The New York herald., 1870-10-29
- .
AN HOUR WITH WEgDELL PHILLIPS.
Tho Great Reformor in Politics-The Lesson 70
bs Taught Political Parties-MaMachusetts
Complcations-Tho Fright Of Ropublt
can politicians-Mr. Phillips Dsvo
ton to the Labor Interssts-His
Appreciation OF this Fore
eight OF tho Herald.

one OF the most exciting Of the political campaigns
this fall is tho pending gubernatorial canvass In
Massachusetts, A. the readers OF the HERALD are
well aware, In that State there are four distinct
state tckets-to wit, the republican, the democratic,
the labor reform and temperance. THIS introduc-
tion OF new elements into the political arena and
especially tho nomination by both the temperance
men and labor reformers of Wendell Philips for
Governor. has aroused that latter day sleepy Com
monwcath from Its political lethargy TO state
or unwonted excitement Especially In tho
ranks OF the Governor Claain- Henry Wilson
republicans, 'he feeling engcndcred against
| the great agiiator-who, having conducted
one once feeble reform TO successful issne
now seriously threatens TO do the same for other
struggling reforms, wrestling the Bay State from
the control OF the republican party-s most intense
Long accustomed to ruling there without question,
having little fear Of their opponents. completely
In tho minority the republicans OF Massachusetts
with lilly dissembled dread The marshalling OF the
new power, which, under 80 formidable leadership,
may oust them rron the power which they have 80
long enjoyed. From their nrst affected indifference OF
the combined temperance and labor tickets and their
possible effect upon the canvass, the republicans
stung by the scathng criticism Of Mr. Phillips open
ing campaign addrcss-havo passed to invective and
TO studied efforts TO tho effect or the fiery ora
tors eloquenco upon the masses, trembling the
while with apprehension lest tho most disastrous
consequences befall their party. SO stands the can
vass In Massachusetts. Never perchance, over is-
saes purely local the Commonwealth 10
aroused From this date until the day OF tho eec-
ton, sll nercer, sharper, moro acrimonious VIII
grow the contest; while almost IN every town OF
note throughout the Bay State VIII 30 heard tho
ringing notes OF the great orator marshaling the
allied forces OF labor anu temperance to the con-
tested struggle.
WENDELL PHILLIPS IN NEW YORK.
Learning that Mr.. Phillips had taken BRIEF run
from Massachusetts TO fulfil some ecturing en-
gagements In Philadelphia ana elsewhere, and that
he would be In our city for few hours, the writer
presumlng on previous acquaintance visited the
St. Denis Hotel, where lie was stopping, ana upon
sending up his card stating his earnest desire 10 see
| him, was favored with an interview.
HIS Personal APrKARANcE
| Few men who have attained the age OF the great
reformer (who must be considerably over sixtyI are
| blessed with equal heath and activity. Like the
grander type OF ringlishmen-a BrOugham or q Pal
merston-much OF this intellectual and physical pre-
seryation doubtless IS to be attributed to the
throughout his life strict tetotaller, FREQ
even from the nso Of tobacco, Mr.. Phillips
the systemaLlzng OF daily. labor, reapiny the re.
ward in the fun preservation OF bodily health and
intellectual vgor, after life OF continuous exertion
far beyond that OF most men. Indeed those who
know Wendell Philips only through his impass10ned
platform u'terances, or his scarcely less fiery dia.
tribes the columns OF the old AnttS arerv Stand
ara, would be surprised could they ENJOY an hours
quiet conversation with the mid elderly man. whose
gentleness OF tone and innate courtesy OF manner
would be all AT Variance wltn their preconceivea
LABOR, TUE QUESTION or TIE FuTuRE.
Gliding at once into conversation concerning
politics, Mr. Phillips remarked that all the Old Issues
lucluding s,avery-hal been settled. The papers
said that we ''couidnt get along without the nfyger
The anllslavery reforners had alshed TINS assertion
OF ther enemies. Incy mad placed tho negro
where he no longer specially demanded or
needed their and Having cnamploned tlass and
ttt.li
Tree TO broaden out their enort making 1t include
the oppressed hborins classes OF all tne nation.
There was no national question left Tor tue future
| bur labor The tariff Internal improvements, reve-
| nue. all others were sectional or had happily been
labor had linked nands for the accomplishment OF
common purpose. The old political parties were
Y pg ?.qgns 'na a. other Interests ,yerS - stake
| needed was for the laboriny men to know their
strength Teach them once TO break the thraldom
OF party aud the remedy Tor oil me evs OF which
they Justly complain would be IN their own hands,
In this country with the ballot as corrective, there
was no excuse Tor the wasting oI SUBSTANCE by
STRIKES ;" and our w0rhmen should he ashamed to
resort 10 them. Between the wealthy capitalist on
the one hand and the empoye armed with the Amer
can right vi franchise ON the other, Understood
aright there is balance OF power better than the
'arbitratoIs" or exhaustDg STRIKES or England.
CAUSES OF DEVOTION 10 THE LABOR ISTEHEsTs.
DO you wonder why am SO deeply Interested In
the condition oil the toiiIns masses VI The landf
In the course OF my lecturing engag enent Of many
years have naa frequent OCCASION to travel BY
street cars and steam cars leading GU or our large
cities ut very cary hours-at all hours In fact, vi
the morning. Az those unreasonable hours the cars
would MI with class OF occupants that ASH
ionabie travellers at other hours rarely enGoanter.
Ihey were wo,kingmen 1hey did not TAX gossip.
slencc-too weary, too lIstless for the slightest
cxLIa eflOIt. Those men, to be where saw tic;n.
habisIaly must nave r'sen at i've, evel oal, IN the
morning 10 give time to eat their breakfasts and be
Started on their journey to the places where the
weary day OF toll OF ten, Twelve or fourteen hours In
duration awaited them. Yet wnile tney thus over
worked the body. at the expense VI the mind, thou.
sands dled away existence, suDssling upon their
nj I'm fn tha 9Ia4fy A,oia,
these things over and over IN my journeys caused
Inc TO resolve II my life was spared, 10 DO something
more than yet had Tor the ameiioratlon OF lhe
dtion Of this large class OF our populaton-a stand
ing shame TO our boasted civilization.
CHANCES OF THE COMBINED TICKET For SUCCESS
What Will De the strength OF the allied reform GU
bernaorial ticket DO not pretend to make any esti
mate. Some Ol the shTewdest observers IN our state
clam that the labor ucket VIII poll al cait 10000
votes and the temperance ticket well nign rs many.
Lycn less tnan this w be an acquired balance OF
ana the labor movement. Eut IL Is IN Tie Legisla-
ture thai rengh, undoubtedly VIII be the
feit L. obaDly over 100 members Will DC pledged to
our suppart--cnoush 10 exert almost a controlling
influence in the election OF UniLed states Senator
The politicians arc aware OF THIS, and their efforts to
avert the danger by every means IN their power,
eyen to poisoning tue minds ol our coioied frcnds,
are Increasing. But alarmed as they IRE they
not prevent the early rpening OF our movement It
must 60 on. they may mount the tain, but 10 op-
pose II IL to be crushed beneath It's wheels.
lrssrATEBESTs or MASSACHUSETTS, REPUBLICANS.
But the greatest meanness OF the campaign il the
assault OF certain republican politicians upon the
character OF members OF the labor party, VINO are
poor ana deienceess-too weak to save themselves
from being slaughtered. There men ia MaSsa-
chuscts identified with the labor party who are The
peers OF The Governor OF the State OF any or his
friends; but they are laboring men, destitute OF
means ana political influence and they are ground
to powder because they dare TO call themselves lree
and have rejected the collar OF party. For their
dastardly attacHs upon sucn men can least orglve
the trading politicians OF Massachusetts.
ABILITY AND WISDOM OF THE HERALD.
The above, OF course, Is but an imperfect a1stract
OF MIR Phillips views concerning the varlou tAeInes
touched upon all OF which were discussed Win the
lralkness and freedom from reserve characteristic
OF that gentleman. Touching the HEEALD, Mr.
Phillips said that differing nom 1t greatly lie nad
In the past, he had yet mad frequent occason to
comment upon It's sasacty, deeming that A. stood
almost alone OF our city press IN correctly reading
and Interpreting the future 1t exerted an lunenss