Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-04-07
BOSTON,.
The Socialist Agitation Cheers for
SWint0n-Smiling on Trusts.


Sunday afternooh in Goldman Hall
under the auspices Of the American
Section of the $ l.. p. J. w.
Badger, who presided, stated that
he had received letter from John
Swlnton announcing his recovery
from his long and severe illness.
This was greeted with applause and
cheers. A resolution was offered and
adopted congratulating Mr.. Swinton
upon his restoration to health and
usefulness. DIR. George Dutton, who
was the principal speaker, said:
MAN is not only an individual, but he
is also social being. There il, then n
domain of individual action aud do
main of social action. The economic
problem is not really and truly how to
distribute wealth, but how to best pro.
dncc and keep IT, for there is nothing
more clearly Just than to give to the pro,
ducer the product of his toll. In all
cases where individual action is most
productive, there individual action can
not be justly curtailed; but in all cases
where concerted and combined action IN
more productive there individual action
becomes justly su)soryient 10 the COM
mon good.
"The division of labor and the exten.
sive use Of machinery are means by
which the products of human toll are
vastly increased, and there il no one
questions their utility The only qles-
ton is the distribution of their products
As our institutions now are one man gpts
$4,000 year and another $500. in the
same building; and there are many others
III our midst who have to beg for both
work and living or do worse Oppor-
tunity and means of living are from
many entirely cut off, Involuntary idle
ness and poverty is sin against heaven
and common justice that calls loudly for
redress. II II man prefers to be idle and
poor it may be his individual right; but
to be compelled to he idle and poor is
not to be tolerated. Society has no
moral right to shut up Gods gifts land
and raw material. These, land and ma.
terlals are mans opportunity to live and
labor, and they are sacred not only to
society but to every individual. Land
and opportunity is the cry of reform
The land belongs in uSufruet to the liv.
ing, and in it all have common inherit
ance. Land and equal opportunity; these
must he granted to all, Without land
and nj tiniitt Ia Iul,,.
right on this planet; and his birth under
such circumstances seems mistake on
the part Of his Creator. At the Table of
the gods there is no place for him; no,
nor at the table Of man. But the mis-
take IL not ON the part of his Creator,
nor are the laws Of nature at fault,
These are maniiestIy benehcent The
evils that ailict mankind are not in the
distant heavens, but on the earth beside
us. The UNJUST enactments and rapacity
Of man, these are the evil genii that have
laid waste the earth. Usury, rent, profit,
tariff, wage servitude, a restricted cur
rency and false standard of value, thest,
are the means by which the few hold
mastery of the many. Wage seryitude
is only another form of slavery. SO far
as industry and production are concerned
the laborer and his labor are practically
one. The slave.master buys, owns and
controls the laborer the wage master
buys, owns and controls. The sIave-ma
ter has a direct interest in the Iaborer;
wage-master has not If the laborer
fails or falls another takes his place.
Absolute independence and voluntary
association is all that is left him. Truth
and justice are our only arbiters; love
and reason our only rightful masters
TO find the evil and then remove il is
our manifest duty. Under Just ad-
mlnistratiOn of public affairs all must be
necessarily peaceful and happy. Justice
and mercy dwell together, while cruelty.
strife and violence, sooner or later, fol
low injustice and wrong. Such are the
lrrevocable laws of eternal being. If
we SOW to the whrwiad We must of
necessity reap destruction; but if we SOW
to the Spirit Of Truth and Understand
ing, we must of necessity reap an abund-
ant harvest of good. A civil war is the
most uncivil of unciviI things, and we
seem already at It's threshold. SO fas as
human foresight goes it can be averted
only by concessions in behalf of truth
and justice. Unless the spirit Of liberty
has died out of the hearts of men any at
tempt to stitle free speech or the right of
free assembly, will he met with stern re-
sistance.
"free speech and the right of free as
sembly holds the key to the very fortress
of liberty. Free speech, free assembly
and free ballot must be demanded and
sustained. The poll tax must be re-
moved; il is fetter on the limbs of the
wage-servant. II the State will not
grant these privileges then it is at war
already with its own best interests. If
any qualification is required for voting
it should be a knowledge of the princi-
uIps of iusticp and Iiherty. a LnnyUla,Ioca