Haymarket Affair Digital Collection

Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial evidence book. People's Exhibit 87.
Arbeiter-Zeitung (Newspaper) article, untitled, 1886 Feb. 15

2 p.
Introduced into evidence during testimony of Eugene Seeger (Vol. K p. 701-720), 1886 July 31.
Transcript of translation of article.


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[Image, People's Exhibit 87, Page 1]

Ex. 87.

February 15th, 1886. Fourth page.

Report of a mass meeting held in the 12th street Turner Hall in regard to the riots in London, Oscar Neebe, presided. Speakers were Fielden and Schwab.

Fielden said: "In former times the rich classes of London used to visit the Proletarian quarters to sneer at the poverty and filth of the masses through whom they had enriched themselves. But in the last week things have changed. "The rag Proletarian" has paid a visit to the elegent quarter of the city and has shown its invincible power. Only in one point those rioters have acted unwisely, they appealed to the Government for aid, but they are not to blame for this mistake, they were hungry and had no time to consider the matter. The Government cannot and will not do anything for the poor. The people must have self confidence and only rely on its power. The London events have shown that the people have that power, and that it is the principal meaning of the riots of the Proletarian of all countries. The London events must be taken as powerful warnings to the working laborers of all countries to unite, to organize, to arm themselves. The time is not so far when also the rag proletarians of Chicago will wake up and march to Michigan Avenue.

Then Schwab spoke:


[Image, People's Exhibit 87, Page 2]

He compared the situation of the working men in London with that in America and illustrated the latter, among other things, through the conditions prevailing in McCormick's Reaper factory. The speaker described the socialistic movement in England, the characteristics and causes and results of the London riots, and closed in the owrds "We greet the London events as the announcement of the near approach of the Social Revolution."

A number of resolutions were read and unanimously adopted. In those resolutions the meeting declared itself in harmony with the starving rioters of England and all working men were asked to rally around the flag of revolution, around the red flag which was waving over the heads of the starving people of London.


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