Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
LARGE LABORERS' MEETING
AIMS OF THE KNIGHTS or LABOR
-rlH DEFINED.
A Long Address Endorsed by the
Enthnsiassic Applause of the udi-
ence-What the knights Of Labor
Have Accomplished.

The meeting held at Institute Hall on
Saturday evening under the auspices of
the Knights Of Labor packed the building
far beyond its seating capacity, with an
audience thoroughly appreoiative and
highly enthusiastic. The assemblage was
made up almost exclusively of working
men and directly TO them the speaker,
Richard Trevellick, directed his address.
Punetually to the time for opening the
meeting some two score, or 30 Of gentle
men, decorated in blue boutonnieres were
escorted to the platform. Among them
were Mr.. Richard Trevellick of Detroit,
Mich, and Messrs Eli Dickinson, M.
Colwell, James R. Sands, Arthur Sulli-
van, John w. Hilyard, Thomas Patton,
E. j. Downing, Z. l.. Carpenter, s. S.
Bishop and others of Wilmington repre-
senting local lodges.
A few moments were devoted to elect
ing chairman and secretary, Messrs.
Eli Dickinson and M. Oolwell, when the
former in few words introduced the
speaker Of the evening Mr.. Richard
Trevellick, who addressing the audience
said; There are one or two requests that
l desire TO make of you previous to
Nht0AAk uPOh bupJtObs hwy
that whatever l say will you be kind
enough to refrain from making any Kind
of applause, one only can talk at time
have come here to talk to your heads
not to your feet. Now, my friends, it
was my unfortunate lot to be sailor 90
years Of my life. During that time, by
some strange fatality, or blessed and
holy influence outside of myself, was
nax "a, To lrinlr pftk think Uil
mington is the most sober town 1 was
ever in inmy life. They don't allow their
speaker even drink of water. Laughter.
The chairman stated that the aims and
object of the knights of Labor would be
given to you tonight. l hope to be able
to do 30 so that all, educated and unedu-
Gated alike may clearly comprehend what
this movement is. During the last five
the American people the organization has
been called some very hard names, but
shall not retaliate. II is said we arc Il bad
body because some Of our members get
drunk. Well, Mr. Chairman, Iapprehend
IL is true. But then I've seen lawyers
and Judges drunk; but then would not
condemn the whole Judiciary and bar
because certain isolated individuals
were chuBut uOluR WiOhBs huNo
seen congressman also carried out of the
House in q similar condition but don't
wish the reporters to represent me as
trading against the whole lower House of
Congress on that account. 1t is written
that when the Nazarene lived in Jerusalem
he gathered from among the people IL
apostles, Now, no one, whether he be
saint.or sinner will presume to say that
u. ,s1k s,1ta l.,.N he
got one Judas, andrif you can get along
with less than 80 in such a crowd as this
you may be doing we'll. Laughter. We
can't take hold of mems minds and say
you shall not drink. But if you go out
into an assembly or in public drunk, we'll
publish you.
Men claim sometimes that the public
speaker or writer should launch imme-
diately into the subject under discussion.
There are two ways by which We can de-
liberate. First, by studying the laws of
the past and then apply that knowledge
to present circumstances. 1t is necessary
to investigate the past and the ciyiliza-
lions that have arisen and passed away.
Surprising Delaware sailor, having
charge of a ship, and while sailing along
the coast, discover some coral reef not
yet located upon the government charts.
II would be his duty to mark ii down in
latitude and longitude and report to the
government in order that other mariners
following after him may be warned.
Now history is to the reader what the
lighthouse or chart is to the sailor. II
tells of the mistakes and weaknesses OF
nations that posterity may be enlight-
ened. We are told that the organization
of workingmen and sworking-women is
dangerous to the state and government.
II that be the case want to leave the
Knights of Labor. If their tendency is
TO undermine society to introduce
anarchy would be the first to leave
them. But l say deiantly in this hall
dare the ''face of clay" to show me in
the past history of any civilized land
where art or science has shown itself that
there were not labor organizations exist
ing there.
You, my friends, who are not sailors, put
on your sou westers and sea boots aud take
ship with me. will not make You sick
We will cross the Atlantic and land in til,
old city of Rome. Look at the dome O
st. Peters, its splendid facade, its sym
metry, and then, after being shadowet
by its magni6cence, ponder in reflection
over the labor and skill that encompasset
its actual structure. Let us then strik
northwest and crossing the English chan
mel cast anchor below London Bridge
view st. Paurs Cathedral, the gloriou
workmanship of Sir Christopher Wren
then turn to Westminster Abbey, tina
poem in stone. Passing down the Thame
again we fit back across the channel an
worship in Paris the beautiful churcl
of the Magdalen. These are all result
of organized labor. Every singl
line you find today in the worl
are parts of Greek architecture. Nc
single line has been adde
TO our knowledge since those ancien
days. Who, rs architect or builder woul
dare add single measure, either in Dori
or Ionic, Tuscan, Corinthian, Gothic
Norman. Even to change one line woul
be saorilege. Now, is this trueY II SC
then young men, let uR stopand conside
Your value will depend ON your int
lectual knowledge and not your physica
Did it ever occur to you that in old AtheI
900 public baths were kept at public o.
pense that men and women could kee
clean? How many of you whom adore
can afford weekly bath If you do yc
must double up and crowd yourself in
N6EH bBhCGf LO1 btACnA6 y
proper comfort. You have not the faci
ties for keeping yourselves as clean, pc
sonally, as had the ancients, and indee
I've seen some of you who would ha
10 be soraped with a grub hoe
order to become any way presentabl
Some young men among you say, oh,
don't want history. Well, what do y
want ? Referring to Rome again, we n
that through the long period OF b
existence us a republic, up to the date
her decline, that every mechanic, eve
tradesman wore the badge of his ord
his guild, or his trade. The laws
their trade unions were strictly adher
to, and they formed apower in the sta
when Rome was in the acme OF its l
publican glory. Among them there w
no rats nor scabs, MS you nj
with you. Applause. Caesar t.
his ar-scarred legions, varit
regiments recruited from the dill
ent guilds, each branch OF tri
represented in individual corps to
Gallo territory and with the stout NJ
of the wood-workers and iron-work
bearing aloft the invineiblo Roman ca
crossed the English channel and inva'
Britain about so years before the brit
Christ. You see thus that labor orgt
cations did exist in past history that =
were recognized condition OF soclet,
valued aid and the strongest arm OF
nation. But, returning to Rome,
victorious legions, the life and yigoo
the nation, found the senate halls n
with an effete nobility who had gradu
enriched themselves at the expo
of the artisans rights. They