New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-31
THE PROCEEDINGS.

Promptly at 8 o'clock the meeting was or
gained, with the following officers: President DIR.
Fried. Lnienthal ice-Presidents-Messrs. Frcygang
and Zlisser; and Secretaries Karl Thcyer and Fred
Stergel.
Fried Liienthal. in opening the meeting, said: The
Free Thinkers Union thought II their duty TO attack OPP
preston on Jan. Is. 1874. citizens who were quietly
assembled in Tompknssquare were extensively attacked
without cause and 5000 free citizens were ruthessy
deprived OF their liberties. Some Of those who were
then present here tonight to protest against the
outrage The speaker recaptulated the efforts which
had been made, subsequently, TO obtain hall IN which
TO hold meeting and finally stated that when an inter
view was held with the trustees of the Cooper Union,
,bram s. Hewitt agreed that the Institute could be OBJ
famed To him and the trustees all thanks were due
SPEECH EMIL WEBER.
The Chairman then introduced Emil Weber, who said:
This Is 10 political organization rs We all know, and its
object Is not a political The principles which I'M
deriie orr meeting are which have IL do with
free mass meeting. II would he SAD thlng TOT the
repntation Of cosmopolitan NcwYork II the story should
On down 10 po,terity that number Of persons
entertaining communsiic views, so called had desired
to hold peaceful meeting. they were elected by cluD
and baton The speaker believed that superintendent
Matse would be dead aud rottng long before the i'm
mortality OF FreeThinkors would begin. The speaker
then said that there seemed to be popular prejudice
against red flag in this city, but was strange that
the green flag which covered Mark Flanagan
municipal positions seemed TO be wrapped
around not only Mayor Havemeyer but all
those who objected to the quiet meetings OF private
citizens. Private citizens had been followed into
saloons and residences in second.ave and then driven
out with the full power OF the baton by those VINO were
unable comprehend the attitude OF the Germans ana
Communists who only demanded IL ree PgsGn ar Ian. f
year. one hundred thousand persons are unemployed
%hq wT neS aIe be- seasd
they ask why they shouid be condemned
equitable distribution OF property should be made In
Sweden Belgium and other countries freedom OF speech
in mass meeting were never questoned. In Germany
free speech secured; In Austria projected Dy tne
alternately suppressed and allowed to be. and IL Is now
untrammeled. IL remains only for the metropolis OF
stituon Of the country guarantees. right which
citizens should always have, 10 express their opinions
freely. This principle OF free meetings must Dc
established and forever maintained
SPEECH JOHN swISToS.
As q private citizen. have emerged from the OBJ
security to which shall presently return, because IL
to NE that popular rights have been Violently
assaied The guarantees OF public liberty have been
invaded the Constitution, laws and fundamental prin
cples OF our American political system have been
with assassination by the authorities OF this
city The action OF the Board OF Police in this matter
was illegal and felonous The conduct OF the police
was cruel shameful and shocking. II was On outrage
on liberty law, order deceney. and human misery And
sponsibty, II they do not unite In the maintenance of
tner rights II they do not resoutey assert their power
against this usurpaton, these people Will go still fur
Their will grow yet domineerin9 and nsolent, Will
add one usurpaOn to another, VIII restrict popular
rights on this side and that. TIL at last public liberty
shall be totally subverIed This may seem extravagant
enough TO those who have watched how people
lose their freedom. and how despotsms are set up
m they can prohibit any peaceful assemblage OF
the people II they interfere with meetings for the
proclamation OF sort Of ideas even though they be
called Communism, II they can restrict the orderly
freedom OF speech any direction whatever, they
nv the same token interfere with every meeting and
bolsh all freedom OF speech The rights OF one are the
rights Of all and the oppression OF any man Is wrong
asainst every man. Let them be confronted at their
9sst attempt l mean their first in this in
for the battle OF freedom OF speech In TINS
country IN the matter OF Slavery and emancipation,
ras as hard one It's time this be. Twenty
ears ago the word "Abotonst" sounded as terrible
actin o. we're saueched" by authority without it.
LEI ms not wait in this case I'LL tongues are tied and
hands are manacled Let not lie snpine till the chains
are forged let the forgers be warned that thwart
the advance -. .... A.. ,,.....,.o ,o,,or,.
y, tbe nnemploy cd workingmen to make public pre-
sanop Of this and the struggles OF the authori-
TICS 10 preyent IL. Al last came the 1ompknssquare
,fen / saw the wretched masses who then gathered
,bere and seemed 10 me that only men utterly demon
al zed could have acted toward them as our authorities
G,d The victims taken before a Judge VINO ac-
eused them of Communism, and reproached them as
thourh the accusation were equivalent to conviction as
though he believed Communism were crime winch
mn - Inc suppressed By force rs though mere were
,hsct about when there could DE liberty, neither OF
opinion, nor OF speech. nor oil assembly linen eame
tbe attempt Of the sympathiSer5 with these
snnnressed people enter protest Mt meeting III
tbs Assembly Rooms, but here again tue ponce
Interfered menaoed the proprietor oi the hhii ana