Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-29
Sovereigns of Industry.

The following is the address of President
Earle at the meeting fthe National Council
in Philadelphia, W eek before last
Brothers and Sisters Of The National Cotn-
ell Of Ue Sovereigns Of MdHstry:-With JOY
and pride greet you here to-day, fresh from
the forge, the factory, tho farm, and work
shop--truest representatives of our own ma
tons Industries, the creators of her wealth,
the soul Of her life, the strength of her pow
er, and her only assurance of success and
prosperity. 1t seems to me like vision
that only one year ago to-day few Of us
now here assembled met for the first time
strangers to each other rs individuals, but
as mechanics and workingmen. the friends
Of labor. Fer eight days and nights we
earnestly sought to inaugurate some plan
whereby more of Gods blessed sunshine of
peace and plenty might be permitted to come
to the hearts and homes of the laboring peo-
pie of our land.
Clearly seeing that the surplus labor of the
nation, Its wealth, was being constantly CEN
tered in the hands of the few, while the
many were denied their just share in many
Of the commonest blessings that wealth be-
slows, we earnestly sought to consider the
present relations of capital and labor. We
saw corporations so rich that thoy are able
to control the governing power, and have
the laws adjusted to suit themselves. We
felt that our boosted republic even may be-
come the most despotic form Of government
| if its power continues to reside in moneyed
monopolies, land conscience, truth and
honesty are made to rise and tall like other
wares of trade" We were convinced that
the laboring classes must learn to protect
themselves by nobler and better means than
strikes and riotous demonstrations; that
they must study for themselves the grave
responsibilities of selfgoveinment, and find
that they cannot be shirkcd by any class of
citizens.
Those who blndly follow any party, and
thus suffer others to do their thinking for
them, will in the end find themselves robbed I;
although "to follow foolish precedent, and
wink with both our eyes, is easier than to
think" We know that in every state tho
strongest force rules while it is the stron-
gest, and clearly SEQ that in every state the
workingMon and women, the instant they
combine, will become the strongest force,
the ruling power. To effect this comblna-
ton and secure its consequent blessings tho
Order of the Sovereigns of Industry WAS
formed. In tho language of our preamble,
by all the wise and kindly measures it can
command il will present organized resist
ancc to the organized encroachments of the
monopolies and other evils of the existing
industrial and commercial system. 1t will
try to establish better system of economi-
cal exchanges, and to promote on basis OF
equity and liberty mutual fellowship and CO.
operative action among the producers and
consumers of wealth throughout tho earth.
We wage no war with persons or classes,
but only with wrongs, discords and hard
ships, which have existed too long. We
most earnestly deprecate hatred, jealousy,
or envy between classes, and call on all peo-
Pile to be Of one mind in the spirit of justice
We abhor every scheme of agTarlanism OF
violence and shall use only such instrument
Utilities rs are sanctioned by demonstrated
principles of moral philosophy and social
science, the universal interests of humanity
and philanthropy rising impartially above
all distinctions of class, sex, creed, race, or
nationality" Two months after our first or
ganization it was found necessary to call a
special session of the National Council Ia
alter and amend our constitution and perfect
legislation. which at first, from haste and in
experience, was unwisely and immaturely
done. In fact, our movement may he said
to have been fairly inaugurated ut this spe-
cial session last March. Upon the adoption
Of our present constitution new election of
officers was held. Brother A. l.. Burbank
of Worcester, was elected secretary. but hi,
private business would not permit him L
personally devote the necessary time which
the duties of that Office required, and he re-
signed, and the Executive Committee ap
pointed the present Incumbent Brother J
ButIerfcld, of Boston. In starting such an
organization there are many obstacles Il
overcome; and first we found multitud,