The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-25

Lecture Before tho Workingmen's Ly.
ceum on the Expediency OF Political
Action Among the Trades.

ceum on the Expediency Of Political
Action Among the Trades.
At meeting OF the workingmen's Lyceum, at
their rooms in Cooper Institute, last evening, J.
w. r. Hill presiding, . lecture was delivered by
Mr.. c. Osborne Ward ON "The Expediency Of Po-
litical Action by the Trade Unions.n
The speaker started ON the principle that no
form OF political democracy as we nna 1t can make
the people happy. We want an industrial form OF
government. He then went on to show the differ
ence between monarchicai government and our
own. The former was ring; the latter was ring
OF rings. The great question in our case was how
to break up these rings, which were the result OF
the contract system. All the industries OF the
world were conducted under this system,
and hence the corruption and lObbyism which
reigned supreme. And 1t was the industrial
classes that were the cause OF this corruption, for
they allowed themselves to be used Just as 1t
pleased their rulers. The working classes were
kept divided; one half was forced to starve In
order that the other half might be held in check.
Had we fitting representatives in our Legislature
this could not happen, but precisely here comes in
the question OF the day. 1t was true that our gov
eminent was the best in the world, but still
among all the departments at Washington it was
noticeable that we had not Department OF
Labor. with it's bureau OF industrial affairs. The
speaker then went on to show how monopOlists
ruled the working classes taking the instance Of
the railroad monopoly, and showing what differ
ence there would be in the cost OF transportation
ii the people had control OF the railroads, which
they really owned. That difference would be over
rve hundred per cent in the peoples favor. There
lay the cause OF the present panic. There
were in this country 10000 lineal miles OF
railroad, the profit from which was Sle6 600 ooo,
debt within twelve years. There were now being
constructed an additional 10000 miles of road. On
the railroads OF the country there were 49O,OOo
men employed at wage OF So rs q dag, and
every man Of them, OF course, voted in the rail.
road interest. These railroads were and
manipulated by twenty men. In the government OF
the country 100000 Office holders controlled us,
having under them 100000 employees, including
the army and navy-neither OF which he believed
should be IN existence IN any country. The gov
eminent monopoly was better than the railroad
the 800 rulers than twenty: The whole people
should be the rulers, ana the worklngmen
would eventually become educated up TO
few monopollsts, should be the rulers.
All should be included In the Ring. The tendency
olgovernment was that 1t should do as the people
wiiied but the trouble was that the people were
wheedled into consentng to a position which they
should pronounce against. Thence the necessity
OF united action; that all should unite in securing
universal cooperation in governing and being gov
erned. 1t was true that this could not be brought
about at once; but by keeping before their minds
the motto OF unconditional emancipation" as
Phillips and Garrison did in the cause OF the
ally become disenthralled. In concluding the
speaker alluded TO the grants OF land and money
which the railroad kings had received from govern
ment, and. while he was glad that workingmen
should hold high places IN the legislative halls and
elsewhere, he was also glad that their hands
should never have known the soil which mo-
nopoIy had put upon the hands Of all purchased
legislators and Ot1ice-holders
A few remarks were made by others on the SUBJ
ject matter of the lecture, one speaker urging the
trade unions to endeavor to ascertain the total
number OF men now out Of employment in this
city, with view to having accurate data to lay
before the Legislature.
A resolution, which had been lying on the table
since previous meeting, was taken up at the
business portion of last evenings session, concern
ing the sending Of delegates to the meeting OF the
Central Union, next Saturday evening, in Masonic
Beeney, Austin, Wolfe, Davis Carsey, Kingat and
Hill were elected as delegates: A letter from MIR.
Pierce Odell OF Hartsdale. Westminster county,
asking that the Lyceum hold general meeting Of
workingmen IN Cooper Institute on April ID. the
birthday OF Thomas Jefferson, and one on Feb
ruary II, the birthday of Horace Greeley, was
favoraDly considered; but no definite action was
taken upon the suggestions last evening.