Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-07-07
THE SOCIALIST PICNIC.
The Radicals Celebrate the Fourth-A
Composite Speech.


celebrated in New York this year.
Among the many social celebrations that
of the Socialists was the greatest, both
as to numbers and as to that untrans-
latable quality, GemiHhchkeH. The chill
dren, of which there were many pres
ent, were provided with extraordinary
amusements and presents. The Social
list Turner Society gave fine exhibition
of muscular socialism; the Progressive
Musical Union rendered excellent music;
there was a pyrotechnic display in the
evening, and dancing till you couldn't
rest. There were speeches, too, which
were heard by but few of the thousands
who were there. Four speakers were
announced, and three of them appeared
before the great crowd, who were en-
gagged in amusing themselves and their
little ones. The following " composite
report gives fair idea of the Socialist
conception of the significance of the
Glorious Fourth. They said in effect:
"The whole country is pretending to
celebrate an event which but few who
shout 50 vociferously comprehend the
significance of. Indeed, the American
people have long ceased to live up to
their magnificent creed. Part of them
are afraid of it, for fear it will arouse
the dormant spirit of rs in the breasts
of their brothers. These frightened
Americans are those who have accumu-
lated great wealth, and the manner in
which they have accomplished this
would be branded as dishonest in the
light of that spirit which gave to us,
nay, to the world, the Declaration of
Independence.
And the other part-the Americans
who have toiled faithfully, who have
lived in the belief that our great govern
ment would always be shield to every
citizen, no matter how humble; who
have religiously lighted the firecracker
and spun the pinwheel as anniversary
after anniversary has rolled around
what of them! Many of them still toll
| on and trust in the Lord of their fathers
to lead them finally out of bondage
| when they are dead. Well, an emanci-
patton that involves the death of the
freedman is somewhrt Objectionable to
some of us, and 80 we have sought
another way out of the dilemma. We
see that the wealth created by labor is
raked in by few, and their possessions
give them more power to continue their
| accumuations, at the expense of the
sweat and lives of the workers. Indeed,
it has become a political question,
and the very thing limited at
by the American Declaration of
Independence has come to pass:
A long train of usurpations and abuses
is robbing the people-the working peo-
ple-of their freedom. They are com
PEELED to ask some private individual for
a chance to earn living. Certainly no
freedom there! They are compelled to
compete with each other and thus reduce
their wages-they get still less of the
wealth they create and rightfully own
Yes, American citizens do this-native-
born Americans with the stars and stripes
floating over their thoughtless heads
They pay some other individual for the
privilege of dwelling upon the face of the
earth, and they can't even die and be
buried unless their friends pay for the
privilege, except their bodies and their
memory is dishonOred, as far as it is in
the power of an unorganized society to
| dishonor the dead
There have been labor parties and
labor parties, one advocating the increase
| of greenbacks, another advocating the
| abolition of monopolies, another advo-
eating the taxation of land values, and we
don't know but what there are some who
! even advocate the election of sOcalled
| republican or democratic candidates for
salaried officers with patronage and
Doodle thrown in. Well, as for the abo-
lition of private monopolies, and de-
mands of that kind, there is no objection,
but the trouble is that our friends ne
glect to tell us what lcW and who will
abolish the evils we suffer under.
But the despised reds" the men who
in all countries are organized under a
symbol whose color the democrats are
pretending to love this year, these so
cialists offer platform that reminds one
| of the memorable instrument signed one
hundred and twelve years ago to-day.
A platform that breathes freedom, equal
ity and fraternity. A platform, more
| over, that not only points out our desires,
| but also furnishes the evidence of their
ultimate triumph. A platform based on
| history, on fact. Read it, study it, YOU
who are not already convinced. Read it
before you Judge debate it with your
| fellow wortmen. If you make such
resolution to-day you will surely have
fifty celebrated the Glorious Fourth. If
| you become converted to our way Of
thinking and act your part, your duty,
your lives will be as heroic and as useful
as were those of the immortal men who
| penned their names upon the historic
| Yo and rnnr obiIdran ara