Year: 1873

Lecture OF MIR. Charles Bradlaugh at


the Cooper Institute.


The great hall OF the Cooper Union has held but
few such audiences as assembled last evening to
listen to lecture on the labor question by
Mr.. Charles Bradlaugh. Round after round OF the
most deafening applause greeted the speaker at
the conclusion Of almost every sentence. There
was some slight element OF disorder present. but
so promptly and effectually was Its outbursts
quelled by the speaker that they added to the in.
terest OF the lecture.


Mr.. Thomas Sutlif, President of the Working
mems Union was chosen chairman, and intro
duced the lecturer Of the evening Mr. Bradlaugh
came forward and said-


When l consented to lecture in this room l
hardly expected that the same gravity would be
required as Is now necessary. l knew that the
labor question is the one with which statesmen
would have to DEAL 1t is the question for the
future. All have begun to recognize this Unfor-
tunately the circumstances which have recently
transpired render the subject one OF great impof-
tance, even to the men for whom have q right to
speak.


LABORERs IN THE oLDEN TINE
were mere delivers in the s0il-slaves only in
another name. In Egypt the Pyramids mark their
power and their tombs more than they do the
greatness or the sepulchres OF the kings OF those





as machine, without mind or rights.
Even among great writers the stain OF slavery
rests upon labor. The Messrs. Guiot are now pub
fishing in Paris book upon the present condition
OF the working classes. They trace out the condi-
tion OF the laborng classes IN all the countries OF
Europe. The ideas which this book follows shall
serve as the text for my lecture tonight


THE DIVISIONS OF MODERN SOCIETY.
Tne OLD divisions have been os SO
the world, you ind them divided into
the clergy the arstocracy, the tradesmen and
builds the beautiful cathedralss Is 1t not rom this
slower stratum that these beautiful gems conner
sumers, the middle class the distributors and the
lower class the producers. In this country shall
make two classes-tne moneyed class and the
those whose labor does not support them, be they
aristocracy or beggars In the Old World the arls-
claim to be educated; they should be so. will
admit that the working classes are not so well edu.
Gated as they might be. Poverty Is


THE POSTER MOTHER OF CRIME


and disease. 1t is our place as laborers to arragn
the aristocracy for the uneducated condition
knowledge &c Of ~ the s, weapons which are used
against you that you are often defeated. 10 nS'
STUART q ssd msny pd words


All the speech have to make turns upon four
words-hgn wages poor wages @ sp0 p0or NOV. wages cs
viting than the home and the vile not so good
tempered as she ought to be. In IRELAND ninepence
as Ras GT the
mere nominal wages received in London, Paris and
New York are not proper criterion OF the rate
The price paid for the necessarles OF lie must be
taken into account. But this can say, all wages
are low wages which do not give to man good
food, clothing and comfortable home.
SoMErHINg MORE WANTED.


Any wage which does not give him time to think,
to love and to study men and books,
Is too low. A high wage which gives
an opportunity for accommodating reserve
fund Is the remedy with which you meet
crime and disease, as well as the whole train o
evils which grow up from poverty. The great
crying evils which exist in the cities OF the Old
World are not to be found here. How long IL vii
be 80 depends upon yourselves. II does not de
pend on your government or on your milli0nnaircs
but, workingmen, say. on yourselves.
DO NOT ASK CHARITY.
do not say that the Rothschids or Astors are no
charitable. bpt J DO saI that charity " wore