WHAT SHALL WE DO f 343 



have brought no good ; but a few thousands, for the 

 objects proposed in this volume, contributed by the 

 workingmen of the country, to the amount of one 

 dime each week, with their ballots to sustain the con- 

 tributions, would be the beginning of a new era for 

 the relief and comfort of labor. 



It would open a new page in the world's history, 

 upon which would be written, not the old, old story, 

 that the masses of the people had destroyed another 

 nation ; that the workingmen of the United States 

 had pulled down the institutions of that country, 

 even under the most bitter provocations. But a new 

 tale would be placed on record, for the guidance of 

 coming ages that the workingmen of our country 

 had destroyed the instruments of social and industrial 

 oppression bequeathed by our fathers, whilst preserv- 

 ing all that was good, and lifted society to the highest 

 plane of human development. 



Whatever final and effective measures are obtained 

 must be through the operation of legislation, which 

 will necessitate political action. Any attempt to 

 create a new party would in all probability prove a 

 failure ; it would certainly bring the movement into 

 antagonism with both the great political parties of 

 to-day, and surely be the cause of dangerous delays. 

 A new political organization is of very doubtful policy. 

 But the adoption, by the Council suggested, of the 

 measures herein proposed, or their formulation of 

 others that would better achieve the objects desired, 

 and put forth as the basis of reforms demanded by 

 the people of the country, will surely compel both 

 parties to adopt them, and become their supporters, 



