The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1864-04-30 (London, England)

THE MINER AND WORKMAN'S ADVOCATE.  SIR, —For these last few months I have been wondering what is this new spirit that prevails through our country. But since I have become acquainted with your most valuable paper, I have had a little insight into our affairs as a working class. I said new spirit, but I think it is an old spirit—a spirit of freedom, of liberty, and of justice. But oar loss in the past has been caused through non-unity. We have been too long divided. Unity was not to be found among the working men of England and Wales such as there is now; therefore, the working man had to be still and bite his tongue. Because, why? Ile stood by himself, and he had no refuge to flee to; he had no advocate to take his part; but now, I am happy to say, we have THE MINER AND WORKMAN'S ADVOCATE, which does its duty justly and honestly for the working man. I was speaking to a gentleman the other day , concerning the union. I asked his opinion of it. His reply was that he thought it was a God-sent thing, ordained to raise and elevate the working man to a more dignified position. Well, indeed, I sometimes think there is an Omnipotent hand in this cause, for we know it is a good cause, and the principles of which should be embraced by every working man, for if he suffers others must suffer with him, and if he falls the whole working community must fall at the same time. The single word unity tells us so. Besides, we know it is one of the great truths laid down for us, that we should help each other. Yes, and we all know that it is time that the working man should receive more justice at his master's hands than what he has these many years, for he has been too long trampled upon— especially the poor miner. Yes, cropped, screened, and screwed until he groans under the galling yoke of tyranny and oppression. And, more. I regret to say he has been hand-bolted and driven through the public streets like a felon or a murderer—an act which would be considered a disgrace in some or the slave States of America. Some one may ask what was all this for? It was for the awful crime of seeking to have his coal weighed, and, of course, to have a correct account of his earnings. Fellow men! is it not, then, time that we should unite, and shake off that cowardly fear which hath overruled us so long as a working class ? I say, yes; for, through unity such demons as have perpetrated the above acts may be taught better lessons—through unity we can stand erect like men, and demand our rights without fear. Yes, and through unity we will give Mr. Truck such a blow that will bring him down never to rise more. I hope the day is not far off when we shall see him buried in South Wales; we will bury him face downwards, so that if he attempts to rise he will go the lower instead, for he has been the means of robbing thousands—besides the poor orphan Janet—of their scanty earnings, of their freedom, and of their comforts.  Then, fellow-workmen, let us unite in one great bond, that we may accomplish these things. I hope the day is not far off when we shall all be united, and ere long the working man shall see brighter days. I hope, sir, I have not trespassed too far upon your valuable columns. May God speed your pap. By inserting these few lines you will greatly oblige one who is a constant reader of your valuable raper,