The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-07

lar TO every mind. Our guest and orator
does not teach us how to reduce expendi-
lures and extinguish debts by scientific es-
says. He does not tire the public patience
and mystify the public intelligence by
dreary platitudes and wild speculations.
He adopts the plain habits of his own life,
the rigid economy OF his own household,
the straightforward rules of his own BUSH
ness. lie collects what is owing to the
Government, cuts down the the expenses,
and pays its debts.
John Randolph, of Roanoke, once said
that the only way to conduct government
was s'to pay as you CO." That is the magic
talisman of the Republican secretary of the
treasury that the secret of his success
that the only witchcraft he has used. And
il is this lesson thus perseveringly and
brayely enforced and gratefully indorsed by
the people that has made George s. Bout
well leader fit to follow, and statesman
worthy our homage.
When Mr.. Boutwell, rose to speak he
was heartily cheered. He spoke over an
hour with great ease, substantially as fol-
lows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I fear,
from the remarks of the gentleman who
has done me the honor of introducing me
tonight, that some Misrepresentation exists
in his and possibly also in your minds as
TO the nature Of the topics upon which |
am to speak. Upon only one of the phases
of my subject-and that the last-and
upon that only incidentally, shall refer to
the financial affairs Of the country. My
simple purpose this evening is to address
myself, first to the interests Of labor and of
the laboring people, and then generally to
the consideration of topics with which the
laboring classes, in common with all the
people of the country, and to some extent
the people of the world, are concerned.
Historically, in cur own day, we have seen
the laboring people of the world advance
from condition of servitude to the rank OF
laborers for wages aud propretors of
business. In Russia we have seen
twenty millions Of people emanci-
pated from the condition Of serfs and
raised to the dignity Of subjects Of that
vast Empire, with immense and as yet un-
appreciable advantages to themselves and
their country. In America, we have seen
four millions of people advance from con-
dition of slavery to the position Of free la
borers in a free Republic change fIaught
with advantages to them and to the coun-
try, which cannot as yet be fully apprecia-
ted by us, and which history alone, after the
lapse of centuries, will be able adequately
to explain and demonstrate. Within the
five years since emancipation became an
accomplished fact we have seen these peo-
pie, under the disadvantages of poverty, of
social ppresson--hardly less disceuraging
and disastrous upon efforts for development
than political and personal oppression--we
have seen them, under all these drawbacks,
producing larger crop Of the great staple
of the country, cotton, than had ever been
wrought out of their labor, with one excep-
ton, during seventy years of oppression,
Now, it has been stated in recent pub
lie declaration made by the laboring people
of q portion of this country, that "the
system of wages is a SIM | do not pur-
pose either to admit or deny this assertion,
but for the present we are to accept the
fact that the laboring people have not yet
escaped from "the system OF wages"
And here let me observe, in passing, that
it does not in the least accord with my pur-
pose to complain that the laboring people
among US associate themselves together and
make efforts, perhaps not always practical
OF wise, to better their condition. But do
assert that the movement in which they are
now engaged Justlnes our careful scrutiny,
and propose tonight, with enIre piaiil-
ness and-slncerty, TO state as lhey oscur
70 me some oil thc evils growing oue oi .lle
| formation of labor organizations as they
now exist throughout inc country. nose
OF US who would engage IN Mahuai laoor
ought not to complain tnas these Drama anna
tlons exist, Whatever may oe sl'eil oeiscIs.
we ought rathef 10 encourage the elortS
OF the laooring people 10 elevate theih-
selves, to acquire advantages, personal anu
social, with reference TO sneir orgall1atlolis
such advantages as VIII IN the en nc, iliure
to the benent OF the country. ms we
may best 40 oy lalr ana nohest crl.icisiii
oil the apparent tendency OF THESE oilsai''Aa-
tons TO 60 astTay IRON tlie true course.
Ana, nrst, compiaiu % ,nu iaoor Or
ganizatlons OF ti,e country Una. .ney unuea'
take oy afeileiM means 70 coi,lloi .ue Ia,
turai ofucf OF th,i'gs. III iiius.ia.loii ~ =,
my meaning, l call your ATTENTION .ho; W a,le
Poncy carried ouI oy many % enef os ar
izauo'ls OF aehylne 70 .he yum ~ .n'
country an opportunity " ioliow ',lei ia.
tufai inciinanons N tlie enoiee % .laue VI
aproiesslon. ASK I.ieni ~ my WI ~ ~
ear 10 'iie inquiry RON Mha. souioo .nsy
derive me aushofity 70 ueliy " . yot .hs
man OF iiitceh q elgh.eel yeats =, ar T,' Wy
ehoice Oh an nollofaois ocoupa. 1o LIZ, NV
DO IL, 10 De sure, uiucf iuio ny Whicl