Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-09-14
OUR DESTINY.
The Opening Lecture of the Lyceum
Season of the American Section.
By FRANCIS SCHAIDRR.

Our meetings are for the purpose of
arousing thought in reference to our
existence: to learn the true relations of
life; to examine the light put forth that
is to serve as a safeguard on our way.
We issue our thoughts in print for the
purpose of testing them critically, to
have them tested as to their correctness,
and TO determine in strict accord with
| sound reasoning whether the existence
of the race may rest upon the system
constructed, or about to be constructed,
upon that basis. We are intent upon
sound creations; to make the issue of
life consonant with sound conditions.
Man is part of nature; in fact the
manifestation of the higher organiza-
ton of it. He is endowed with intel
| lect, the guide for correct action. We
invite whosoever is willing to meet us in
earnest endeavor to solve these Ques-
| tions, to attain the result of the greatest
benefit to all, and ask nothing more
than honesty of purpose and unpreju-
| diced mind.
| There was time, not so very long ago,
when the elevated roads in this city did
not exist We were then entirely de-
pendent upon the horse railroads for
swift transit Before the time of the
horse-cars the omnibus served that pur-
pose. These were of less speed, of less
convenience than the former. The
transformation from one to the other
has been witnessed by the major part of
| the present inhabitants hereabouts, and
the striking advantage gained by the
change is the standard of measure you
must apply in Judging the progress of
industry in general The economic con-
ditions underle the social conditions of
man. They affect our material welfare;
| they affect our intellectual welfare; and
therefore it is all important that we un-
derstand the conditions in order to make
correct adjustments.
This is the age of steam and cleo
tricity. These mighty forces of nature
were discovered in the course of the in.
tellectual progress of men, and we have
learned to utilize them. We are now ena-
bled to communicate with ease and con-
stancy with those who are living in the
most distant parts of the globe. Thus
we have conquered space and time.
We have found means to provide for
the necessities of life on large scale,
and with them we are enabled to
lift men above drudgery; and it is evi-
dent that we must in all arrangements
build upon this basis if our labor is to
have durable and beneficial results.
To-day we know that the mission in
life is to understand how to live cor
rectly;i. e., how to attain physical, intel
lectual and moral soundness. In order
that the intellect may be sound, it is
imperative that the body be sound, and
that is dependent upon sufficient nutri-
tious food and other material condi-
tions. We know that we must assert
the qualifications embodied in lis while
life offers the opportunities. | submit
that the paradise which, according to
the teachings of the churches is to be
found beyond the grave, would be all
the more sure for us if we shall have
proven true to natures law; .. e., to the
conditions of prosperity of body and
mind; for if that paradise is a more per-
feet state of conditions, then, in being
more perfect ourselves, we tit these con-
ditions all the more.
/ Man is not opposed to man by force of
any law of nature. Each Individual
represents part only of the whole. One
supplements the other in physical and
intellectual qualities, in ability and i'll
inclination; for each and all there may be
found room and opportunities, We all
can serve each other when the occasion
arises; and if we intend that each and
every one should in the measure of his
necessities produce and receive accord
ingly, then we are socialists.
Socialism as a basis for society is
moral because it is Just. Socialism
would prevent one individual prosper.
ing at the expense Of another, and thus
the extreme conditions of riches and
poverty would be made impossible; for
it is the exploitation of one individual
by another that causes these baneful
extremes. Misery in the life of man
kind will be alleviated through social
: ism. The conditions of prosperity are
, assured when the opportunities of life
are no longer denied. Thus, we create
harmony of the forces within us that are
striving for assertion, and the forces
| without, on which we sway influence,
and from which we are influenced
The enlarged power of the lever of the
machine and the greater velocity of its
wheel that should and will assist us to
) alleviate drudgery, to make the burden
: of life more easy, is already accom-.
3 plished. Why is it that these forces
have now the contrary effect? 1t is
because these great means for relief are
private property, and the advantages
derived from them accrue to the owners
of them.
a Consider it! because of these condi
/ tions you are deprived of the opportun
! ity of creating abundant means for youl
existence! Change this by claiming