The Irish standard., 1896-09-12
BR1l SPEAKS IN Chicago
LABOR ELEMEaT TOLD s0IE FACTS
The Speaker Was in His Best Voice
and in His Best

-
and in His Best
iumor.e
Chicago, Sept S-Tke labor organiza-
lions OF Chicago celebrated Labor day
with a parade in which probably 10000
men participated. practically every trades
union in the city being represented The
weather was ideal, and the streets Were
throneed at an early hour by the sons of
toll and their families. Shops and fac
tories were generally closed-in recognition
Of the workingman' holiday, and all pub
lie Offices, the board of trade and many
down town stores remained closed, all day.
The chief attraction of the day was the
speech OF VIM. j. Bryan at sl1arpshooters'
Park, There was also speaking at 0gdens
Grove'by prominent labor leaders. :. ~.
The crowd gathered. at sharpshooters'
Park, the spot selected for yesterdays per-
Torrance. AT o'clock there We're prob
ably not to exceed thousand people
wiaons were ladies. After that time there
was steady stream Of people flowing
into the grounds and the. available places
wer soon occupied by AN expectant
throng. At 2:3O o'clock q mighty shout
went up from the outskirts Of the crowd,
and there was a great rush for the car
tiage occupied by Mr.. Bryan, which had
just then arrived within the enclosure OF
the park. Hundreds Of people pressed for
ward to shake Mr.. Bryan by the hand,
and the passage of the. carriage, through
the, crowd was somewhat slow. in conse-
uuence. He finally reached the speaker
stand where he was received with pro-
rpnged applause. On thegstan Were seat
ed Judge Mcconnell, Judge Prentiss and
large number Of representatives OF the
Trades Union Of Chicago.
At 2:20 Mr.. Bryan began his speech,
being introduced by Edward Carroll pres1-
dent of. the Building Trades Council. in q
brief and appropriate address. MIR: Bryan
said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Idesire to thank the Building and Trades
Council for this. opportunity which they
have extended to me to speak before the
people assembled on Labor day. Labor
day has become fixed thing among our
institutions, and it is. well that 1t has, be-
cause on this day all over this nation those
who are engaged in the production OF
wealth meet In order that they may com
munet with each other, discuss those ques-
tions which they are especially interested
in and emphasize before the world that
there is nothing dishonorable in the fact
that one earns his bread in the sweat OF
his face. - ,,. So So. :. :,
II am glad, to stand on this day In the
presence Of those to whom this nation is
so largely indebted for all that 1t. has had,
for all that it now, for, all that it.ean nope
to have. am not INDUCING IN idle flat
terry when I say to you that no part of the
people of the world are SO importana to
the welfare Of mankind as those whose
labor and brain convert natural resources
into material wealth. lApplauseo Il might
quote to you what Mr.. Carlisle said OF
these people in 1878. He described them as
the struggling masses who produced the
the wealth and pay the taxes of the coun-
try. He did not praise them too highly.
The struggling masses not only produce
the wealth and pay the taxes OF the coun-
try in time Of peace, but the struggling
masses have ever been, and must ever, be
the nations surest protection in time OF
peril Applause, and a voice, GOOD
bow. Wille..')' Let me quote you what
another American has said. In speaking
of labor and capital, Abraham Lincoln IN
message to congress, used these words:
IA monarchy itself is sometimes limited
at as possible refuge from the power OF
the people, In nay present position, I
could be scarcely justified were to omit
to raise a warning voice against this ap-
proach of returning despotisn. It is not
needed nor fitting here that general ar
gunae1t should be made in favortof pubic
institutions, but there is one point with
its connection not so ltrite as most others,
to which ask brief attention. It Is the
effort to place capital on an equal foot
ing with, if not above, labor, in the struc-
t,1re of government. 1t is assumed that
labor is available only in connection with
capital; that nobody labors unless some
body else commanding capital, somehow
80 zE s.,1, hiy,1f n Io
And then he adds: Labor is, prior to and
independent of capital. Capitals only the
fruit of labor and could never have iex-
listed if labor had not first existed Cap
plause.) Labor is the superior of capital
and deserves much higher consideration.
Then he adds: mo men nvlns are more e
worthy to be trusted than those who toll
IT'D from poverty; none less inclined to take
or touch aught which they have not hon
estly earned Let them beware of 'surren-
derirs power which they already possess
and which. if surrendered, will surely be
used to close the door Of advancement
against such as they. and to fix new tasks
shall be lost (Aplause.)
strhese are the words OF Abraham Lin
coin. They are not intended to. arouse AMI
mostly against capital, but they state q
great truth that Is always to be remem-
bered. that capital is but the fruit of labor,
possibility of future, capital. (Applause.)
Ihave quoted from two American authors
ties. want in an ascending scale to reach
8 higher authority still. Let me quote to
Won what that man, whose words have
entitled him to be called the Wisest OF
men. Solomon, said on this subject:
..Give me neither poverty. nor riches;
feed me with food convenient for me, lest
II he evil and deny Thee and say, Who5is
the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal ana
take the name Of God In vain" 40 e. I.
want yo1, to remember that Solomon
regards not the extreme, but 4 was about
10, say, the golden meant will 54say.tthe
golden and silver mean. rather daughter
ana applause) He regards that condition
best which is not at either extreme, but
lies In between the extremes. Neither
grat riches nor ahject poverty furnish the
soil in which grows the best civilization.
Those who are oppressed by poverty. lose
the ambition, the aspiration. the lofty pur-
pose that is necessary to lead one on to
the greatest achievements; and those who
possess too great wealth lose the neces-
sity for labor, that labor which Is abso-
lutely essential to the development of that
which is best in human nature. Solomon
.syas right, therefore. when he praysAt this
condition. The great middle
classes are the bulwark of society, and
from. the middle classes has come almost
all of good that has come to bless the hui
man race. (Applause) 5s ~
81 let me recall another compliment paid
to the common people. You know when
Wesuse that term, there. are some who say
that we are appealing to the passions De
the masses; there are some who apply 81
rrIJE, N a M r DEM AG4((STIEs 54s.S4