The Portland daily press., 1870-10-24
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Thomas Hughes delivered lecture on Fri
day evening before the Mercantile Library
Association in New York on the great labor
movement in England. After abiding to the
advance in the prosperity and wisdom of the
working class in England, Mr.. Hughes said:
He hoped to show how far England had
succeeded in solving the great problem Of our
time-hOw those who live by the sweat OF
their brOws, and who must always form the
vast majority OF every human society, can be
| put in their right place under the conditions
| of life which the Christian civilization need
| not be ashamed of, without injustice to the
rest of the great brotherhood, have succeed
ed in solving, and shall be indeed rejoicing
on the eve OF my departure from your coun-
| try, in which l have seen and learned so
| much and have received such extraordinary
| kindness, it l can tell you properly ANYTHING
which may render their path along the same
road somewhat less perilOus and stormy than
ours has been.
Inc progress OF the labor movement was
narrated with great earnestness. In speaking
OF unions Mr.. Hughes said: l have always
advocated them. | have maintained that
| they are an absolute necessity in England,
| and have been very useful in placing the
working people in position in which they
can make a fair bargain with their employers,
which they can never do when they are in
fear of want. They are probably necessary
here also, and if they exist at all, the larger
they are and the more thoroughly organized
the better. Our experiences have shown us
that it is scarcely ever the large or rich soce-
| ties which commence quarrel, and that it is
| almost impossible to draw one of them into a
strike. All would urge is that the trades
unions here should adapt themselves to the
| needs and circumstances of a new country,
with plenty of cheap land for every man who
can possibly be brought here. Under such
circumstances, to enforce the rules restricting
the hours of labor or hindering boys or men
from working at whatever trade, for whatever
wages they like to take, is to be not only dis
loyal to their country, but false to their own
| class.
The lecture closed with the following fare
well to America:
And now my task for tonight is done, and
only hope that may not have tried your
patience to severely. One duty only remains
to which turn with very sad feelings. To
morrow L sail for my own country, and have
now, therefore to bid you all farewell. 1t
seems to me sometimes as though it were on
ly yesterday, and sometimes as If it were so
long that l can scarcely look behind it, since
icrossed your border and came anon g you
full OF expectation as to what l should find
here, but quite unprepared for what have
found. 1 can scarcely believe, now 1 am 60
ing away, that it is only few weeks since 1
first saw men and women upon whom can
henceforth only look as old and dear friends,
aud it is not only from these, but from every
one have met between the Atlantic coast
and Missouri, that have received welcome
and kindness which can never forget or re
pay. will not attempt to account for or
explain all this. 1t is too sacred to bear analy-
sis. can only hope that you may never have
reason to feel that the object OF your kindness
has become unworthy of it. think, if know
myself, that may say without fear that the
memory OF your homes and your family ties
will strengthen me for any work for my own
country which may find to do in future A
man can't but be better for having seen them,
and few strangers can have seen them under
such favorable conditions as have fallen to my
| LOT