As union men you will continue to struggle for your five dollars
a day--restricting apprentices, that others may be shut out from
your field; opposing changes threatening you, however beneficial
they may be generally.
But as individuals you must THINK. You study, and, being
free from the grind of real poverty, you should be less hardened
than the unfortunate, and inclined to feel for others.
You have made a good fight against the slavery that used to
oppress you. In England you destroyed mills, endured shooting
and hanging. All over the world, by hard fighting and wise
voting, you have established the fact that the top class of
mechanics must no longer be treated as cattle.
Now, what are you going to do for the others who are still
cattle? You have demanded in the name of holy justice that
others help you. In the same name, what do you propose to do for
those still oppressed? Will you use your big voting power for
the millions who are still at the bottom?
Will you combine for the benefit of the vast army as you have
combined for your OWN benefit?
Or will you wait--as did the employers--to be FORCED into
decency? Will you free your own collection of underpaid,
overworked slaves, or wait for them to organize and beat you into
decency, as your representatives did with your oppressors long
ago?
Take a look downward once in a while.
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