The record-union., 1894-07-20
a VOICE FROM THE GRAVE.
Remarks of Henry Ward Beecher in
1877
The Greatest of American Pulpit Orr
ators on the Rights of Labor
ing Men.

From the Scientific American, August Is,
1871
There is no class of mon who deserve
the gratitude of the community more.
than those who operate our great
railroads. I shall not satisfy myself II l
do not express the gratitude which, feel,
and which think every man should feel,
for that most honorable class of laboring
men in our midst. Considering the vast
extent of these roads; considering how
they have changed the forms even OF IN
dustry and civilization; considering how
the industrial interests and the very hap
piness of society are dependent on them;
considering what an instrumentallty the
railroad system has become in the civil
ization of our land and in our time-con-
sidering these things, the men who con-
duct this system and make it successful
are certainly worthy of consideration.
Civilization would be obstructed and in
many respects destroyed but for these
workers upon this multiplex and uni
versal machine. The faithful men who
operate it are responsible for an incalcu-
liable trust; and in general they execute
that trust so as to demand recognition
and gratitude on every hand. In all
weather. by night and by day, they toll,
carrying their lives in their hands. No
man more than the engineer sows with
out reaping. No man carries such re-
sponsibility with so little remuneration.
Millions Of men by his care and fidelity
are sped upon their errands safe from dis
aster who give him never second
thought.
The general sobriety of all the oper-
atiyes on our great roads. and their usual
carefulness, are unquestionable. Ny
riads of men daily are indebted to them.
Their heroism often breaks forth in Illus
trious acts. II is seldom that in any great
catastrophe we do not hear of some among
the engineers and their faithful assistants
who heroieally risk their lives. The sta
tionary men who care for the depot, the
switchmen and the brakemen, all of
them, though humble in position, are in
dispensable parts of machine whose
workings are marvel Of modern civil
ization.
These men, hundreds and thousands
and thousands of thousands in number,
are, as q class, men that are seeking to
become more and more self-respecting
men. They organize themselves into
unions" for mutual insurance, for fell
lowship in life, for suceor in sickness,
and for an honorable burial when they
die. For the exclusion of evil men from
their ranks, they organize themselves.
them. They seek for intelligence. So
briefly and fidelity among themselves
and for mutual protection against the
natural selfshness of employers and
capital.
Thus far their organizations are emf
nently wise; but there is foreign ele-
1uCAG lICD 4do COLlO lubO lu6S0 ullOu5
IN America. 1t is poisonous element.
II is a usurpation Of authority over ones
fellow-workmen. 1t is an assumption of
right by the exercise of force to compass
their ends-an assumption which sur
passes the most bitter tyranny Of Europe.
and which would not be tolerated day
IN a crowned head What right has any
association Of men to say to the master
mason. "You shall not work as a labor
ing man on your own contracts?" What
right have they to say to an employer,
''You shall never have more than five or
six apprentices to learn a trader" What
right have they to say to him, you shall
employ nobody but union men?" What
right have they to dictate to free men as
to how they shall carry on their business?
They have right to say. IF your business
is carried on in a way that is prejudicial
TO our interest we will not work for you"
The continent is large; the door to enter
prise is open for all; and let no man be
compelled to work where it is not for his
interest to work; but who clothed any of
these unions with authority to say,
''Such men shall work, and only such
men shall work: so many shall work, and
only so many shall work; they shall
work under such conditions, and they
shall work only under such eonditions?"
It is a denial of freedom, it is blow at
personal independence and popular lib
erty; and if there were any considerable
danger of its spreading, if it did not
carry in itself the elements of its sure
defeat, it would be time to raise the ban
ner and lift the voice like trumpet,
against this elandestlne industrial ty-
ranny.
1t is the virus that has vItiated the
course of these disaffected railroad labor
ers; and it is subject of profound re-
gret to all who sympathize with them
that they have put themselves in an atti-
tude in which their friends cannot defend
them, and in which the public peace and
safety require that they should be re-
sisted and subdued.
The reduction of their wages is the
solitary grievance which is alleged as an
excuse for their misconduct. But men
whose pay is not sufficient have right to
refuse to work for the pay. They are not
bound to work for less than they deserve.