The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-17
Socialists, aHass.sFeesansin Baltimore.

parlance an ."agitation meeting" was held
last night in the hall at No. 81 west Balti-
more street. The hall was only partially
filed. Mr. John Elliott called the meeting
to order, and acted as chairman, announc-
ING the sneakers, &c. The meeting was or
dcrlv, some o. the sentiments uttered draw
ing forth loud and hearty applause, and II
was noticed that words in the remarks or
the principal speaker strongly asserting the
rights OF the sociaIistic laborers, rs under
stood by themselves. and the dernier resort
TO revolution to maintain them were very
earnestly endorsed.
The first speaker was Mr.. S. w. Pierce.
somewhat prominent among the labor
reformers as a candidate OF the work
incmen's party for sheriff in 1876. lie
IS recorded in the City Directory as
provision dealer. His speech was read
from some thirty pages OF note paper, close
" written. Mr.. Pierce said that when the
joborine men, as trade organizations or
otherwise, band together to assert what theT
regard as inalienable rights, they are assaiied
BIZ that capitaiistic cnginery Of oppression,
the "daily press" denounced IS ''commu-
nists" and "sociaists," brotherhood OF
thieves and murderers," &c. "Throush-
out the entire country" he sad. reaaing
from his manuscript, "there is not daily
newspaper which has sufficient candor ana
fairness to meet with manly argument Inc
propositions presented by labor. .
By the side OF this hcrculean advocate OF
opnreSsion stands Giant companion the
Church. we supposed of equal II not supe-
rior proves, striving together for the MAIN
tenancc oil political and religious dogmas de,
signed TO perpetuatc class distinction anu
class rule. [Applause.]
ono doubt they will say this man Is an
tout-and-out communist We'll, il COM
munism means rcyolutionizing our present
system OF society, ! plead guilty to the
charge. IGreat appIause.l Believing as
do that the laws regulating our Socictary
relations are inimical to the welfare OF q
large majority OF our population, Lucknow
ledge myself iconoclastic enough to desire
their abolition. Though earnest in my
convictions as to The necessity for the abo.
lition OF the present minority ag@randlZe-
mert OF all that renders life desirable, yet l
do not-nor do any, | believe, who are ag!-
tuting the labor qGestion-deslrc tue ac-
complisbment OF these aims by or through
confusion, bloodshed, or riot, but to
reach our purpose through the agitation
Of thought TO the confinement OF the
minds of our opponents OF the absolute
Justice OF our demands. We propose TO eX-
haust all peaceful measures, to resort to every
method known to law and order, and then,
if we fail, ask, what may be legiimateIy
expected? The only answer to TINS ques-
ton may be summed up in the word 'reVo'
iution.' TGrcat applause.
"That the downfall OF the present in
equitable system is inevitable | am con-
yinced. 1t has been weighed in the balance
OF the centuries and is written all over,
Meme. meme, tekft, uphGrSj1.' | do not
hesitate to say that, looking ut the condition
OF labor to-day, and judging from the
symptoms manifested in every department
OF industry. that peaceful solution is i'm
probable. [Applause.]
1.-THE principles Of the socialistic labor
party are well stated by John Hales, gene
raj secretary OF the international Society,
for the object is the same under whatever
name labor is organized. 1t represents the
interests OF labor alone. 1t looks upon the
human race as one family, and seeks to unite
the workers OF all countries in one fraternal
band, aims ut the reconstruction OF society
on Il labor basis. 1t considers labor OF brain
or hand the only condition OF citizenship,
and claims for every person born the right
to labor on condition that they perform a
fair share OF the labor required of society.
1t guarantees to all the liberty to live in
stead OF the liberty TO starNe, which they
now possess.
"No person has any power 10 give, grant,
or sell land, but only his improvements. NO
government can be delegated this power.
Therefore all titles to land, except for its
useful occupation and culture, are OF no
more validity than q bill OF sale OF human
being. Profits beyond compensation for the
labor rerformed-th is. speculation in the
products OF labor--is indefensiblc on any
principlcs OF justice, and only service per-
formed in the production, transporting,
or vending OF commodities is the clement
OF cost, and therefore of price"
Among the principles announced were the
abolition of all class rule and class privi-
leges, complete political and social equality,
naturalization OF land and all the instru'
mcnts OF production, Z reduction OF The
hours OF labor so as TO allow more time FOL
Improvement and recreation.
Education to he undertaken by the State,
TO be obligatory, gratuitous, industrial, ano
secular. No religious differences or creed,
10 be recognized, religion being regarded a;
Il speculative subject concerning the indt
yidrEll alone.
The substitution OF direct system OF tax
alton based or property instead OF the pre-
sent system of levying taxation on industry
tie taxation to be progressive.
Abolition OF standing armies as being
provocative OF war. Adoption OF the prln
ciple Of associative production with view
to the complete suppression OF the present
competitive system OF production.
Every human being has an equal and IN
alicnable right to all material wealth
namely, to land, air, water, light. ana all the
other primitive productions OF the cath
and to the free and unrc.trlcted use OF
them, so far as is necessary for bis or llel
maintenance. and therefore no human being
can have any right to sell OF convey any OF
these rights to his fellow, and can rlghtfully
traffic only in his or her own time or labor
and the product Of the same. No power
can be delegated to government not pos
sessed by the individual. All governments
exercising powers not delegated to them are
usurpationS or fraud.
A circulating medium that does not Sc
cure an exchange Of the products OF labor
is not a true standard OF value; that de-
mand and supply regulate price is O fallacy.
Cost, the labor, services, sacrifices, risks
these costs are the standard, and should be
the limit OF price. The speaker said they
had followed the iynis .fataus Of the. Demo
cratic and Republican parties until we'll
nigh bereared, and now call on all TO unite
in these principles and objects. lie was
followed by NJ. j. Wholley. j. p. Hudson
and others spoke, but added nothing new
to what the first speaker said. The meet
ing quietly adjourned.
The Orange excitement still agitatcs Can
ada. Samuel Kelley, young Brlton, on