The New York herald., 1877-10-12
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

ADDRESS OF ELLIOT c. cowDIN AT THE SEMI.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, ON CAPITAL AND
LABOR.
The American institute OF the city Of Nex York
celebrated us senccntcnnia anniversary AZ the In
s,iiuie building Third avenue and sixty second
street last evening. The spacious hall was we'll aied
and the hum OF machinery was well nigh drowned in
that Of voices Tho visitors 10 tho exhibition through
out tho day came chiefly from along the limo OF the
Long Island Railroad O. 900 excursion tickets 10 thu
ciy having been soid. At thors wore g. 600 vs-
ilors ia tho building. Shortly afscr eight o'clock in
the evening Elliot c. Cowdin mounted tho band stand
ia tho nam building and delivered the anniversary
address Hc reviewed tho history OF the Institute ai
somo length from its foundation In 1927 until the
present day, aud mentioned noteworthy faot that
from tho arst in years Of prosperity and adversy In
peace In war; this institution has Jailed TO
hold its annual tair.
al IL possible place the splendid display Of
the present fair side by sido with OF tho earlier
held by this Instituie,n said the speaker 1--WE
should have before striking proofs OF the marvel
ous progress OF the country within that period In
those pursuits that advancethe interests enhance
The comforts, enlarge tho knowledge reare the taste
and improve in multiplicity Of ways the condition
OF society" Then he turned gracefully to the subject
OF labor and capl,aof which he said, mo place
this subject than the anniversary OF association
whose chci aim to promote and ard those
tons that depend for their advancement nay, for
their very existence, the corporation OF
capital and labor. There IS nothing either In
capital or labor that should make them antagonstic
Capiia Is OF no valuc without labor and labor cannot
flourish without capital Mutually dependent upon
ono another they ought always to DO allies and
ciety aud governments should cherish and protect
both. These pfopos tons scli-cvidont that
would think they commanded universal and unques.
uoning assent Unfortunately tho fatal iAIlacy tnat
capital amt labor arc cnemies that all capitalists
despois and all laborors slaves, Ands crodence with
masses OF men tho OLD World and has even per.
vertcd many minds IN the new. We hear mucn Just
now OF the rights OF labor But has the aboring man
any rights except those ho holds in common with
OF his fellow cizsnss SO. the other hand. tho
capitalist has NO right 10 any exclusive privileges.
DEFY AS we may difcr IN capacity and opportu ntes
equal rights before tho law Is the privilege Of every
American citizen, regardless Of blrtn, cond
tion.'
WEAKNESS COMMUNISM.
The speaker then gave vivid description OF the
horrors Of the Paris Commune, whose atrocities. he
said, were manly inspired by those modern regcner
sociation Of workingmon. Arc you FULLY conscious,
Mr. President, that emissares oI this IN.
In our must srdonuy engaged IN an
attempt TO niiame workinRmen against their employ.
crs ana to inculcate the belief that Shey are ther
natural enemies? IL Is matter oil congratulation,
however, that n late attempted Comm munst demon
s,ra,ion IN tho city OF Now York WAS complete
failure. He is q shallow and presumptuous person
who would attempt To undervaue the intelligence ol
the working classes OF America Knowing, as they
do thonecessity tor An absolute identity oi interests
between employer and employed they viii never adopt
tho frantc iocs OF crazy Uopians or sclseeking agi
tators Even the most plausible and insinuaiing ad,
vocates OF Communism have made lew proselytes On
this side OF the Atlantic. Tho American workingmau
stands vantage ground which is wanting 10 hill
TRANSATLANTIC brother. With us labor Is irce. NJ
man 10 bound 10 work for another unless he
chooses TO do No can be compelled 10 accept
or any rate OF wages or submit TO any special
rules relating to his employmcnt unless he agrecs
thereto. Any aborer has right 10 use nll his in1u
enee IN peaceful methods 70 persuade others W stop
work al certain rates unless thoy under contract
continue; Dut hc has no right TO coerc0 his follow
laborors TO working on any conditions they SEQ
| ut 10 make or agree to. Every man Is ut hborty 10
work Us lew or many hours pcr day al he choOscs
OF us his physical condition Will warrant On the other
hHnd, capitalists have an uhqusstlonablo right to
| make such contracts, ruI0s and regulations may
be necessary To promote the best Interests OF tnsu
| business, Il well Tor the maintc tcnance OF good
ordor-aiways mindful That their welfare and that Of
their workmen arc inseparsbie. The wages system,
doubtless, admits OF improvements Capital, and
especially corporate capital s sometimes oppressive
But there nothing novel this nnd fear Tho time
tho aces OF the poor, and some OF tho poor WI not
bcgrudge the privileges OF the rich. Labor. IN ita
diversified Iorns, IL thc natural lot Of The high.
est III society only obtained by autyc and
persistent Industry by unrcenting iaburabor OF tho
| bead ana labor OF tue hand, Brains not iss1
worthy OF consideration than musces No trades
| unions or riotous strikes or loveng legislation
suspend tho operation OF the inexorabe law that has
both combined. must be sold Tor what Il viii bring
Every description OF service and MI the professions
placed IN competition, and the most int0llis aud
energetic are the most successful
upon legislation but upon mi lcllgcnce sobriety
Industry economy integrity aud the silent operaIion
vi those economic laws that move straight onward
despite the senshness OF capital or tho clamor oi