Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-13
FOR HUMAN FREEDOM.
A New League of Patriots and Phil
anthrOphistS VIII Fight
THEY MEET In PHILADELPHIA
Under the Shadow Of Independence Hall
and the Liberty Bell.
FOLLOWERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIspArcH.l

iEFEClAL IhA1hShAM DlbfATCh.l
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1.-THE Psn-Re-
publican Congress held its first session this
morning in the Common Council chamber,
where the inspirations associated with In
dependence Hall filled the members with q
feeling that the historic place was of all in
the world most fitting for the initiation Of
their great work for human freedom and
unity. Men and women Of distinction from
different parts of the country were gathered
to inaugurate q movement which they felt
might have q greater influence upon the
future Of mankind than any hitherto en-
tered upon in the annals of time
Besides the Governor of Pennsylvania
and the Mayor of Philadelphia, there were
present Governor Hoyt, of Wyoming; DR..
Champion S. Chase, of Omaha; DR.. John
Clark Ridpath, of Indiana; Judge Arnoux,
Captain John Palmer, Commander in Chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic; DR..
H. P. Lewandowski, Theophila kraemer,
Peter L. Wokzichi, of New York; H. B.
Blackwell, Lucy Stone Blackwell, Austin
S. Cushman, of Massachusetts, Colonel j.
E. Peyton, Of New Jersey; HI. c. Parsons,
of Virginia; E. A. Jefferson, of Illinois;
Rev. George Dana Boardman, d. D., Allen
NUKE. hHC0el OSlGT II.
Eyre, Henry Petit, Hugh McCafery, OF
Philadelphia, and many Others.
OBJECTS OF THE MEETING.
The meeting was held to prepare the way
for the great congress of 1898, during the
Columbian Exposition, at which all the Re
publics of the world are to be represented,
with the object of advancing republican
government. If the meeting this morning
was rather small in numbers, considering
the magnitude of its undertaking, there was
power in the enthusiasm displayed which
promised all that is needed for success.
1t was 1880 when the Chairman of the
local committee, DR.. Persifer Frazer, called
the members to order and stated the objects
and progress of the movement, which has
been gradually approaching the present
stage of organized endeavOr through many
years Of struggle for liberty and justice.
1t combines, said DIR. Frazer in its purpose
all human efforts in the direction of the
ends, and has the encouragement of men of
high thought and character in II countries
ADDRESSES TO SEPARATE CLASSES.
1t was the thought of those with whom
this movement began that the four hund-
redth anniversary of the discovery of this
continent should be celebrated bv convo-
cation; first, of representatives of all Gov
ernmentS based on an Acknowledgement of
the rights of man; and. secondly, of repre-
sentatives of the people of high purpose
everywhere, independently of the form of
Government under which they live; these
two bodies to consult together on the means
of widening the domain in which men may
enjoy the rights claimed by the Declara-
tion of Independence
subcommittee have been appointed to
draft the several addresses to the separate
classes whose union is essential to the sue
cess Of the congress. DR.. Frazer concluded
his remarks by inviting DIR. John Clark
Ridpath to act as chairman in the absence of
Judge Arnoux, President of the congress.
DR. Ridpath, after saying that toward this
Mecca of human liberty the eyes of many peo-
pie Will now again be turned with renewed
hope hereafter, as in the past, introduced
Governor PattisOn, who was cordially re-
ceived and delivered an address of welcome,
in the course of which he said:
AN APPROPRIATE PLACE OF MEETING.
l bid you welcome to Pennsylvania. 1t
was very wise and extremely appropriate
suggestion which led to the selection OF this
State for your meetings. 1t must have been
inspired by motives truly patriotic The
pages of history do not reveal place more
hallowed by associations with the cause of
humanity. Here, within q stones throw, in
Carpenters Hall, met the Congress of IVA,
and asserted their rights to the enjoyment
of life, liberty and fortune-declared the
people to be the source of authority, and
laid the foundation of a Government based
upon freedom and equality.
Within the walls of this old building was
kindled the flame of freedom that is yet
destined to light the world From its tower
rang out the sound of the bell proclafming
Liberty throughout all the land, unto all
the inhabitants thereof" Here rested the
remains of the great emancipator, Abraham
Lincoln, when borne to the place of burial.
The ear of the true patriot cannot fail to
here discern the sound of the voices and
a 70 of ont Nf NVoc hirrr
Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Henry Han
cock and their noble associates. With each
inspiration the members of the Congress
will be double equipped for the task before
them.
A distinguished American orator has said
that ''we inhabit a country which has been
signalized in the great history of freedom"
We live under forms Of government more
favorable TO its diffusion than any which
the world has elsewhere known.
AN OBJECT LESSON TO NATIONS.
After a century of trial we are prepared to
offer to the nations of the earth the success
of a numerous people organized on the
principle of the political equality of all the
citizens. would not disturb the repose of
even a detestable despotism But if an
abused and oppressed people want their
freedom; if they seek to establish it; if, ih
truth, they do establish it. we have a right
as a sovereign power to notice that fact and |
TO act as circumstances and our interest |
require.
world to a knowledge of their benefits No
brighter crown could adorn the twentieth |
century than the triumph of such a cause
As the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries |
were periods of discovery, the seventeenth |
and eighteenth of reformation, the nine |
teenth of invention, may we indulge the |
hope that the twentieth may be distin- |
guished by the political freedom Of man
kind. |
The Chairman next introduced, Mayor |
Stuart, who also made an address of well |
come. II. B. Blackwell and his wife, Lucy |
Stone Blackwell, were prompt to look after |
the rights Of women, their suffrage, associa- |
tions and the like, in the congress After |
considerable discussion over its constitu- |
tion, the Committee on Address to the Peo- |
pie of the World was announced, as follows: |
DIR. Toole, Smithsonian Institute; j, H. |
Morgan, New Jersey; Colonel Austin H. |
Cushman. Massachusetts, Mrs Lucy Stone |
Blackwell Massachusetts; General w. O. |
Mcdowell, New Jersey.
A COMBINATION OF ADDRESSES.
1t was 3:15 P. NJ. when President Judge |
ArnouX called the Congress 20 order 1t |
was reported that all the addresses which |
had been furnished from which to select /
the address to the people of the world had |
been examined and it was the recommends
tion of the committee in charge that that
address should be made up by combining
the best portions of all those submitted
Colonel Allen was called to the Chair while
Mr. Mcdowell read the resolutions upon
which 1t was proposed to base the Human
Freedom League
Colonel Allen made an address of great
force, denunciatory of monarchy in general
and OF Russian tyranny and brutality in