The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-09-28

The galleries were lined. and the main
floor was half filled with an inter-
ested and representative audience from
the ranks of, those who toll.
Attorney Thomas J. McKeon presid-
ed. Rev. Alex Milne offered prayer
and, later, spoke briefly. Prof. Tyler
sang and Herr Hans Albert, a noted
violinist of Chicago, accompanied by
Mrs. Hoelscher, rendered several Sc
lections that captiVated his hearers.
On the stage were representative labor
leaders and citizens in sympathy with
the cause of those who toll. An easel,
president, beautifully draped in colors
Of mourning and supported by hand
some American flag, occupied a prom
inent position on the stage. The prin-
cipal speaker Of the afternoon was Leo
J. Richardson, who spoke on "Patriot-
ism VS.. Politics. His address was
quite lengthy, and he did not mince his
language. He paid a tribute to the late
president and showed that labor was
not against good government but
strongly in favor Of it.
The worlds greatest pathos is on the
side Of those who toll, who do the
worlds work, and make. civilization
possible. The greatest problem in hu-
man life is it's sorrow. The happiest
and most envied of men know the
meaning of bodily pain, of mental un-
rest, of sadness from disappointment,
fear or loss. How much more then,
those who are continually i'll; those
bread; those who perhaps have not
bread enough for today: and to such as
are suffering from cold and hunger and
sharp discomfort in every form. there
is added the bitterness Of seeing wealth
and luxury and ease in the hands of
others whose characters and lives show
no greater merit and perhaps less
manly strength.
Every man asks why there is suffer-
ing in the world: the poor man parti-
cularly asks why he is made to suffer.
He revolts at the seeming injustice of
human lotr4he -clutehess hiss 4dst At the
sight of hnery and extraYagance, ter.
ribly curses the earth whereon he lives
in misery, while his brother man has
everything he can desire. None of the
explanations given him satisfy either
his reason or his feelings. Some poll
tical economists state that inequalities
in social life are the necessary effect of
high civelization;" that you cannot
have workmen without business, nor
business without capital, nor capital
without luxury; and that strength of
mind has as much right to its gains as
has strength of body. The candidates
for office urge that this is all the con-
sequence Of evil laws, and that when
laws are made better, comfort will be
more general. The parish clergyman
tells us that it. is "the will Of God" and
that we are not to question his wisdom,
but to submit to His authority, that has
been pleased to make a few rich and
many poor, some strong and others
weak, all to have trouble. but most to
have much Of it, and that we must ac-
cept the fact with resignation. and not
regard it with bitterness.
But these arguments do not seem to
meet the case. Much sorrow Of mind
and much suffering Of body exist for
which they do not account, and 1t is not
clear that the inequalities of life arise
only from higher civilization" or from
unjust laws. Still less can a thoughtful
man be reconciled to the idea that God
is sympathetic only to few Of His
children and wholly Indifferent as to
the rest. The hungry, shivering pauper
does not look up with reverence to the
skies If he thinks that from thence
comes his misery and his pain.
There must be some better solution
Of the problem Of human suffering II
the mind is to be satisfied, the moral
sense contented and the liner spirit
strengthened.
let soul mingle with soul and attempt to
find a more satisfactory solution to this
great problem.
The assassination Of our president
was an especial shock to the toilers of
the land, and one that brings up the
question of riding this republic Of the
pest known as anarchy. After the
death of three presidents by the hand
of an assassin we almost pause to ask
whether we are living in America or
Russia.
We have been drifting along since
the war of the rebellion not mindful
! enough or jealous enough of our nat
ional stability and welfare. We have
left questions Of great moment to the
promising pirates who go to the legis-
| latures Of the several states and who
devote all Of their spare time to doing
errands for railroad corporations and
lobbyists, whose will tools they are.
The welfare of the people is forgotten
in their greed for money. We know
that nearly every law enacted during
the past twenty-five years has been for
thet benefit Of tho classes, and not for
the masses. We should put the blame
of present conditions where it belongs.
We hear much talk of curbing free
speech but let us approach this PROPOSE
tion carefully and in the light Of his
tory. We should remember that every
nation that has checked free speech,
free discussion Of public questions, has
gone into decay and utter ruin. Where.
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