, 1873-12-23


temperate language Of somo Of tho orators.
While 1t is trno that, with tho exception of Ntr.
Hoffman, nono Of tho speakers have local
standing emitting them to tho character Of lond-
ors. noverttloloBs they spoke to an audience tint
lii large measure Bympathizod with them. Tho
speeches wore matnly delivered In foreign latl-
guago8 aud 1t waB tho speakers In those Ian.
gungos who wore tho most RADICAL It ia fair to
assume TINT both speakers and audience werc
comparatively new in this country.
The iesuoH raised by this ,nooting canno. be
avoided, evan 1t 1t were desirable to do 30. Tho
timo and tho occasion demand that they be mot
fairly aud squaroly. Tho meeting inserted TINT,
in consequence Of the financial aud commercial
criBiB, large numbers aro out Of employment;
that they claim tho right to live, and therefore
domand Of tho public authorities: l. Work for
the unemployed, ut the rate Of eight houra day,
provisions to those to whom Immediate employ
mont cannot be gtvon.
These two propositions, while addressing
thomaolves directly to tue aympathiea at all,
aro as political propositions wholly ut variance
with our laws and institutions. They aro retro
ereaaiyc, wrong in principle, and altogether out
Of piAee under Cur form Of government Tho
commercial crisis ia ono Of thoBe disasters inc-
dental to all human undertakings. It arrested
tho further construction Of q large number Of
railroads, aud thus olosod or greatly embarrassed
a number Of establishments ongaged in railroad
work. It Infected all industries more or less.
Some OF thoso Industries have recovered, md In
conrao of time Ill will resume. The Interrupt
ton Of work caused by tho panic is temporary.
Nevertheless the trouble 1t Inns caused ia very
great. The condition Of these unemployed per-
sons appeala to tho sympathy OF everybody; and
that active and organized otfort should be made,
and Ia being mado toroliovo 1t, no one will deny.
but tho rolations OF the unemployed to tho
Government ia quite different thing. Ours ia
not paternal Government which takcs tho earn
inga Of tho labor Of the people, and, in return,
engages to food, clothc. aud house them. Tint
is tho kind Of Goyornmen. which the American
people century ago decided they would not
hayo. That WIS the system which prevailed at
tho South before tho War, wien tho entire pro-
duct OF human labor waB tahon by the 9ow, who,
in roturn, fod, olothod, houBod, and, in tho end,
buried the laboror. The American Government
ropudiatod this whole system Of fou1al alavegy;
it recognized tho personal freedom Of tie citlzon
md his exclusive right to his ontirs earnings.
It protocts him in this freedom, secures to him
an equal chance in tho race OF life, aud leaves
him to tale euro Of himself. The duty OF the
Government to tho citizen begina and enas With
securing him equality. and entire freedom in
tho exercise Of his abilities, and full protec-
ton and security In the possession Of the
fruits OF his labor. Tho citizen to be
free must be sof-depondent, and this is the pre-
else difference between the citizen OF tho United
States and tho citizens Of other countries. It is
to attain and possess this personal freedom aud
independence that persons abandon their homes
in other countries and come to this. Thoy pur-
chase their freedom by assuming to tako care OF
themselves. They could not be FREQ II they
were not independent. Il is no part Of tho obli-
cations Of the Government to find work for the
| unemployed. Tho number Of porRonB VIII can
| bo employed by tho Government Ia worry small.
| In tho administration Of the general functions
Of government, the City Of Chicago oreots noed-
edpublio buildings, CONSTRUCTS sewers and cleans
| tho streots. These works arc not undertaken to
givo employment, but to meet public necessi
tics. In order to Lave them executed, tho city,
| like an individual, offers tho work to the
man 1ho will undertake to. do it for
tue least aum Of money. Tho cost Of
the work, when dono, ia paid from the
proceeds OF tux levied for that purpose. That
is the only way in which the Government Of
Chicago can oven Indirectly furnish employment.
Tho Government of this city ut tlts :i1ne has no
money, and will not have for perhapa two years
to como, with whioh to engage in erecting pub
lie buildings end, il II should commence erect.
i,,x 1,,i131,ro ,or, IL c,,1,a ,,ot Aoro, ta a,r,