The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-25
Extracts From the Speeches
Made at the Great Lon
don Meeting.
"The Sun of Socialism Breaking
Over the Snow-CIad Hill
of Poverty"
Language "Stronger" Than the Hay
market Speeches. Yet the Pc.
lice Kept Hands Off.


rived IN the square, and their red ban.
ners, bsnnerets, and flags with caps of
llsertyon the top made a bright display.
TIE flags, which were nearly all of them
of red color, bore notices, of which
the following may serve as examples
Educate, Agltate, Organize" 1--WE De-
mand the Right to Live by Useful La.
bor." I'VE Seek not Revenge. but JUS
tice." England, 1SS6-Legal Solution
of the Labor Question-3s. day or
Twelve Lashes-Trade Unionists Arise.
Henry Shedd's Fate May be Yours
Tomorrow p The meeting was divided
into five parts-that is to say, there
were five platforms for speakers-on
the balustrade from the terrace and on
the two sides of Nelson's columns,
y John Ward said he had been out of
work for the last four weeks. He had
been called an lmpostor; but if he had
his way he would teach their oppressors
something different before very long;
and he for one was determined to have
something before long, by peaceable
means or otherwise. cheers by
peaceable means if possible, but if
peaceable means were not sufficient then
they would have fcrce. [Uheers.]
John Burns said: What a. singular
condition of society was that in which
we lived The savage starved when
the elements and nature conspired
against him but the civilized man,
when there was most bountiful har:
vest, could not get food, and the pro-
ducers were told that their misery must
be endured as they 'had over-produced."
The poverty which existed in their
midst was due to the competitive svs-
tenn, and to that capitalist system which
degraded and compelled people to be-
come automatons to obtain wealth for
their employers. Unless there was this
change brought about, then the upper
and middle classes would have to face
that Revolution which would come with
irresistible power, and which was inev-
table. The labor market was IN the
midst of Revolution; the blind Samson
of labor was regaining his sight and
strength, and he was standing by the
temple of wealth which his labor had
reared. That blind Samson was looking
at the wealth his labor had made, and
he was saying to himself that what his
strength had given bis strength could
take away. He had got his hands upon
the pillars, and he said to them, BE
ware, lest the pillars of this fabric be
pulled down." The ruin which would
be left by the act of this despairing
Sampson would be pointed out to fuutre
generations as the vengeance of men
who, when they demanded the right to
have the means to live. were met by the
ieers of the upper and middle classes,
the bludgeons of the police, and the
threats of the bayonets of the soldiery.
J. Butler The working classes had
been advised by Mr.. Chamberlain before
against going in for Revolution. and he
had drawn a horrible picture of Paris
after the Revolution. However, there
was quite as horrible picture to be seen
IN the workingmen's dwellings now
without Revolution, or, if ANYTHING,
forty times worse even than was seen in
Paris with all the horrors of the Revolu-
tion-in the shape of parents and chill
dren without food or clothing.
John Burns again spoke. He said he
was glad to say he could now call them
fellow-work men, for q gentleman he
hind him had given him job to 20 to
on Monday morning. He declared that
he was addressing 25 600 people there,
and said he was wonderfully struck
with the manner in which they had
cheered every Revolutionary sentence
which had baen uttered. This showed,
be said, that the class struggle had. be-
gun, and that the fight was not far off.
ICheers. Bv the action of the upper
classes women were forced upon the
streets and men were forced into the
army, but these white-faced slaves
would never give them another Peterloo.
The sun of Socialism was breaking over
the snow-clad hills of, poverty, misery,
and distress, and he called upon them
to enjoy the nselves in it's warmth giving
rays. He urged them 20 join hands with
the Socialists. and make the Revolution
of the working classes, bv the working
classes, for the working classes, rather
lively for the drones. [Cheers.l He
called upon them to show that they
were men and workers, and wanted the
full value of their labors and their lives
Then they would be true men and true
Social Democrats.
A resolution condemning IN bitter
terms some of the so-called labor lead
ers of the Joseph Arch stripe, who lick
the feet of ROYALTY" was introduced.
After the resolution had been put and
carried by acclamation, Burns waved
the red flag and called for three cheers
for the Social Revol ution. The cheers
:. we're given over and over again, Burns
continuing to wave the red flag. :
GContiued on fourth page.