The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-10-05

The following is Mr.. Gilehriest's reply to
to a congratnlatory speech o. Judge Bunch,
Of Louisville, in presenting him with token
of the esteem in which be was held BY his
fellow citizens. II does equal credit to lis
head and his heart
Callous, indeed, would be nv heart il did
not feel the impression made at the kind
mention of my name in connection with the
cause or labor. The elevation III labor and
lust remuneration to the toihng millions is a
subject that have been identified with for
many years. AS early as the year 1916, in
company with a few shopmates, We procured
the third story Of warehouse or Main
street, in the ciJy Of Cincinnati, and there,
by the dim light OF tallov candle, We Or
eanized protective union, and pledged our
selves to commune together, AMI strive w
our example % elevate the character and
dignity Of the worklngmen Of the laid.
From that time 20 the present have labored
in the cause Often | have revolved tns
question in my mind why j. il that ne
Who labors from the early morn till late at
| eve il not allowed TO set price On his own
labore Il it because through force OF cir
cumstAnces he did not possess hereditary
rio es, or through chance receive an educa-
| tion commensurate with bis intellect that he
i must not place price on his labor? Tell
4 me that. The stalwart wOodsman that fels
the forest oak to the experienced mechanic,
who compietesl the vessel that bears the inter
change of products from cline TO cline, or
nc VINO reins and drives the iron horse over
bill and valley from State to State, or those
when all elss in nature is wrapped in Stun
ber) who set the type from which we learn
what is transpirIog throughout the word or
who, sitting near the dim light Of a md
nlght lamp. listening to the click Of a eAlvan-
q battery communicating with friends from
continent TO continent; tell me persons FOL-
flowing those and kindred ayOcau0ns are not
capable Of setting the price on their labor !;
II y preposterOus to think ~. I assisted IN
organizing the Trades Assembly of Louis
vile, ana nave presided over its meetings
nearly ali the time since | received the ho-
nor Of presiding over the first international
trades congress taas convened on this con-
tiaent- From the germ planted at that
time stout and thrifty tree has grown. Al
ready tive branches have put forth their
leaves, affording shelter, il they will avail
thens- YES Of 1t, to the workingmen Of FIVE
States under the eight-hou law, thereby
giving to man that which God Intended IA
should rec We eight hours FOR work, eight
hours for sleep, and eight hour for recrea-
Iuon and study ms tree will continue 10
grow and put forth its branches, until ali
the toiling millions OF this great republic will
rest beneath its shadowy folds. Al the IA
Dor congress, held at Chicago four weeks
since, another subject was discussed. which
IS more vital than tue eight hour question 70
che wOrkingman (as he has to pay our ma
ticnal debt eventually shall the national
debt be doubled, or will We favor the cancel
ing OF our national debt Win government
currency, stopping all future interest, there
by causing the owners Of large sums Of
money 10 seek for new Investments which
viii give employment TO thousands now idle,
Increase trade to commerce and cause public
and internal improvements to progress
beg pardon for this depression from the sub
Iect, yet allow me to ask one question that
your reflective minds may answer mt some
future time, VIZ: II All the treasure in this
city were gathered together and placed in
one large depository, aud aOck Of sheep
we're drIven IN among the coupons and other
government securities, whaT length or time
would be required to produce one coat with
out the ingenuity Of msn) to protect one hu-
nan being from The chilling winds of winter.
I feel conhicn that this episode o. my lite
wi, I'd De ifG,ssii5.y traced on T,sse al
| memory, 50 long as reason holds her.
This frail tenement Of earth. Judge Bun0..,
allow me, through you, to return my sincere
aud heart felt thanks to those warm and geo.
erous friends who devised, procured and
caused to be rendered to me this valuable
present.