The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-14
CIT Y INTELLIGEN OE
IFor Additional Local Items see Third Paqe.l


OF tho Natonal lConventionof Plasterers was held in
TINS city on Thursday 12h inst, Charles Mclean of
BOSTON, IN the char, wnen after the reading of the
minutes OF last meeting, Mr.. Mclean delivered the
following address =
Oentemen ;-Slnce we last met in our denberative
convention, the conulton OF tue laDoring classes,
Lnen duties aud responsibilities, the relalve con.
LheOuoh OF the employers and capitalists Herewith,
nnye mUcn engrossed my attention, the result of
which has been that serious faults and hindrances
are iostered and engendered by botn parties The
mSgman, sSnndng on the one hand, by lashness in the
time for reh ctOn or preparation. Hurried counsel
without calm thought and deliberate action, IN
local organizations sometimes precipltaies strikes
ana involves the whole working Community IN the
contest; whereas, proper appeal through the
press, or other method OF communication, properly
stated. would 90 far convince the public that our
claims were founded justice causing the capitalists
to cede both their interests and ours higher re.
muneIatlve prices, and less hours in which to earn
those advanced ra,es, TOR 1t Is apparent from past
sarY IN many respects; ana in order to repair and
rect1y past mistakes unite all the varied interests
OF the wo king classes, educate them 10 drink from
higher and holier source OF knowledge sentiments
less selfish than hitherto; imbue their minds with a
better conception OF their destiny; let them fully
Rule, the meum and tuum of society and
thus, in the plentitude and grandeur OF both
wealth will assurediy be best able 10 determine how
TO oispOse OF 1t. Str kes rash y tered upon are
productive OF evil 10 al concerned Let the laborlng
classes be united not to ussail but to protect. Let
him be prepared for emergencies med with moueYed
and moral power, taking The advice OF "PolOnus"
not be readIest o quarrel but enga ged so con
duct themselves that capital will hesitate and reflect
before enRaS1ng IN q second contest
by what principle of Justice, on the other hand
does capital array itself against its creator and pro-
tector especially when emergencies have arisen in
the country requiring higher prices brought about
not by the laboiinR man but by evil which
capital was pros rated by the purchase of the labOrer
himself and not his labor This anita gonisiic condi
OF tbinRs contrary to ali the principles of equity
brought on and cherished in one sectlon of
try involved MS war and at its close found us with
n q mn .nra
and other snecure officers salaries than
sary as still further incubus tosupport legislators
imposing taxes VINO are mere tyros in the know
ledge OF properly proportloning them. National
bonds exempted and held by the rich whilst the
necessaries OF life are burdened to the straining
point, and yet It's accounted sacrege to complain or
even request higher prices for labor mOreespecalY
II combined tor that purpose Now gentemen,I
contend that non-paio labor, which ha, brought
about this condition OF tnngs will ultimately bring
are to pass unheeded-if as in "FrankensteInT -
the creature attempts to become too po werful
for its creator then it becomes the duty of every
man existing to contne and limit Its power. The
tyranny inflicted by two OF the t1ree of society
inFrance 1.-THE moneyed two) upon the third estate
upon whicn the fabrics OF Christianity stood were
assaled by atheists of their own creation, for
reasoned that the true G' could not infIct nor
tolerate such WRONGS the clergy taught and i'm
posed The other, the nobility, socaled, Imperious
by birth and education, spurned unneeded the petit
hons OF the working classes, destroyed faith IN
monarchcal institutions, and drunk with madness at
those two classes retaIaed with fearful retrlbution
for past injuries But whilst we deplore that the
claims of certain classes of country to obtain
shorter hours OF labor have not been granted in
another section of the country, but retarded, and
the capital and wealth of still another section
arIayed against the caulkers OF Boston TO force
them TO submit to the conditions of the first class
for having expressed sympathy for their fellow.
craftsmen in New York In their hour of trial. We
as they committed no act but the above and should
be supported by every workingman Iii the country
expend such vast sums for educatioo to teach boy
the theory OF demonstrating problem in Euclid,
anS sem1 h 70 bv a0e f where MS
In what condition is his mind at the end of each
oyerstrained inc days toll to graPole with and dc.
invent and bring to pract cal use those school.
taught theories. His mental and physical
unit amid he nexhSust BE % Of this great
country. yet almost unknown, and their application
obscure. Now. gentlemen, II the dull ear OF power
power created by youl would but listen to reason,
and take unsefsh view of this matter, before 1t
is too late, let them reason and COMPROMISE The
wOrkngman is fast nsing to higher civilization.
by which he already begins to perceive that IN
he is iast tending, viz la bor its hours its remu.
neTauon, etc, will at all timas check itself,
qure unoa led for nor unwarranted dictahon from
sincerely trust that the more especial purpose
for which we are here convened. however, VIZ: to
take into calm considerable the peculiar requirements
of our own special calling the mu ua benefits to be
derived by any alterations or amendments neces-
sary, the upholding and expounding OF general
healthy laws by which ali classes shall be benefited,
will meet with your careful and considerate atten
ton, go that on rising from TINS convention we snal
not consider that we have asked but what is rignt'
ard the help of God and clear conscience wall
submit to nothing that is wrong. Among other
things, the adoption and fostering OF which would
think be of incalculable benefit TO the working
classes, would be, first TO oairomze no papers which
openly denOunce us, who pamper to wea tn, who
allure the wOrkinRman by sophisry from that alie-
glance TO where his uUe interests lay, whe offer no
assHtance, by that mic nty they WELD, to
and elevate the working classes 20 that EN- nence
toward which he rs fast journeyinR, viz, clearer
and mere comprehensive idea OF the duties and re-
SDOnsbllitleS of his calling.
We want press that Will honestly and conscien-
tiously advocate the true interests of labor and
point out the remedy for defects. and hinder en-
cIoachments. 1t becomes the duty therefore, OF
every wOrklngman to patronlze none others; and
ii the editors thereof Won make their sheets gene
rally entertanng TO the worklngman, and instructive
to his children, think they won be more literally
patrOnized. would like wise suggest that by con.
certed action WI h o her bodies of mechanics intel
hgent lecturers M ght be employed TO deliver ad-
dresses throughout the Union on the best mode OF
binoing IN one family the various classes of working
men that labor might not become too great q sacrI
flee TO unprncip ed men.
Another evil which we ought TO avoid, and which
will De found exist in local societies, is the
petty jeaOusleS and bcker ngs upon minor points,
when BY a little iorbearance they could be easily
overcome. There is likewise a great lack OF dis
elimination on oar part in not recommending the
appointment OF National Board OF Trade for the
regulation OF labor and all Its interests / submit
that this Board shall consist of equal numbers of
wOIkIngmen and employers, to mold periodical
meetingsj as necessity may require 1t might be ap-
pointed by legislative enactment or by themselves,
and be productive OF vast good, thus ayoiding all
perniciOus collisions which disturb and injure our
best interests.
in CONCLUSION, gentlemen, pe-mit me to again siu.
cerey thank you for tnat lorbeatance which you
have always extended towards me, and trusting that
our efforts may ultimately bo crowned with sucsess
that the employers ana capitalists OF the country
may become convinced that neither we l-pad labor,
moderate hours TO perform that labor