Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-12-28

ment is that which governs least, we
stand for the American idea, that the
best government is that which governs
best. (Applause.)
1--WE have nothing to do with the feudal
idea of leaving to great corporations the
management of public affairs. The
American people left feudalism behind
when they landed on these shores.
at is not month yet since this city
was startled by conhagration which
cost us many millions and the lives of
five brave men. And when we come to
ask how and why it happened, we are
told that the city and State governments
had farmed out this and that privilege
and duty to this and that corporation,
with the result of dire confusion and
ENHANCEMENT, and that was why the
flames started and why they could not
be extinguished before they were.
"But there We're two factors which
solemnly did their fullest duty. One was
the magnificent water system established
by the city, at the cost of the city, for
the city, which steadily poured forth
the flood which was needed, SO that it
would have made lake nine feet deep
on that same burnt district. | mention
this whenever am told that such enter
prises do not belong to the government,
but to corporations.
"The other factor to be relied upon was
the devotion of the men who faced death
and died true men, giving up their lives
in baptism of fire. notice this when
l am told by dainty fops not to look to
the people in great exigencies or for
great conclusions. Applause.
1t is our wish to strengthen the govern
ment of cities and make them pure. No
corporation shall tell them how to select
their school boards. even if it has at its
head a triple crown. Applause.
We don't propose to have cities whose
mayors get rich trading with electric
companies. Great applause. We won't
have a nation Of slaves, under corpor-
alton of shareholders, but Union where
the people shall know and assist its
power" Prolonged applause.
Mr.. Hale closed by introducingEdward
Bellamy, who was received with tre-
mendous outburst of enthusiasm. Ladies
waved their handkerchiefs and joined in
the shouting which followed and culm-
mated in three rousing cheers, gwen
standing. When quiet had been restored,
Mr. Bellamy said
EDWARD BELLAMY'S SPEECH.
LADIES AND GENTLEalEN Tho Ma
tionalists of the United States may at
some future time make formal state.
ment of purposes. What I shall say to-
nigt is the opinion and forecast of an
individual.
No fact is better established by expert
ence or more easily demonstrable by
reason than that no republic can long
exist unless substantial equality in the
condition of citizens prevails.
One hundred years ago this Republic
was founded upon substantial equality
in the condition of the people. 1t was
not an equality established by law, but
condition resulting from a general
state of poverty. For the first fifty years
the increase in the wealth of the country
was gradual But within the last 30
years it has multiplied, no longer grow
ing by arithmetical, but by geometrical
ratio.
This ealth has been mainly appro-
priated by small class. The property
of less than 1900 men in the United
States aggregates more than the total
possessions of the rest Of the people.
Within 100 years ,one three-hundredth
part of the people of this country have
succeeded in freezing out their 5,00O,'
600 partners as to more than half the
assets of the concern, and within 3C
years they will have secured the re-
mainder.
That is the situation which has created
Nationalism. Those are the facts which
account for the rapidity of its spread.
The great corporations and combina
tiors of capital dwarf our municipalities
overtop our States, and are able to die
tate to our national legislature. Oul
elections are tainted with suspicious Of
frauds, and the titles of our presidents
are no longer indisputable.
There are inhuman contrasts of crue
want and inordinate luxury.
The spectacle presented in many in
stances of great riches notoriously wor
by corrupt methods has undermined the
foundation of honesty. 1t is justly
believed that much of the wealth of to
day could not stand inquiry into the
means of its getting. Applause.
Industrially the condition is deplor
able. Our new order of nobility is laying
its foundations deep by obtaining abso
lutte mastery of the means of support o
the people.
We are approaching time whel
there will be no class between the yer,
rich, living on their capital, and tn
mass of wage-workers and salaried mel
absolutely dependent on the former
The professions are becoming over
crowded to the starvation point. Th
condition of Ireland bids fair to be re
produced IN the far West.
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