The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23
sneech nv President TreveIIIck.

President Richard f. TrevellicS, OF the
National Labor Congress addressed rous-
,ug Labor Reform meeting at Cleveland, D.
A few evenings since, on the ights and duties
Of vorkiugmen. Tie speaker coni1ed his
remarks to three hea1s-Llnd, LABOR, AMI
Money. Ia speaking OF the worklngmen ne
made no distinction between ths classes
Whether man toll with his hani' or with
his brain, If his life were devoted to produ-
eng for the benefit Of society, he regarded
him as laboring man, no matter OF what
nationality. race or color. Whoever lived
By the sweat OF his brow was with them
whoever lived by the toll OF the toll o. otn-
ers was against them.
He said that land should no. be held anu
controlled By any corporation or BY moneyed
spectators. II 10 the true heritage OF the
sons Of toll, and they should be ito posses
sors. History gives Us no record OF the
time hen land first was apPortioned out 60
individuals. Why was il that the lrishman,
the German, the Scotchman, E1glisman, left
his native soil, to seek a home in this far on
countryY 1t was not because their own lands
did not bring forth the fruits Of the earth to
feed the hungry millions; it was not that
they had no love for the countries that gave
them birth but it was because OF their In
herent desire to be the owners OF their own
homes. The county of TIpperary, in Ire
land, is almost wholly owned by single m
dividual, aud there the laborer can never
set his foot upon the soil, and call It his
own.
Hs said that the reason why the whole
Of this great country had not been given
the great moneyed corporations was be
cause it was so large that fraudulent con-
gress could not steal it al. In the past six
teen years congress had given away en- ough
land to make England, Ireland, Scotland,
France, Spain and Portugal.
The speaker was very severe uFOn the
practice of the great body of the land in the
West being held by spectators. As soon
as it was Put into market it was all bought
up by capitalists at dollar or two an acre,
and the honest sons of toll, who seek q
home, must pay them five, ten, Or fifteen
dollars an acre. The legislature Of Michi-
gan, years ago, gave a party Of spectators
$50, 900 acres Of the best mineral lands OF
the upper peninsula, and 100000 acres Of
the best pine land for cutting the Sault Ste.
Marie canal seven eighths of a mile in
length. For the sum Of $4,000 worth Of
work they gave them 5000, 100000 worth Of
property, Not q single foot Of land could
be located by man seeking q home until
this company had three years to locate its
5000 acres, free. from taxation for three
years.
The speaker had been four times around
the world, and stood apon the shores of al
most every country, but he had never seen
as much In ssry anywhere as he had seen
in the city Of New York There were a.
900 women starving on rs cents a day for
| fourteen hours work. He hated slavery in
Florida, but he hated 1t Just as much in the
great cities Of the North, where the very
lives Of the poor and unfortunate are ground
out BY the unfeeling capitalists. The speak
er had long ago washed his hands clear OF
all political parties. He would belong to no
party which had stolen millions Of acres oil
our land, and authorized these monopolies
which 20 rough-shod over the rights Of the
people.
Referring to labor, the speaker alluded to
the growing repugnance to labor, and said
that scarcely . young nan could be found,
T. OF American birth, who was willing to learn
q trade Of any kind. All seek some means
to gain livelihood Without work. He be-
/ leved that if foreign born mechanics were
removed from the shops Of the United States
all manufacturing business must stop. H.
said there was but one thing worse than 9
lazy woman, and that was a lazy man. He
argued for the dignity Of labor, and that il
should not be held IN disrepute. Labor
should be made respectable, and a man b
esteemed in society in proportion as b
produces to add to the comfort of mankind
and increase the wealth Of the earth. Th'
idler who produces nothing, should be des
pissed and spurned from society.
The speaker urged the Importance Of hav
ing more money in circulation. At preson
in Ohio, there is but about $50 to each in
habitant. France has $36 to each person
He demanded the withdrawal Of the Nation
al Bank currency and the substitution o
United States notes, which shall be good fol
the pay ment of all debts. He proposed the
issue Of nineteen hundred million dollars il
legaltender notes, and with that pay Sc
much of the national debt. He had u fear:
| that there would be too much money afoat
If a man chose not TO take the greenbacks
| let him take the bonds Of the Government
at 8 per cent.-he said 3 per cent. because
the annual increase Of the country was thai
amount.