The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-23

At the meeting In the Council Chamber
last evening, VIM. Boron, esq, president Of
the workingmen's Assembly, presided and
stated the object OF tho meeting. John A.
Perkins, ESQ.,, OF the Bookbindcrs' Associa-
ton, was appointed secretary.
Mr.. Cayls was called and made some
appropriate remarks upon the character and
objects of the workingmcn's reform, show.
that labor is the source Of all wealth and
capital, and yet the monopolists and bankers
receive and absorb the largest share OF the
profits Of the products Of Industry. lie al.
luded to the unjust practices of banking and
Of land monopoly.
SPEECH OF DEN. VIM.
Gen. A. NJ. VIM, Of California, was
called and said;
FELLow-CITIzEss The great problem Of
social equality Is now being worked out;
like wine in Its primary condition, 1t is fer
menting. The world Is looking on With
wonder at the efforts being made by the Ia
boring population of the United States, and
we may say truthfully, that the whole civil
lied world is In state Of fcrmenting Inquiry
upon the subject of reformation In the rank
and file Of producers.
Why II has not been so before is often in
quired into by those whose good fortune has
placed them In position 10 take sides with
idle consumers. Such persons seek infor-
nation from the big end Of the spy glass,
so as 10 sec their object diminished to suit
their wishes, and only turn the glass the
small end to the eye when they wish to see
their own interest maguihed TO suit their
hopes and desires; nor does this apply to the
man who was born rich any more than him
who, by good fortune, has risen from what
education pleasos to call the lower class OF
society; for, as n general rule, the latter class
OF opponents are more rigid In their opposi-
ton than the former. II Is an old saying,
and not less true on account OF Its antiquity,
that of you put q beggar on horseback he
will ride to the ID" Now and then there Is
one that will photograph his work bench and
suspend 1t as prominent picture In his par
lor, that he may not forget that others are
using the means for subsistence that has
given him prominence in the world. 1t Is
not unfrequcntly the case that portion Of
this class arc forced to abandon any active
efforts In favor Of the poor man because Of
ridicule heapcd upon him by the advocates
OF long days work and low prices for la
Dor. Such feeling of tmidity not unfrc-
quently grows out OF q want Of education,
but In the greater number OF cases 1t comes
from an APPROPRIATENESS that they may Of
fend the wealthy, while even the poor man
will not sustain him in the efforts made for
his benefit.
But we are improving; even those that
labor for u living are beginning to feel their
own power In society, and feel the great ne
beginning to whisper in the public ear, "The
time has come for action"
One Of the first thugs TO be considered In
reform Is a general diffusion Of knowledge
among the men that work for living. The
mode Of effectlng 1t must necessarily differ
according to taste and occupation. Some
prefer books that can be had In our libra
ries and bookstores, while others prefer the
essay arguments as found in harangues.
Others again prefer the newspapers, that
they may read history as 1t Is made. All
have their advantages. But our first object
should be to lay foundation in the minds
OF the children that are to learn trades or
other useful labor employment, upon which
they may safely build as they grow to ma
turity. Our free school system, now so COM
mon throughout the country, needs foster
ing. We must find men In every nelghbor-
hood who will devote the necessary time to
watching over its management and progress;
who will sec that sober, industrious, we'll
educated teachers are employed, and that
children attend school regularly, and are
supplied with the proper books and other
elementary material that may be necessary
for the improvement Of their youthful minds.
This can only be done by taking an interest
in the political movements OF the day. The
ballot-box is the only safe place 10 correct
legalized errors or establish the principles
Of reform among the people.
In such an undertaking individual efforts
too often fall to the ground for want of the
necessary support at tho nrnrer time, show
ing the necessity OF combination and unity
Of action. The societies formed by the diff
ferent trades and occupations are doing
much to improve the condition OF its mem
bers, but the unity Of societies Is not sum.
Client to make the masses feel their own i'm.
portance among men. l of course speak OF
the labor societies, and would point them t.
the glorious example set by the Masonic fra
ternity, founded in traditional antiquity to,
old for our comprehension, or the moderI
society of Odd Fellows, with their lodges il
every State and Territory of the Unite,
States, governed by Grand Lodge of tn
United States, and furnishing to the worlI
the brightest example of unity of purpose
and difiuslng Its blessings among their mem
bers In every part of the globe Inhabited b,
the Caucasian race.
In late years other societies have been cs
tablished similar In organization, having fo
their object the good of their members IL
various ways, but none have fully met tn,
wants of men that labor for q living nor an
! certain that the "National Labor Union
Is sufficient for that purpose but il has {
name and organization which serves as d
nucleus around which may rally the differ,
ent elements Of industry, and which may be
improved to answer the purpose of an an
nual industrial congress, while by consultil-
tlon and prudent action 1t may grow to such
magnificent proportions as to insure n rem
edy for the political evils that have been
such curse 10 the country.
An organization In every county Of each
State, and then State organization of rep,
resentatives from each county, to meet al
least once year and elect delegates to the
National Labor Congress, may bring al out
unity Of action that will at least command
respect In the State Legislatures and In the
Congress OF the United States. Such party
nj Ina he ,f L., hi,
laws our necessities may require without our
Individually begging at the footstool of con-
centrated political power. There Is q ne
cessity for something of this kind-some
open association of labOTing men that may
be kept up with but little expense TO any
and none to the man too poor to spare
means from his scanty earnings. 1t coul,
not but serve q good purpose, without injur,
to anybody; 1t would afford an opportunlt!
for those who are opposed to secret socictc,
to assemble and express their views, ant
thus help to Increase the united ranks OF til
producing classes. Such an association ma
In this way concentrate the full strength o
all the laboring men, whether In societies 0
not.
Some tell us that our efforts at unity II
action will produce no good result, as The
other parties, being In power, Will not be 81
ready to afford us friendly legislation as they
are now, they seeing In us an antag on ism "a
W ha'Su hO'u IMAM IedItus lucy lOlEGt
that we have the balance of power as be.
tween other parties, and can weaken or
strengthen either at pleasure. They forget
that we intend TO elect none but those In
whom we have CONFERENCE.-The who have
an interest In common with our own. They
forget that We are the men that have made
the parties, whose officers have ridden OF
our backs Into power, and too often forget
that We still have IN existence and the right
to vote,
We are told that there Is an autagonlsm
between capital and labor, that their interests
are adverse, and they cannot exist together
on friendly terms. This idea is all imagi.
nationi capital is nothing without labor, and
labor has no rewards except from capital
they must exist together, they must prosper
Jointly, they must be on friendly terms
The man that labors and has no none,
must be paid for his work, and the man tina
has money must buy labor to make 1t brlnI
him high rate of interest. But the mar
with money Is not compelled to use II, while
the man that labors cannot be still; he !,
like sailor rowing against a current, when
he ships Ills oars the boat falls back--so