Workmen's advocate., 1890-05-10

institutions has sprung the success of every great movement in history
 'Such was the Revolutionary War car ried on by our forefathers against the tyranny of Great Britain. At first the number of those who felt the injustice of the oppression and determined to throw 1t off was but small; but the dis content increased until all the thirteen colonies were ablaZe with moral indlg nation and the achievement of political independence was an assured fact. In like manner might we speak of the Anti Slavery movement. The numbers at its first meetings were small, but they were enthusiastic because they knew they had truth and justice on their side; that their cause was the cause of humanity and that it was only question of time when they would have the numbers on their side, As all great movements were small in numbers at the time of their origin, so the Socialist movement at Its beginning was no exception. The same is also true of the efforts that are being put forth to make your city center of socalistc activity. Remem. ber however, that Socialism is not now what 1t was in the early part of this UGH u' J, "utH hODeII oWtll dHu OdlIl Simon began to preach it. Socialism is now tremendous power in the life of the world. This has been demonstrated recently in Germany by the Socialist vote fifteen hundred thousand strong. How feeble in point of numbers Social ism was in that country when Ferdi. hand Lassalle organized his Working mems Association is well known to the students of history. Substantially So- cialism is the same in Russia, in Ger many, in England, in France, and in our own country. All Socialists demand that land and all the instruments of pro. duction and distribution shall be made public so that the laborer shall no longer be divorced from the sources of sub>ist ence and culture, shall no longer be robbed of his birthright, !, but shall have the product of his toll. Socialism would brlng i'll new system, a new earth, wherein reigneth justice. Or, rather, Socialism would introduce system into our economic life, where now there is nothing but chaos. It would put truth in the place of falsehood and fraud Too long have the toiling masses been kept in industrial servitude, too long have they been circumscribed within narrow limits and thus prevented f. )m experiencing the real beauty and joy ousness of Efe. This condition of things is changing slowly but surely. Human ity is gradually pushing aside the ob- structions to its free development. Mankind is illustrating more and more the idea contained in these words of Goethe, the great poet of Germany: If plant an oak in flower vase either the oak must wither or the vase crack Some go in for saving the vase, but l say whatever cannot bear free enquiry let it crack. So we Socialists say: Humanity has life of its own to ex pand and if the vase of competition is too narrow to allow that expansion to go on, then let it crack. All who are working for the continuance of the pres ent selfish and unjust industrialsm acting as irrationally as one who should attempt to make an oak grow in flower vase. The oak of humanity will grow continuously and will burst every ob- struction. Then do not think lightly of small beginnings, but join the Socialist army, the army of progression. Like Garrison and Philips, feel that you are necessary in this work. Make your selves factors in this great humanitarian movement and in future years you will be able to look back with pride and to say each of you, was one of those who helped to bring about this mighty awakening of the people to a sense of their rights and their consequent deter imitation to conquer them"
 After some beautiful singing by Con- rade Bishop and several others whose tn nt pt command, the Chairman introduced Comrade Harry w. Robinson as the one who would expound the principles and aims of the Socialist Labor Party. Com rade Robinson who on rising received an unexpected round of applause, spoke substantially as follows: "A sweet Eng fish singer recently committed suicide, feeling that music and song are out of place in our modern world, so full of inexpressibIe horrors. She was not Socialist. l am glad that our agitation meeting has been opened with inspiring melodies. It is prophetic. Socialists shall make this old earth of ours temple of music. Who shall sing if not we who are working with strong faith in the future of humanity redeemed from poli- tical tyranny and economic slavery? The new social order which we preach shall make it good to live here on this earth. Life shall ere long be filled with gladness, rational gladness of which all shall partake, unsulied with the thought of human outcasts, hungry, shivering homeless. It is not by chance that little girl has made the organ breathe forth inspiring harmonies. So- cialsm is the youth that shall grow to noble manhood and womanhood, not to dominate the world, but to be the joy and glory and fruition of all whose hearts are touched with the "stlll sad music of humanity" But the minor