Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-18
Property and Labor.

A Lecture By B. Moves at Goes Opera
 House-A Plan for Homestead Exemp-
 tion Laws.
 Last evening was the time appointed for the free lecture by MT. B. Moves on Proper ty and Labor'' at Goes Opera House The house was well filled by an intelligent audi ence, among whom were a number of ladies. Soon after o'clock the lecturer, accompan- jed by Judge Blydenburgh, appearedupon the stage and was greeted by a clapping of hands.
 Judge Blydenburgh in few appropriate remarks introduced MT. Moves, who, on rising, said: Fellow citizens, this is the first time in my experience while addressing an audience that have been compelled to use notes, hav- ing always rested upon the general informa- tion of the subject which I proposed to discuss. Soon after my return from Etfor- eign land" was asked by kind friend if I had written anything of interest during my absence. handed him some manuscript to which had devoted some time in prepara- ton, and on returning it to me he requested that should deliver public lecture on the subject matter contained therein. After deiberation I concluded to make the experiss ment, and therefore am before you this
 
 my absence, on ''The Relations of Property and Labor" Continuing, the speaker said |: Every citizen is bound to acquaint himself with the sources of prosperity of his country We would naturally suppose that the world after existing four thousand years would have before this settled down to the business of 1 life.
 Eighteen hundred and eighty years ago there was new beginning, under which man could take new start in the problem of life Kings, governors and lawmakers are still 1 playing that problem. It may be that in the ] darkness of this age we can gather light from darkness itself. We send missionaries to Smyrna and India to convert the heathen while we send shot and shell to convert the Indians of America. No government has stood or can stand, unless upon the princi- pie of protection to the operatives of the country. Why is not to-day a good time to pause and consider? Is it not time to con- suit the great power behind the throne, the 1 operatives of the country, who build our great works, our engines and locomotives and all our great Improvements These men are worth consulting Capital cannot get along without labor or labor without capital We look at this nation and it is strong and proud of success. Laborers and operatives are.focking to our shores. The rich want more, and the poor want more, and we find that the majority have not as much as the Arab who owns his tent. The great question of labor has not been settled, because it has not been settled right. The laborer must have an anchorage in this country somewhere How is that matter to be brought about :? Make the people freeholders and you make them men. Every State and Nation is equally interested in this matter The inheritance that God gave to man must be restored. Let it become the law of the land that every man when he has paid for it, and the great problem will be worked out. The laborer is paying double the interest he ought to pay on the house he rents Let 8 man pay what he pays for rent on house of his own and he will soon be the possessor of it. How changed would this or any other State be after the laborers and operatives had become owners of their homes What is 1t that sends people to this country except the hope of getting a strip of land of their own? We have under our government thirty eight States under as many different govern ments, so that nothing but railroads and tele- graphs can go through this country in the discharge of business without license. The speaker here urged a system of savings banks that should be particularly guarded under the laws of theState, and which should take as small sums as five cents. Jails, prisons and poor houses, said the speaker are bad things Let us make better laws and laws that will make people better and thereby do away with these institutions. Children require to be looked after and taken care of, and it is the double duty of the State to take care of them, which 1t cannot do without proper exemption laws Every child is a child of the Government and owes it allegiance If perpetuate this nation it must be under a uniform govern ment that shall protect capital and labor alike. On the contrary, if capital and labor disagree and fight, the nation must fall. Thomas Jefferson, when speaking for the people, said all men were entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The operatives of the United States should demand national homestead law, and then the problem will be accomplished as sure as Washington defeated the British forces in the Revolution. Let us be determined to own homestead, though the first payment be but one-fourth of dollar There is no feature more pleasing than harmony between labor and capital. The burden which the capitalist is called upon to bear is greater than you can comprehend. Having nothing to do with the grand result we should try to be friendly toward capital. In whatever we do, we should, however, try to save the homestead. The highest tone of morality but it cannot be done while capital and labor are trying to pull the cords asEnder.
 When the speaker concluded he was greet ed with applause.
 After the lecture, MT. Moves was congratu- lated by large number of prominent busi- ness men, who were present, on his success as lecturer. The subject matter of his lec- ture was also warmly commended by these gentlemen