYS? Over a nation Of freemen?
Nominally it does, but in fact it does
not
Workingmen declare that they are
not free men, il their employers may,
with or without law, hire Pinkerton
thugs, arm them with rifles and order
them to shoot down workingmen like
dogs without provocation. These in
fernal cut-throats, these vagabondS
from the slums, these hired outcasts
constitute military force unknown to
the state, and yet worIingmen have
been unable, except in few instances
to strike down the murderous policy
of some railroad corporations which
employ the thugs.
We confess that in all our readings
Of savage and barbarian methods we
have found nothing more essentially
devilish, more Internal in all regards
than the employment of Pinkerton out.
laws to murder workingmen at the be-
hest of a corporation.
We talk glibly Of lands cursed by
autocrats and aristocrats, and exclaim,
read our declaration Of independence
Behold our flag! Remember Bunker
Hill and Yorktown! Contemplate the
territorial grandeur of our republic
And in our rapture we contemplate the
luminous track of glory, permanent
aud bright made by our fathers, t
which we love to refer; but as one be-
holds an armed gang of Pinkerton mur
derers ready to kill railroad men under
orders from a railroad corporation,
does not his blood run cold in his veins
And when men who make laws are ap
pealei to to end the infamy by enact
ing law forbidding its continuance
and are given to understand that i
will not be done, what, IL any, is tn,
remedy?
Is it longer wise to continue in affiia
ton with any party that thus rudel,
and contemptuously thrusts us aside
Is it not wise to form an alliance Will
some party that is pledged to reform
abuses so glaring that Satan himsel
would be unable to frame an excus
for their continuance?
Is it not of the highest importanc,
that railroad employees should Civ,
special prominence to the "co-employe'
iniquity2
1t is scarcely required TO offer wort
in outlining its measureless injustice
and that it should be Incorporated int
American Jurisprudence staggers be
lief Railroad men fully comprehend
the wrongs it inhicts.
What is the demand? 1t is not to re
peal statutes by virtue Of which this il
wrong, scarcely less than crime, ex
lists, but to enact law which shall a
once and forever strike from the record
| of the courts the damning evidenc