The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-11-19

same ends, the same ideals and the
same aspirations are ours. Shall it
not be that we shall sweep aside
those who would seek to divide us,
that we shall
Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number, y
Which in sleep have fallen on you
Shake to earth your chains like dew,
Ye are many they are few"
WARS LESSON
1t needed the war to bring home to
those in authority the truth and the
power of many of the causes and the
remedies we have been advocating for
years. The naturalization of rail
ways, for instance, was pronounced to
be absolutely impossible. When
war broke out it was accomplished by
a stroke of the pen. Munition facto
ries, which were the monopolies of
capitalists, were nationalized, and,
best of all, the great healing art of
the medieval profession was also
nationalized and taken over by the
state History has taught us that
worth retaining never reverts to pri-
vate enterprise; and it will be up to
the labor organizations on our side to
see that good fight is put up and
that these shall never again go back
into private hands, but that as now,
so in the future they shall be run in
the interests and for the advantage
of the whole community.
I should be sorry, and it would be
discourteous end impertinent of me,
to dare to make any suggestions to a
gathering like this as to what you
and | am not going to attempt any
su:h thing, but | don't think it would
be wrong if l were to say it is up to
the men of America to be on guard,
to see that you are not caught the
same as the men of Europe have been
caught. 1t is for democracy to keep
clear vision and steady hand and brain
unclouded, that those forces that have
divided us shall not divide you, be-
cause you are needful to US on the
other side. And democracy has in
times past, not often, been able to
sweep aside the Vaccinations of dip
lomats and politicians.
l was interested the other day in
reading il one of your libraries the
Life of John Bright" Therein l
read again a part of the story of your
great war between the North and the
South. When the ports of the South
were blockaded it brought restitution
and sorrow to the men of my country,
Il men of Lancashire, of Manchester
and the big cotton towns. We are all
so linked one with the other! The pol
iticians and the diplomats and the
masters said: Nov is our opportun-
ity, let us step in and while America
is divided seek to get our way" And
the people of Manchester, three hun
dred and twenty odd thousand, led by
John Bright-the people who suffered
and were suffering-said mo, in
democracy's name we will not allow
any such interference; we will starve
sooner than interfere with a people
struggling to be free"
And with all her faults and with all
her mistakes and with all the crimes
that may be laid to her charge, |
would not be human if l did not rec
ognize the great liberty that the old
country whence l come has won for
the world; but, in spite of all that, |
want you to believe mel am here
for this purpose-that my heart goes
out to the whole people, to the whole
working people of the world irrespec-
tive of geographical boundaries or
languages. / look for the time, | long
for the time when again wetwill gath
er together and confer one with an
other on our common difficulties and
look forward with the hope OF realiz-
ing our common ideals; hope for the
time when again we will clasp hands,
look into each others eyes and think
what a mistake it has all been; that
we are still brothers and underneath
the veneer Of so-called civilization,
underneath all the folly and wretched-
ness with which we are surrounded
there still beat hearts high with hone