Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-07
moneys LABOR
DAY SPEECH
The Holidays Of America and
The Reason For Their
Obseryance
DIGNITY OF ALL
KINDS OF LABOR
The Special Significance and
Purpose of The Day Dedicat-
ed To The Workman

Following is the full text OF the
speech made by Hon. Geo. P. Money
at the Labor Day exercises in CALI
mas Park, Monday afternoon:
Ladies and Gentlemen;
In reading over the program OIL the
exercises of this day, noticed that
there was an Grafton to be delivered
here before you by some one whose
name was not mentioned, and have
been anxiously waiting to learn who
will deliver that. oration, because u
had also been requested to address
YOU today and hoped the GRAFTON
would be delivered by some orator
from whose remarks | might be able
to derive some inspiration for my
humble effort. But as that orator has
not appeared, 1t suddenly occurs to
me that he is waiting on me for the
same purpose; however, ] think we
can both derive sufficient inspira-
tion from this occasion and what II
stands for, and Labor's Day is a sub
iect pregnant with celestial fire.
need not assure you that feel
very highly honored and gratified in
being asked to address You on this
occasion of relaxation from labor and
daily toll, when we abandon ourselves
to an indulgence in friendly con-
course, unalloyed with any conscious.
ness that we are stealing any moment
from our daily obligations and duties.
1t is a popular belief that labor was
put upon mankind as curse, be-
cause of the disobedience Of man
who, as the Bible says, was a disap-
pointment to the God who fashioned
him from the senseless dust. But,
whatever the original cause, the hui
man family finds it compulsory to la
Dor, and whether we labor from neces'
sity or choice, for sustenance or for
happiness, It is equally impera-
tive.
Looking down the dim vista of the
past we see the weekly days filled
with the doings of armies scattering
their bloody wreck along the shores
of their combat, or with the more
peaceful but not less strenuous con
tention Of opposing commercial in
terests seeking material conquest, or
the humble struggles of those engag-
ed in the lesser Industrial life. the
fortune Of the painter as his imagina.
tion leaps into color and forms upon
the glowing canvass; of the inventor
whose investigating mind siezes a
novel idea and by its practical appli.
cation overtnrns the conditions Of cen.
turtles; OF the divine who week after
week thunders the inspired word al
wicked world; Of the poet who with
his subjective mind photographs the
past, present and future. and with
liquid words and smoothly flowing
rythm luIis the spirit into dreamy
philosophy and meditation. or with
words III fire sends the blood leapinp
in red torrents, or wakes the torpid
mind into activity and achieve
ment; or the astronomer. seeking II
unrayel the secret Of the skies; Or the
scientist burning the midnight oil II
endeavoring 70 comprehend tht
mighty secrets of nature; Or the law
yer applying himself 70 an under
standing of the principles Of his con
stitution and government and dream
ing dreams Of new political worlds
the whole myriad world, as we looi
back upon II, presents Kaleidoscope
picture OF confusing activity ant
struggle.
Midst these varying scenes we ma!
look upon one sequestered vale i
whose calm recesses are found tht
peace and rest OF the world Whethe
Of divine or human establishment
Sunday comes with ifs weekly recur
renee of rest, sending lis refreshed
upon The inevitable Journey. That thl
cessation from laboi recurring d
regular periods, is required by III
human system, Is fixed and ineradl
cable belief, and the word holiday, /
but compound of holy and day