The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-16
MIR. HEWITT AND KE4RNEY.
Exsetiy what the Congressman Meant in His
Speech TO the Columbia Boys.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: On
Saturday last addressed some remarks to tho
alumni and undergraduates Of Columbia Col
lcge. In which cndoavorcd to enforce the obll-
gation resting upon all classes OF citizens to
discharge their political duties and called at
tcntion to the fact that the public spirit which
formerly characterized tho graduates of tho
college appeared to have fallen into decay
These remarks were made without even SO
much as q notc 81 preparation. and II some
fallen from my lips II would bo unfair to hold
me responsible for II. especially as left town
Immediately after the meeting. and did not re-
wise tho reporters notca.
On my return TO the city yesterday found an
extremely courteous but ANONYMOUS letter,
taking exceptions TO the phrase which. in THE
Sun | am reported TO have uttered. calling
upon the graduates Of the college to arise and
govern the country" As Ihad no recollection
Of having used these words. and IA on tho fnce
Of them they would be absurd, and contradict
what said elsewhere ns ~ universal suffrage.
which declared to be tho bond taken 10y the
poor from the rich, and upon which rests the
Government Of the country. have examined
the reports in the other newspapers and thus
discovered that there is unusual discrepancy be-
tween them as TO what did say. The HerdM
report. however, accords more nearly with my
recollection. ana expresses what ] intended to
say. The language as there reported 10:
Now there is no means OF rc.i.ng this chaotic state
qss s" IN s Ts piTCSa d tea NJ
d E cArp, yen ,Sgns t ,p train ycgre
MY ilea ia that this Government is based
upon the intelligence and virtue Of the people
and its pcrpetuity can only be insured by com
batting Ignorance and vice. wherever and in
whatever shape II may show itself. | have nh
solute faith In universal suffrage. but II must
be instructed and enlightened by intelligent
discussion. which cannot be- had If the edu-
Gated separate themselves Into an exclusive
class and neglect TO take an active and earnest
pnrt in the administration OF public Affairs.
The lnboring Glasses " as they are called have
the greatest possible interest in good govern
ment. and commend them FOR compelling
college graduates and professional men gener-
ally TO wake up to the duties imposed upon
them by the possession oi social influence and
EDUCATION. II the present unrest ana agitation
shall bring about this result. II will he fortunate
for all classes There il no portion Of the COM
munity who Tprcciatc better the value Of train
ing and skill Tor special work than the mechan-
ics and artisans Of New York. They see through
the utter nonsense Of the teachings which
would lead them to believe that thcy under
stnnd the art of government better than those
who have carefully studied its principles and
practice
| Observe in your paper to-day that section
OF the National Greenhack Labor party has do
nEounced me e, lor appyi ne the n word ioTy to
melancholy fact that there IRE poorer classes
whose sad condition at the present time arouses
the sympathy OF every right minded man. and
calls for every POSSIBLE measure OF relief. To
these classes did apply the word lowly. e" as
n tender and expressive cpthet Of sympathy.
| do not think that they will take exception to
II, but | can readily understand that persons
who have never heard OF the meek and lowiy
reproach or course II never fell from my lips
IN any such sense. II suffering shall ever dis
appear from the social organization. il will be
due To the teachings of Him who laid the foun-
dations OF human justice in the law OF love. and
not from the pernicious doctrines Of misguided
men. who insist that money can be- created with
out labor. and that capital Is the enemy Of labor.
Between these dangerous teachers and myself
thcr. IL an impossible gult. believe them To
bc the worst enemies of the working classes.
and for that reason denounce them AMI their
doctrines rs alike dangerous 10 order and de-
structive to the cominonwealth. The working
classes want work and not words. They desire
10 earn wages and not TO pay assessments for
the support of dcmagoguos who prey upon
their sranty earnings. They want their wages
paid TO them in real money. the coin" of the
Constitution. the product OF labor fairly ex-
pended, and not in irredcemahe paper which
can be produced in unlimited quantities by
the printing press without the expenditure
| OF labor. and will soon become worthless.
They want not only a iar days wage for u
| fair day 5 work. but they want the substance
and not the shadow. The demagogues who are
| trying to mislcad the workingmcn have diff
| ferent purpose They desire only to be- paid
| for doing nothing but talk. Ii Is therefore an
| Indispensable part Of their scheme to represent
| that money can be and Is produced without
| desire 81 II. between such blind leaders Of
the blind and myself there is and ever will he
war 10 tho knife. | have steadily denounced in
| Congress all such schemes for making the
| poor poorer and the rich richer. and shall con-
| iinue the struggle until. with sound currency
based on coin. and nothing else. We can build
anew the structure Of industry. and start once
moro upon a career OF national prosperity.
which has only been interrupted because We
| unwlsoly departed from the money OF the Con-
| stituion. Ne one appreciates more fully than
| do how much suffering the working classes
have b'en subjected To from bad financial lcgis-
| latiOn. hut We are now on the roud to recovery.
| which can only be prevented by return 10 the
| bad system Of finance which has produced such
| caamitous results. Let III take no step back
| ward, hut stand firm for honest measures hon
est labor. honest money and honest men.
ADRIAN ;. HEWITT.