The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-05-20
LABOR RIl0RN II PENNSYLVANIA
Mass Meeting at Harrisburg
SPEECHES OF GOV. cEARy AND rREvEL'c


SPEECHES OF GOV. cEARY AND TREVELIck.
We are indebted to the Harrisburg
.Sate- Journal for The following account
Of the monster mass meeting lately
held in that city, under the auspices OF
TIE National Labor Union:
One Of the largest and most enthusiastic
meetings ever held in the city, convened
in the court house Saturday evening under
the auspices Of Labor Union No .. 1t
was the original intention to hold the meet
Jog in Market square, but the persistent
ram which fell all Gay and during the even
ing rendered this impractlcable, snd It was
found necessary to adjourn to the court
court house. The Harrisburg Silver Cor
net band dlscoursed excellent music pre-
uious to the organization Of the meeting,
and added to the interest OF the occasion
Long tefore the organization every avail
abe seat in the court house was occupied
by the hardy sons OF toll, the mechanic and
workingmen. The meeting was not Pc
litical one, and Republicans and Democrats
fraternlzed in contributing to the objects
aimed-a better understanding of the
labor interests, and elevation of the masses
above the oppression Of capital.
Tie meeting was called to order BY the
election of the following officers
President-John NJ Clure.
Vice Observation-Disclosures Mann,
Samuel Benner and John Nj Elwee.
Secretaries-George G. Hill and }. W.
Stephenson.
Inc first speaker was Governor John w.
Gesry, whose appearance on the stand was
followed yIoud applause Of the audience,
and made deep impression.
ADDRESS OF GOV. GRARY
FELLOW CITIZENS AT the urgeGt re
quest Of your Committee on Invitation, l
consented to meet the labor organizations Of
this city and its vicinity this evening,
This have done, although j might well
have pleaded as reasonable excuse for not
doing so, the vast pressure of official bu-
siness by which am at this time surround
ed. The glorious principles upon which
our Government was founded, enunciated
by its trainers nearly a century ago, be-
Iieve to be true, '"that all men are created
equal that they are endowed by their
Cfeator with certain inahenable rights /;
that among these are life, liberty and the
pursuits Of happiness. That to secure
these rights, governments are instituted
among men. deriving their just powers
frnm the consent Of The governed" In
every conflict waged for the rights Of men
either in resistance to oppression, or to
make way for new truths, the world is a
gamer. Under such principles what can
be more sublime than the efforts Of a peo-
pie whose object is to elevate all the inter
ests Of humanity, and TO advance and puri-
~ the Government under which they live
Such, am informed, is the purpose, and
such hope and believe ID the destiny Of
the Labor Reform movement now in pro-
gress, not only in this country, but
throughout the civilized world. And
those who have this movement in charge
must not be unmindful of the responsible
tiles which devolve upon them, for all its
consequences for good or evil has been
e,niided 10 them. While there may be dis
agrseD snts as to the course and means to
accomp lish It's objects, one great duty ia
clear, that you must hold fast to that which
10 good, and under God put your abiding
trust in the virtue and intelligence of-the
whole people Upon these you must re-
" in order that you may continue urim-
pared the political fabrie and the, glory Of
oar institutions of which we are so justly
proud. Through many proceeding gener-
atoms, when the masses Of men were igner-
ant, they were greatly iauled and wrong
cd; and il 10 oniy since general education
has prevailed that the people have discov-
cred their rights and privileges, and know
ing. dare MAINTAIN sthem." IL 10 only
nj ce human labor and industry have been
properly recognized BY politicians and
ststesmen thai Goyerhments have been
built and administered upon the rights that
belong TO all Gods creatures; that labor,
the useful arts, and all the splendid tri-
umphs Of human skill began their irresist-
able march. These results are glorious,
they are dear to the heart0f the patriotic
citizen, and they are his chief pride and
beast, when he says to himself, " l am al
American citizen" ~. -
Fellow citizens:@ Amongth blessiaes
Of our free institutions is the constitutional
right oftbe Ahedcan people to meet togetb
er for the discussion Of measures iBvolyi1e
their material prosperity and personal well
fare. Free discussion is part Of the per-
sonsl liberty Of the citizen, snd when bet
has a grieyance to redress, OF a right
TO yindicate, be does il most DIS
cfeetly ss we'll as most effectdally, By calmly |
appealing to the constitutional authority /
and popular intelligence Of the land,
and by invoking to bis support the sub
lime force of public opinion, q He h thEies
armed whose cause To- just The labofimg
msn Of the country, whsn seeking to better
his condition, surely has just cause, and
a. the labor Of bis hands is his capital, be is
justified in making the most strenuous ex
! ertions to get as much for It rs be can com
mand. Nor viii ] say be is not prudent
in combining with others to accomplish M
object. The plain purpose Of alltbe priv
hges conferred BY acts Of Incorporation, jsLI
teinsure for sorposate powers what money
! itss|f does not possesa Manufacturing,
uruiuinR -tzArspartasion and banking ara
~ cSrfied on mosf extensisely under cor N
ansnsive privileges grantsd BY the State.
WHY are these privileges 50 coveted and 50
-Asxasywugssr y-s-<5-~ss~.-s-..s.s- east.
ofssesy ten passed by che Legislature, acts
.ofincorpofss;a OK comforting corporsts
powersf eimply because spcb powers pro
tsct capital and facilitr> its accumulation.
VFasr this system Of 1egns.xiop. there
nave grown up pultituds q ssstsrRp-ii'
irns;ons Ior business ncre Potentp VI W