WHAT SHALL WE DO? 339 



will be a repetition of the past. Will not the work- 

 ingmen of the country learn anything from the bitter 

 experiences they have passed through, and abandon 

 the methods that have been so uniformly followed by 

 the ultimate failure of all their efforts ? But the 

 great evils by which we are surrounded, and that are 

 destroying the foundations of society, can be removed 

 by the workingmen only. They form the large ma- 

 jority of its members, and in our country they are all 

 powerful. Still it is only by absolutely united action 

 that the workingmen can accomplish any good. By 

 disunion they may achieve any amount of evil. The 

 enemy they have to contend against, though few in 

 numbers are strong in position and possession of great 

 capital. Nevertheless, before the united workingmen 

 of the country, seeking really national objects and 

 noble ends, by methods that are just and in harmony 

 with the institutions under which we live, the tyranny 

 of capital will end. The workingmen will also draw 

 to their support a very large part of the best thought 

 and intelligence of the country, that will be sure to 

 keep even step with the labor of society in its attack 

 upon the enemies of humanity and progress. 



Therefore, the first indispensable requisite is union 

 in its fullest and best sense. There must be in l;he 

 work complete harmony between workingmen of all 

 classes and conditions society men and nonsociety 

 men for the common objects of reformation and 

 improvement. Without such union no good can be 

 effected. It is not necessary that any organization 

 should be abandoned. Through them the best work 

 can be done, and the organizations should be strength- 



