The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-04

first nation OF earth where it is not dis
graceful 20 De useful The one universal
law q our existence * labor. The intii-
vlauaI. the nation, must toll or die. Ia Se
all We have accumulated. all We have in
hsriteG from the past and yet in three
wears. starvation would depopulaie The
world i Ne ceased 10 work Labor alone
creates value. We are the greatest gener-
alton Of toilers that the world ever ssw.
our Increase IN wealth has far outrun our
increase ia popG.ation- Within fifty years
our wealth has increased more than ten
times. This is tie wealth produced by
hand and brain, and does not include the
Increase in land values. The property OF
this nation, II divided today, would give
each person more than three times as much
as each person would have received bad IL
been divided half century before. our
personal property alone. today. IL more
than four TIMES the value OF everything we
possessed a generation and a taif ago.
We lave. in This country. added more than
fo-.s times as much wealth IN the world.
III .GlS generation. SS di1 ali ths previous
generations that have occupied this con-
Uneni since L was ftrst shaoowed by the
sail of Columbus
one of The greatest blessings of this IA
ton is that here every man is protected
in the fruits OF his own labor. either of
hand or brain. This protection. like a fire
OF inspiration. mas touched the energy and
inventive genius OF our people and stirnii-
lated them to great endeavor. Steam and
electricity 50 perfectly do the bidding ~
man that we are within few moments OF
fartheSt civilization. We are within
speaking distance Of the world; space is
annihilated; the news OF man outrunS the
sun: we stand elbow 10 elbow with ali
mankind NE are within arms length OF
earfh remotest circle. More important
discoveries and greater inventions have
been made by this nation since that MEM
orahie day. when II declared its independ-
ence. than all the human race combined
had made through ali the ages that had
come ana gone before. So. in this nation
today look at it as you will in wealth, in
education. IN morals. In liberty and equal
ity. We are progressing. The greatest
glory OF our nation is. that here the great
mass Of our people. those who are the very
life blood OF the republic those who live
by daily toll. are better paid. better fed.
better clothed better educated, have mora
of the comforts and luxuries of life. are
more contented and happy. than the labor
ing class of any other nation that ever ex-
listed since history's dawn.
Heart Of Humanity L. Right.
We know and realize that there IS today
oppression and wrong. Too often II Is that
honesty and worth live in hut while
trickery and avarice dwell in a palace.
Toe often brains and manhood so unre-
warded and pride and pretention are
crowned with success Too often the hon.
est toiler works and wants and produces
wealth for others. Too often labor sits At
the table of poverty while idleneSs feas;s
al the table of wealth Too often have
men been compelled 20 beg for leave 10 toll
that the great heart of humanity is ever
right. The sympathy of mankind TO-DAY.
as never before, goes out 10 those VINO toll
and weep; to those who work and want;
10 the hungry and the poor to the unfor-
tunate and the weak. 10 the imprisoned
and dcSpiSed. to those who suuer ana SUD-
ever coming nearer 10 the tire OF the uni
versal brotherhood of man. There Is
nearer equal opportunity, equal enjoyment
ana equal hope. in this ra,Ica ioisy tli1n
80 f4f,1ax l..r
is not such "A vast difference ~ this coun-
Try today between the rich and the poor.
The ricA enjoy little that is not within the
reach Of all Have they more libertyr
Have shay more of the real Joys and COM
forts Of lfee Are they better educated?
Are they better dressed? are they more
respected Can YOU look over this audi
ence today and tell tie employer from the
employed? Can YOU til TIE difference be-
tween the rich rnar- son and the poor
mans boy? Can yea tell the daughter of
wealth from the girl who works Too
often We forget what are the really valu-
able things in this life. Is II money and
jewels? Is 1t houses and iaildsF Is Ii place
and power? Is Il the shallow praise that
for moment foli0Ss the great? or Is il
the reward os honest effort: TO be with
those We love and who love us? The smile
of a friend. the kiss of a lover; the love of
a mother; the pressure of brothers hand:
the glance of loving eyes. the love OF
horne of wife and child and frend9
These wealth ran not buy: position can
Even wealth and power and greatness. in
this country. belong to no particular class.
The son OF the railroad president may labor
in the switch yard; the father of he
millionaire pillow the 'ieids. The rich man
OF today may labor with his hands tomor-
row. The poor man Of yesterday counts
his thousands today The farmer boy.
with his ragged coat and bare feet that
q few years ago followed the pillow. Is the
statesman that today shapes and guides
the destiny Of this mighty republic
rns4 n
country today are those who are forever
complaining about the masses and the
and one flag. There are no CLASSES in this
nation And. standing before this patri-
otic audience. 7 want today "a place my
condemnation forever Uron that Infamous
lie.
Contrast.
Those who think that the world grows
~orse. that our government 10 Gecaying.
and our people deeeneratinG. forget what
history has recorded. ONLY a few years ago
our ancestors wers half naked harharians
We're slaves bought and sold as other chat
tells and ,itle 20 them passed with that Of
the soil on which they lived They sold
Women were treated worse Than beasts ~
burden ard considered ~ less value Only
a few years ago AMI + was a crime In the
highest civilized nations Of the earth 30
express yonr honest thoughts. Only few
wears ago and might alone was law and
the only incentive TO toll for the great mass
chain only q few Years ago and IN our
Own land btnestb that flag me lash was
the only lave that governed a race Only
a feW wears n o and the Declaration ~ In
dvpen6eucr vas living lie, liberty for all
meant ortr for The white. l. excluded the
black f5uty e fey Years ago slavery was
upheld }n !a@. sa 1cficnef hv church and
state bowed down ~ W. Judges and states
men and defended and blessed by hishpos
preachers priests and pOoes Only one
generation has lived since ths auction
teat raasf Nrs sg4ar
the savage bloodhound no longer pursued
the fleeing slave. since she Declaration ~
Independence aBs become Hsin.. reality.
siuce eN distinctions Of rare or color ~
birth ar zerV}tuffe were hIof*sN otr for
ever since All meant every human being
that ws5 Swallowed ny that flag
Remember ard think Of the swfsI fac,
that within the memory Of many who are
~ IN NJ IL III IND If Ill., -. -