New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-21
THE LABOR INTEREST
THE SEOEMAKERS IN COUNCIL
SPEECHES IN ENGLISH AND GERMAN

Tho German and American shoemakers,
and no small number of their friends, as
sembled at No. 81 Bienville street, last
night, to discuss the question of labor.
Their idea is to thoroughly discuss this
question, and to evolve from this action
some points which will eventually lead to
permanent advantage, not only to the shoe
makers themselves, but also 10 all classes
Of wOrkingmen.
Mr.. Mueller acted rs temporary president.
Mr. Rosenfelder as secretary, and Mr..
pister as treasurer.
After some preliminary remarks by the
president, which were in German, and, con
sequently, not taken down by this reporter,
Mr'Fred. A. johnson was called Gu for Z;
speech. This gentleman made the follow
ing remarks:
Fellow -citizens-I feel proud in visiting
you this evening, especially by invitation,
for in the mechanic and producer recog-
niZe the foundation OF national soiidity and
success.
And while keerJv alive 10 the agricul-
tural and mechaui~3l Development Of Louisi
ana, a State particularly pleased by God,
and neglected by man. / would point to u
y
Why is it that the IuHj0rily Of such meet
inga as the preeent are composed OF foreign
ers
Because for many years past the wealth
| derived by honest toll and industry has
! been uisappiiod III tho education and rais-
| ing Of cur youthS ald i'll pandering to "a
| bogus seH-constiN,tcd aristocracy, based
| upon dollars and cents. The useful and la
| borious mechanic and farmer, who, in ol1en
| times, engrated to this country, the former
| to carve ont a fortune by industry and good
! reputo ion. the latter, who made the woods
| ring with the sturdy blows of his axe rs he
| fought nature for material to build Lis
| cabin and fence his field, achieved by the
| prowess of his hardihood, and now perhaps
! the centre Of q populous city, fortune left
! to useless and aDprecative heirs, were much
| to blame in pandering to a vain ambition to
! promote their posterity to position Of false
| gentility
No, said these aspiring sires. wiping the
sweat of honest labor from their brow; we
are comfortable, our Sam can afford to
| dress as WELL wear as good watch, and
ride as gay horse us Lawyer Browns
bows; and Samme has lodged studies be-
yond the comprehension of his simple, but
honest parents, and reached manhood
totally incompetent to earn living by his
brains among the numerous competitors.
UusEilied in . trade. too proud to work, and
too honest 10 steal q useless. wretched
beng-a victim to the false ambition of his
simple, but useful parents.
Or my friends has the evil Of "codfish" "
aris tocracy ceased at this point' Salnmie
becomes the father OF n family, and
supports them to the fullest extent of
the income left, by the fortune of his hon
orable old parents, and no greater insult
can be offered TO his dainty children, who
have neither good sense, trades or money.
than to insinuate that their grandparents
were mechanics.
" Hail Columbia, happy foolishl land"
Gcntlemen-Our population is unfortu-
natcly overrnn with this useless class OF
progeny for whose peculiar adaptablencss
the expanding nation of America has but
little use, save as soldiers, while many
reach that point that units them for any
thing beyond candidacy for the aims
house, the Penitcntiary or the Legislature.
America and Americans must 1T once es-
tablsh an aristocracy, based upon the USE
fitness OF q citizen in community.
Whether it may be based upon his superior
industry, competency as . mechanic, energy
rs merchant, OF talent as a scholar ho
must be equally appreciated and encour-
aged.
Labor must be made respectable, and
every mans Sammy, whether he be rich or
poor, should have the opportunity of acquir
ing some useful trade as a natural legacy
to rely upon, and then, in the next genera
ton. the kind parent will not be criticised
in this wise, and the rich mans sons will be
proud to contend in personal and intellect
ual strength and manly usefulness with the
hunbleat artisan among us.
Colonel Smallwood made some remarks.
and exhausted the question of labor. The
gentleman did not touch on politics
The meeting adjourned until Sunday