The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-04-25
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
National Industrial Congress,
WHICH CONVENED AT
Rochester, N. Y, April IA. 1874
WHICH CONVENED Al


RocHEsrrR April Il. 1874
lOi O'Clock
The Congress was called to order by Mr..
Robert Schiiing. President
Mr. Christopher Kane, of the Rochester
Trades Assembly. being introduced, de-
hyered the following address II welcome .
GENTLEMEN Il becomes my pleasant
lUty. Ip behalf 1T the reception committee,
q extend u you the cardm. welcome of
YOUR cp-wOrkers ia the city ui K chester,
IN learning IF this movement, tp bring the
workiu.meu oi the country into cl'ser
union. our hearts were nlied with hope for
the future And when at the close Of
Your inaugural meeting m the city OF
cleveland. we learned that you had All
lJurnei yo meet III Rochester, ] assure
YOU. gentlemen, no language | could cN-
rress would he adequate a. describe the
ny winch your decision carried home to
th, hearts Ot every son Of toni lu our city.
your presence mere tins morning serves. 90
-treugthen uur former hopes and renew
The pleasure Wt then felt Iu the autiCIpG
iIon II this happy event. You have AS
embled here today from ell sections Of
he country To state Your grievances, and
90 enter your solemn protest against the
wrongs and burdens hesped upon labor hy
-raspIng and selfish men uIt o. infringe
upon the rights ut any portion OF
our fellow-cit.zens. bnt to demand
3r the wealth-prolucug classes II our
country, Justice. at the hands uf those
who are supposed TO be the servants
md not the rulers OF the people Trades
Mons IN their sectional capacity have
lone much tu advance the social position Of
the worAInguan, u cultivate good morals
and temperate habits, a. vel as "a propagate
a. splrit ot brotherly ioya aud good NI!l for
all mankind They have instilled INTO
tIeIr members the spirit II inquiry, which
As lea them 10 uuv,stiLatt the cause ~ So
much misery and suffering ON the one hand,
nd su much Idlruyss ANA luxury un the
uthcr The fruit III this Inquiry Is the spIrit0 If
NIscuutent, which Al present Is 50 prevalent
among the producing classes throug hout
he world and which has called together
to-day the representatives ui 800 900 or
anized workln.m "a. W hat vast interests
enter here to-day. Three hundred thou
and hearts beat III unison, awaiting the
lectric spark ~ carry over the S!Iss the
elaboration II tins convention. oallrugd
kings, stock JobbcTs aud money gamblers
await with nervous anxiety and a faint
hope that YOU Will not cooperate with the
Grangers, to prevent the further quitting
uf their exchtquers at the expense Of the
toilIng victims they have 81 long trampled
beneath the iron cells Of their power. 1
scores OF POLITICIANS trcmhle at this upris-
my OF the people, for they well know that
unity of action among the producing classes
viii destroy their occupation, and hurl
them from the places they have SD prostl-
Z tied ana disgraced They know that the
5ribe with which yillainy has 50 long
stained the palms Of honesty, will lose its
accursed power, and that Il can again be
said
freeuau's ballot falls as still
As .uow-hakes fall upon the 80.
Au5 executes the frsenans Ni
A. lightning does the viii u God
Ies, gentlemen, this movement is the
star of good hope the harbInger If better
days for the uOIhng millions of this land.
We know that the laws of growth are slow
reforms are not accomplished III a day
but patience and perseverance have tun-
nelled the mountains, and linked together
the nations Of the earth. hen IN a gov
erument that can exist only ~ consent Of
the governed, all that is necessary is the
unity Of the masses IN order To carry out
any needed reforms, AID to choke off the
hordes Of gamblers who have fastened them
selves, ike 80 many leeChes, on to our
social system, drawing the very llfes blood
out Of the industry of the country, and to
establish code Of laws which recognizes
no indivldual sect or clique, but renders
Justice t. ali alike, whether 1t be To- the
humble artisan or the millionaire. Coming
together here to-day, as you do gentlemen,
representing the bone and sinew Of the
nation. with these thoughts and purposes
uppernost ia your mind, you present one
OF the grandest spectacles the world has
ever looked upon. No wOnder, then, that
the workingmen of Rochester should feel
proud Of this happy greeting. The oppor
tunity Of co-mngling with men whose
hearts know no selhshness and whose noble
lives are dev oted to the welfare ui their
fellow men, must call to mind fond recoi
lectlons when many Of us are drawing near
to the shores of that better land where all
men must find their level, and
Where peace and friendship reign abo,.
The base ana selfish crimes Of men.
And truth alone enshrined in love
Is tbs most precious diadem-
The regular secretary being absent, 1t
Was on motion, ordered that another be
elected pro tenn; wien Mr.. Byron Pope,
secretary Of the Coopers International
Onion WAS unanimously appointed.
The committee on credentials being next
in order, he president appointed the fol-
lowing as such committee
~ W. Curtis, Minnesota W. L. Blaet-
terman, Missouri Theo. Fitzgerald, New
York H. 2. Osborne, Wisconsin; Henry
Dorm, Ohio.
On motion, the Convention adjourned
till ? o'clock P. m.