New-York tribune., 1894-04-20
TRADES UNIONS AND LIBERTY
A STIRRING SPEECH AT ANNIvERSARY
EXERCISES.
EX-MAYoR HEWITT SCORES THE ORGANIZATIONS
AT MEETING OF TIE DAUGHTERS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

AT A MEETING OF TIE DAOGHlf.isS of
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
At the third anniversary exercises Of the New
York CITY CHAPTER of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution held yesterday afternoon at
Fraunces' Tavern. eX-Mayor Abram D Hewitt
made a ringing speech on liberty and PATRIOTISM
and took occasion 10 severely critcise the trades
unions of this country. He saId In part, as fol
lows:
THE primitive character of this place takes us
back 10 a portion Of the American history OF which
we ought TO feel proud. and OF which too many
people know 80 little. This generation has forgot
ten the trials and sunerngs under which the
precious boon Of liberty was won The women OF
the Revolution suffered much as the men, ana
our priceless liberty only won by the help OF
their patience and endurance. The keynote OF
the Revolution liberty. Liberty is the right
of every human being TO do what he chooses
under the law. Liberty has. in a measure. been
taken away from this country by foreign rule
The evils of foreign rule mean the rule OF people
who wish to enjoy what they call liberty un-
fettered by the obligation Of law. Liberty Is not the
attribute of government or Of society. 1t Is the
attribute Of the individual 1t is his right to ac-
quire property. No free government attacks the
right Of property the right of the individual.
Throughout this land organizations trying
to destroy the rights of the people. They try to
take away the rights OF individuals secured 70 them
by law. You have great work before you IN
teach that liberty and property are sacred. trades
unions are, doubt, IN a measure, honestly en-
deaVoring secure better awards for their laDors,
but they are perverted by refusing TO allow men
TO work for a livelihood. They violence when
a man refuses strike. 1t is an Infringement on
the liberty Of the individual TO prevent man
from gaining a livelihood, is the practice OF
trades unions. When that principle becomes a part
OF our Constitution. then farewell to liberty, fare
well to freedom. farewell 10 thought of country
and of home.
The regular exercises Of the anniversary con-
sisted of historical sketches of Fraunces' Tavern
singing of patriotic songs, and a paper on ''Ihe
Plan OF Rescue of Fraunces Tavern" by Mrs. Fay
Peirce. Mrs. Peirce thought that the city should
buy the block at Broad and Pearl SITS, where the
tavern now stands, restore the building to its
of the ground. Mrs. Percc. after outlining her
scheme went say that II could never be done
while 4: nmany Hall was In control OF this cry:
She said that the best men OF this city shOuld
come forward and crush Tammanys power. She
thought Il would be good idea for the men 10
elect a committee of safety to be composed OF 100
of the best men in the city and that theirs should
be the work of extermnating the Tammany tribe:
Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner Evan Thomas and
were Mrs. James T. KernOchan. Mrs Donald Nc
Lean. Mrs. Janver lie Duo, Mrs. Edwin n Woot-
ton. Miss Mary Nanderpoel, Mrs James fairman.
Mrs Charles S. jenkins. Mrs. Charles r. Treat.
Mrs. l. T. Ritter. Mrs. Clinton Jones. Mrs. John
Stanton. Mrs Ferdinand L. Earle, Mrs Webster
Zines Miss NJ. r. Nelson, Mrs. {. II. Wilcox and
Mrs. Edward Hall
The National. State and municipal flags noated
from the hagstaffs of the City Hall Yesterday IN
day being the 18th anniversary.