New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-09
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
PROBLEMS OF THE DAY.
A LECTURE BY WENDELL PHILLIPS.

vile branch of the Young Mems Christian AsSocla-
ton, upon Labor. Temperance, and Woman"
These problems of the day the lecturer treated in
their civil and political aspects, ignoring entirely
all moral questions The audience was very larg"
one. The lecture was in the main as follows:
LECTURE.
am announced to speak 20 you tonight on Labor
Temperance and Woman" three great questions which
ght be called turning questions each dividing society
and marshang men INTO opposite parties, and each in
fact, in some sections, threatening the base Of
society. Each has its philanthropc and It's political
side The point OF view which to bring before you
tonight is the civil, political view. We have here
great experiment Of self-government whether
educated man has sufficient individual secoptrol 20
trust him with these powers OF government. On the
Fourth OF July I77G, we launched in the face OF the
world this sublime affirmation that the people could be
trusted with the management Of their political concerns
EUROPE is st looking the water at this expert
ment OF sublime faith In humanity ITSELF IL was said
once Of the British Government. Kings, lords aud
commons-they are only a large machine whose
final and sole purpose Is to put u honest men in box
by which that the sole essential vital point Of
the British Government the jury trial; that The
point OF the jurybox the precise point where power
and personal liberty into contact If would de-
fine Government n tho same mood should
say: Congress, legislature. journals colleges, and
terature-they have only one object in this country
it "a TO put honest, intelligent, Independent, self
controlling men at tho ballotbox. As long as you can
do that theory of Government is safe" The exper
ment we proposed try in the face or the world has 20
far failed, because in the rue the laws IN gov
eminent like not in the statute They are
not really made az Washington Your five great gin
erals have to do to-day with the practical laws Of
these thirty States than the gentlemen who siJ under
the dome Of the Capitol at Washington. These gentle
men arc only the vanes which show which way the
wind is moving. would like to make you realize tnat
in plain, sober prose- your lives your reputaions your
houses really, In the last resort, dependent for
safety the intelligence and sefcOntro o. e street
government in the ordinary sense OF the term lit-
orally governs Its police power is perfectly aoe 10
dispose OF its troubles. Bat in stormy times the mob
rules there nothing stand between II and ts VIC
TINS One day, in October, 1855. came down nom my
Office and the mob driving Mr. Garrison through
the streets. then decent man. not an abolition
ist Then IT was that first realized that truth Then
il flashed upon me that when the chain which holds
society together il strained bursting. the law itself
is the mob, aud until they gain secontro they must 20
on. 1t is great which the vessel h'ats ana
chance Of safety is the Of tho ocean TO stand
the storm.
On these questions Of Laborrremperance and Woman,
there is something be done in advance Of Dotl poi
tics and the press. The lyceum - ahead OF the press
The press Is a glorious fundamentally, but It does not
make public opinion. What is an edtort lie may ~
well shoot his subscribers with bullet as with new
IDEAS He rides the waves. You should NOS ask the
press 20 do moro than sputter public opinon-no make
il. There some martyrs who have ded ioe 'ueif
opinons, but they do rot move IN regiments.
Some Of you regard temperance as local, fools Ia
natcism but look upon Of the permanent ee-
with which craftsmanship Is obiiged To deal Inc
tendency to-day is toward the formation o. great Cities
everything aggregates us into crowds Everything That
concerns the government Of great cities !, the first
thought OF the statesman. II is the problem Of TO
day. TO govern these great cities, where wealth
and brain are gathered Ogethcr. ToTyism in
Europe asks to show how 20 govern great city, AMI
We cannot do it, Not Of our cities can look back Tor %
wears and then a model OF successful government
said did not consider temperance superficial vice.
In this country the statesman has 10 deal WITH race
that from time immemoria been, first, impatient oi
Others domination and secondly, with the habn o.
showing their pleasure 81 conquest IA h'ON
ication. The means here are az every once hanu-
Here the aborer drunk week on the labor VI one
day. Take Boston, for example Here there are -"
places where liquor is dispensed, each probably e"oN
for two voters; 1000 votes are more than enough 10 de
eide any and these must always be con
suited in choosing any candidate believe in the pos
siby of republican government, but DO nc see no"
If ia TO succeed these great cities as Boston, nave
their officers nominated and elected by the eos shops
This is the great obstacle TO the republican govern
ment Your city was owned. until within three years,
by less than 900 men managed and pilaSed by less
than 500 men. They had staff Of 2,VO more Whel
election day came one of these men would say "a hs
satellites, 'You 10 down to such pOliins-aee aud
make ID SO unpleasant to decent men thai tuey wont
votep The satellite might demur on the ground mat
such action would send nm 60 sing sing 0It assurance
OF safety would make That right He would want some
one TO help him, and ne must mud a man so poor
that he was ready to he sold. ant tns maD' a
demorazed, would be taken 10 the grog-shop Of some
man. possibly ia training for an Alderman, and KEPT
there until in condition 10 do the blddns Vow So'
can't rest ballot-boX upon drunken community
New-York represents the crownins experiment OF seal
goyernmenin this country but lie ana property are no.
SO safe in its streets to-as under maslsey born o
the people as in Paris London. under ioasstrac,
born OF the upper classes. Now-Engiand says 1t ha'
found remedy ia Prohibition; yOa say 10 Is useless
Then ask what do you proposef u l. the great
crying need OF these oei OF wealth ana intellectual life
In all the manufacturing districts ofthi country yoJ
can count perhaps 2OLOo0 labOrinG men, They have
being Obliged TO work ay Il hours each day no menia
or physical strength to qualify themselves as voters
Suppose 7 ace tired workman going to his home, and
Wishing 10 instruct the salary grab or The SPANISH
war; or the Alabama question. should say To nm
"Woud not you like read these 200 pages o. Sumner
on the Alabama claims. or this juicy extract from Butler
on the Banking question T. Tue man says,
Let me sleep drink" In great
national critical moment. when few votes will TURF
the balance these votes Will in. These
have understanding OF these problems. TIE moment
Won begin have such permanent class the Republic
VIII end. To-day brains do not 80 10 Congress they
are gathering into the great Industries. Only then
second neutenants 20 To Congress. But brains have
always governed thisieounry Scott OF Harrisburg has
$4,000 900 under his hands and as he moves from Ban
Francisco to hs Eastern lunchng place every sweep Of
his garments knocks down a Legislature.
| don't ask you for justice TO woman Ia ask
something OF woman O. don't ask that she may vote
but demand that she shall say let ms summon
the grand struggle OF the age all the moral forces
can. Wherever In history you attempt any.
thing you will mud 4, is done WELL and the
Injured IL to be the plan OF Providence that all
great interests shall be undertaken by bstb