The New York herald., 1874-01-31
FREE SPEECH.
German Mass Meeting at the
Cooper Institute.
FREETHINK KERS' UNION.

FIR REETHINK NKERS' UNION.
Let Us Go Out Into the Streets and Fight for
Our Rights'-Speeches by DR.. w. r. Lilien-
thai, Mrs Lilienthal, DR.. E. w. Hoeber,
Job Swinton, William Grindlach,
Alexander Jonas and Others
Long before eight O'Clock last night, the time APP
pointed for the opening Of the freethinkers' meet
ing at the Cooper Institute, the approaches to
the Great dall were blocked by motley crowd OF
Germans. Loud above the din Of foreign tongues
could be heard the words "Polize' and "COnstitu-
tionn uttered with terrible emphasis. In fact, be-
fore the doors were opened q meeting had been
held outside the hall. at which the Police Com
missioners were condemned in unmeasured terms.
AS eight O'Clock grew nigh, the crowd, which was
beginning feel the effect of being lett out in the
cold, became very bOfsterOus. and loud calls
were made for admission The usual force OF police
was at the several entrances, but that platoon OF
grim visaged constabulary that superintendent
hatsell was to command In person was not to be
seen. The absence and scarcity Of policemen were
a noticeable feature OF themeeting. and the unin-
formed pedestrian passing by would have thought
that only an ordinary lecture was expected. When
the doors were thrown open the rush was terrible
to endure and exciting to behold. The crowds
went pell-mel down the stone steps and several
frail individuals were seriously hurt, but not
enough to prevent them from leaving for
home soon the great influx ceased. BY ten
minutes past eight all the seats in the house were
cupied and the aisles in the hall were filed. In
the corridors outside the hall there were sta
toned, at convenient intervals for mutual protec-
81 Af tha fDnaa
Headquarters. These gentlemen declared it as
their opinion from the first that the meeting
would be o very quiet affair. As to the preserva-
tion Of the puDlic peace the sequel proved the
cellence OF their Judgment; but never was a more
bOisterOus or demOnstrative audience gathered IN
the Cooper UniOn From the time Mr.. Lilienthal
stepped forward on the platform until Mr.. Gerau
finished his speech the hall resounded to the ap-
plause OF the audience.
THE AUDIENCE
was composed for the most part of apparently in
teectual Germans, with a sprnkling of ladies' and
fanatics noticeable from the rest OF the assembly
by their decolee collars, loud neckties and flowing
locks. This last named species were loud and con-
spicuOus in their applause when anything ultra
radical was advanced by speaker. Two oil these
long haired gentlemen, who were in the mdslle
aisle, near the door, continually interrupted the
speakers by crying '.LOuder!" and they made
themselves otherwise conspicuous by request
ing Mr.. Gerau 'Ein tumble zu nelyne1aT'
The great body OF the audience went to the mees
ing evidently to get advice, judging from the man
ner in which they showed their appreciation OF
everything that pointed towards common sense.
THE STAGE .44l
The stage was not decorated in any way nothing
but the plain ecturn with it's single gas JET inter-
vening to interrupt the vista through to the back.
form were seated most Of the members OF the
Committee OF Safety OF the Internationals. great
many ladies were on the platform. but few were
visible from the auditorium, owing to their having
kept well in the rear behind their male cicerones
sh4l. THE sPEE0HEs.
DR.. F. w. LulDkTHAL called the meeting to
order. He said the union Of free thinkers were
ready to guard and protect the rights OF citizens
in this crisis. They held a meeting three days
after the riot and concluded to protest against
this fagrant violation Of the right OF free as
semDlage They had issued protest, but the
printer was afraid to be cited to Police Head
Ing which had first been decided upon, refused to
admit them to the hall because he was afraid that
the police would not like 1t. When they tried to
obtain cooper Institute the managers OF the hail
had first to consult with the Police commissioners,
to the holding OF the meeting. Elements had been
introduced. however, which tended TO disturb
81 and ne they the dig
Dr. +. W. HoEBER spoke in German He said the
only safeguards which they wanted we're those
likely 10 protect them against the clubs OF the
police Ii they could not obtain this protection
from the police they would know
HOW TO SECURE 1T OTHERWISE
They had met this evening to take some measures
against the brutality OF the New York police. The
German element was sure to respond TO This call
Of duty. vena press had sl9ndered them in
every possible manner, although German free
thinkers had greater sense OF honor and right
paper. ('Bravol Bravo!'o Tney had called them
Communists, but who could be more common than
taas Msse any Il Tere the was dT ony
right, which was on their side, aud one tyranny
and brutality. which was on the SIDE OF the New
quiet, cOsey society, which generally occupied It.
self with philosophical questions alone, took such
leading part in this matter Because the misery
and degradation OF the wOrkingmen OF New York
had appealed TO all their hearts They thought
tnat the Irish had the right to infest tue streets
once year IN honor OF some queer saint named
Patrick they might also be alo Sed to parade lOr
purpose Of their own. II Mark Flanagan mad the
the right
TO CARRY A RED FLAG.
They did not interfere with anybOdys belief, and
why should any one interfere with their Delief
even though 1t be disbeliefs lBravol'o Toe meet
ing IN Tonlpkns square was first not forbidden by
the Park commissioners, until they revoked, late
AZ night, the permission which they had already
given. The Police Commissioners had goaded
them on to this act of meanness. And why did
they not take possession OF the parkS No. they
set the wurklngmen a trap, IN order TO reve in q
butchery and a clubbing OF citizens which must
have brought blush 10 the face OF every citizen.
The police was created ior purposes OF order. yet
in rompkins square the police had created dis
order. Woe 20 the venal press which could applaud
such actions OF the police. The present crisis was
one OF vast importance. The station houses were
flied every night WITH hungry starving working
men. All ana the banker creo Communism l''
''Rabblef The Only raDDe he knew OF was that Of
the Fifth avenues The Republic was on the brink
OF A TKRRIBLE VOLCANO.
1t was duty CT society to save It's members from
death BY starvation. This condition could not
continue any longer. They had heard proposals OF
erecting public working places, pubic universities,
and the counter-cry was 'JOmmunismW What
they wanted was an investigation and
examination OF the present social laws and priv
ieges, and they wanted to do this without being
attacked by the press and dubbed by the police.
IN Belgium, IN switzerland, and In many European
countries the poor had many more privileges and
rights tnan they possessed IN this vaunted land OF
freedom. With Mirabeau they must say to the po-
lice, ave are here in the name OF the people and
to defend LheIr riQhts ,, ana II they were still