The Portland daily press., 1900-11-28
DUTIES OF RICH.
Mr.. Abr.m $. newits's cau.sis csisi-
e,.m OfNsw York mslnonrsrs'.

1 At tnp ouHuaA AuctptHH VI $50 A-tA~~~-
tlonaI Alliance In the building OF the
society, East Broadway and Jeffer-
son street, ex-Mayor Abram s. Hewitt
made caustic criticism Of the rich men OF
New York City and OF the country, ard
prophesied that unless they changed their
attitude toward the masses of society the
twentieth century would bring forth
social cataoIysm such as the world had
never seen. Mr.. Hewitt who mad broken
his rule of the last two years OF declining
all Invitations to speakat night, and who
had come from his-country home In New
jersey. for the special purpose Of address
ing the alliance. spoke with earnestness
and warmth, and provoked much enthusi
asm from the assemblage which filled the
alliance hall. He said;
..when MIR. Straus asked me to come
and address this meeting l told him that
for the last two years had declined all
Invitations to go out at night and make
addresses. But when he said that my
presence here tonight would give encour-
aeement b this splendid work, It was
impossible for mo to refuss that appeal.
When / compare the work OF Cooper
Union, with which 1 have been identified
with the work of the Educational ALI
ance, am somewhat surprised and also
gratifed that the alliance has been able
TO do in eight years some OF the things
which Cooper Union has not been able
to undertake in forty years. When Mr..
Cooper projected the institute which bears
his name the plans which he had for II
were remarkably similar to the plans
which the Educational Alliance is now
carrying out 30 successfully. lie did not
overlook the value OF the social feature In
educational work.
Cooper Union was built with an idea
OF its roof being used for a roof garden,
and, strange ms 1t may seem, although
there were no elevators in existence at
that time, MIR. Cooper provided In the
construction OF tins building u circular
SHAFT, which, he said. he hoped he would
see used before ne died for the carrying
of the patrons Of the Institute up TO the
roof OF the building, where they could
bask in the sunlight and receive the In
SEPARATION OF the grand view which would
live to see the elevator put In.
"Mr. Cooper, when an apprentices at
the munificent sum OF $50 year. invest
ed in q tallow dip, and 1t was by the light
of this dip that he read at nights and
obtained all the education he had lie
did not attend school six months In his
life. 1t was while he was getting his ed
ucation in this hard way that he made
up his mind II ever he controlled the
means to do 1t, to establish a night school
for mechanics who like himself. were am
bilious for learning. Unlike many men
who are stirred to such resolutions by
the hardsnips of their early life. and
who forget all about them when the sun
light OF prosperity breaks over them, Mr..
| Cooper never swerved from his early
purpose.
MECHANICS EAGER FOR STUDY.
~ was present when Cooper Union
was opened in 1859. IL had been au-
| nounoed that all who wished to enter the
classes should give a weeks notice. l
was there to register then. The scene was
beyond belief. There was a mob assem-
bled 80 large and eager that the efforts
to register almost resulted in riot. IL
was incredible that there should be such
a passion for learning among the toilers
| Every GLASS was Tiled In one night, and
from that day until the present hour there
has never been u vacancy In the Cooper
| Union Glasses. We always have q waiting
| list. And now You will understand why
| 1t is that Cooper Union has never been
able to undertake some lines OF sociolo-
| gioal endeavor which It's founder had IN
view, and why IL is that we who are In
terested IN Cooper Union hail with de-
light the work which the Educational
Alliance has undertaken and Is perform
ing so admirably.
There Is a disposition In this country
to criticise the Jewish race. And abroad
the Jews are not only denied opportunity
tut are prosecuted. 1t gives me pleasure
to cay that we have had number of
Jews in the Cooper Union GLASSES, and
that wherever they have had chance
they have invariably succeeded. The
grandest tribute which can be paid the
Jews In America Is contained in the state
ment of the Hebrew Charities Association
that In the past year not single Ameri-
can has applied FOR aid. They are self-re-
speoting, iself-supporting, and II they
win their way to the front it is the sur
vival of the fittest, and no man has
right to turn around and criticiss or
malign them because they have proved
his superiors.
ave have In New York just two insti-
buttons which are devoted TO the uplift-
ing of the masses OF people from ignor-
anoe aud helping them to become better
citizens, Tney ara Cooper Union and
the Educational Alliance. But one Coop
er Union and one Educational Alliance
will not save New YORK.
'sWhile Mir. Cooper recognized the
value OF the social feature In educational
work, Cooper Union has OF necessity been
confined to educational work. The social
development is Just as needful as the edu-
cational. And it is especially SO here In
New York, kwhere the tenement-house
life which such a large portion Of the
population lives cannot be regarded with
any degree OF satisfaction. The people
who live In the tenements In New York
are better on than the lower GLASSES In
the Middle Ages, but there is room for
great improvement, and We ought to be
moved to bring about this improvement
for selfish reasons, II for no others. 1t
will pay us to do 1t.
REFORM MEAN s SACRIFICE.