The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1894-12-29
JOHN EuRns. M. p.


The English Labor Leader Speaks In st.
Louis-"Divide the Enemv and Conquer"
the Watchword of the Money Kings
"Unite and Conquer" the watchword of
Socialism-English Bluntness on Ameri-
can Errors.
ST. LOUIS. Dec, cat $50 o'clock
last evening, an hour later than the
| advertised time, John Burns, NJ. p,
was introduced TO an audience of 4.00c
at the exposition. The stage was dec
GRATED with British and American
flags and brass band contributed its
lusty share of the "Conquering Hero"
Without preliminaries other than
few words of introduction Mr.. Burns
plunged into the subject of Trades
Unions and Social and Municipal Re-
forms"
Conditions in this country surprised
him, and he saw the beginning of great
problems, involving the best means by
which social and industrial intereats
of the producers can be subserved. He
argued in favor of the participation of
trades unions in all social and political
questions.
In acting some of the causes that have
produced the great and growing di.
sparity between the rich and the
poor, he said: "Underconsumption,
overproduction and the Satanic
| selfishness of greedy monopoly
have produced the vagrants and the
Vanderbilts. The one is an enormity
and the other is monstrosity. AS the
percentage of the share of the laborer
in his product has decreased that of
the capitalist has increased. Just now
the currency conjurers are kicking up
a dust to blind you to the situation,
at the same time increasing the great
| disparity"
As remedy for this Mr.. Burns sug-
gested socialism, pure and simple. He
dealt out caustic criticisms to Ameri-
can municipal government, and
thought socialism the panacea.
Thomas Carlyle, the keenest critic
and the greatest scold of his age, has
warned the world that a catastrophe
to aggrandized wealth is approaching
than cannot be avoided, when human
nature, like everything else in nature,
will find an equilibrium.
|
you than any people in the world.
You have not the burden of militarism,
unless except the pension list [ap-
plausel, that we have in Europe. One
fifth of the ablebodied population of
| Europe is armed and schooled in kill
| ing. But you have greater burden
1000 millionaires and 100000 tramps.
You have the mania of speculation and
| the curse of commercial gambling.
Here the big fish eat the little fish, and
the little fish eat mud. 1t is time for
state interference when greed and sell
fshness control the country.
America is also responsible for a con-
dition that can not now be remedied-
speak of the disappearance of the in
ventive capacity of Americans. Fac
tory work is now subdiyided so that
every operative is merely part of the
machinery, cog in one of the wheels.
In factories men have been displaced
by women and children and the two
latter displaced by machinery.
. l appeal to you to stand by the trade
unions. There is your only salvation.
But for trade unions wages would be-
come the pittance of charity doled out
by the masters. But even trades
unions are only means to the end.
1 am socialist. Applause. While
keep one eye on the millennium, l
focus the other on the stumbling
blocks and pitfalls in the industrial
pathway. Worllmen must hang to-
gether or they will hang separately.
&c,
the watchword of the money kings,
and unite and conquer is the watch
word of socialism.
Pardon my British bluntness, for l
! am going to desecrate one of your
idols. When Napoleon wanted few
thousand men to die for his glory he
gave them, to use. comprehensive
Americanism. taffy. Soldiers of
France, forty centuries look down
upon you. Every soldier may be carry
ing in his knapsack a marshals ba-
ton Americans have also jingling
and senseless toys flung to them. You
are told that every Office is attaina BILE;
that the boy born in cabin may be-
come a president. If this were ever
true it is not true now. The honors
and emoluments are reserved for a
class.
Again ! urge you to organize and
warn you against the consequences of
of apathy. There is no stopping point
in nature-no place where matters are
good enough. You must either 60 up
or down, and 1 believe you are not
now travelling fast enough in the right
direction"
Mr.. Burns leaves tonight for IN
dianapolis.
THE AMERlCA'S CUP.
Lord Dunrayen,s Personal Representative