San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-05
KNIoArS IN COUNCIL.

Troversies concerning them within and
without the order have conspired TO
make this organized labor host very con-
spicuOus, and to clOthe all its acts and
utterances with an Importance not
usually accorded the meetings and resO-
| lutiOns of the mud stills Of the nation.
| Outside of any controversies, however,
| that may arise within the general as
sembly; outside of any interest that
| may attach to the proceedings as affect
| ing the relations of labUring men and
| those who employ labor; outside OF any
determinations or conclusions OF indus
trial policy that may be arrived at in the
| assembly-Outside of all these, this
gathering of the industrial representa-
| tives OF free Americas skilled and I'M
skilled labor is semi historical and
wholly unique. 1t is unique in that 1t
| assemblies In Richmond, Virginia; the
capital the defunct cOnfedCraCv, whose
corner stone WAS laid in slavery, and
whose top stone could only have been
raised upon the ruins OF free American
labor. Behold what revolution the
republican party has wrought. Had the
confederacy succeeded, and the republic
can party was its only organized foe,
had the cOnfedeTaCy succeeded in de-
strOving free labor, this present as
sembly in Richmond would have been
AN impossible thing. Viewed in this
light, the gathering may be truly re-
garded as historic, as well as unique.
The Assembly not only gathers in the
confederate capital, dedicated to the
perpetuation of human slavery, but is
welcomed BY an ex-cOnfederate general,
the present governor OF the proud old
common wealth. Only few short years
since and Governor FitZ-Hugh Lee was
the proud leader of legiOns OF democrat
ic soldiers who had sworn to plant the
banner of slavery on the battlements OF
This republic or perish heroically in the
attempt. Governor Lee was not only
confederate general, he is scion of t
old house of Lee, descended from the
blue blOOGed cavaliers OF King Charles
lime, whose aristoCratic instincts and
feelings have stamped themselves into
the very soil of the old Virginia colony.
The very name of FitZ-Hugh Lee is a
svnOnim for all that is aristOCratiC, eX-
elusive and antagOnistiG to free labor;
and yet this man who fought to estab-
fish human slavery as a divine institu-
ton; this man, who was leagued in arms
TO call the roll of southern slaves on
Bunker's Hill; this man who perilled
life TO make free labor lOsthsOme and
degraded thing-this man, the proud
governor of this proud commonwealth,
welcomes, as the chief executive of the
state, in his official capacity. these rep.
resentatiyes of free labOr-these expo
nents and apostles of the gospel of toll.
the manhood of service, the divinity of
labor. Looked at thus is the occasion
not historic one, and the Circumstan-
ces md conditions attending this AS.
sembly decidedly unique.
But one thing more was needed to
complete the picture-a representative
of that despised slave labor, for the per-
petuatiOn of which Governor FitZ-Ilugh
Lee pledged his honor, his manhood and
his life. This also was added. At the
conclusion of Governor Lees address,
Frank J. Farrell, COlored delegate
from one of the old slave states, took his
stand at the side Of Virginia's proud
governor, anu addressing him in terms
of perfect equality, said: Your excel
lency, the governor of Virginia, and
gentlemen Of this convention; it is with
much pleasure and qualification that
introduce to you Mr.. +. V. POwderly, of
Pennsylvania, who will reply to the adj
dress of welcome of Governor Lee, of
his state, which is one of the oldest
states in the arena Of politics, and one of
the most influential in the history of
this nation" Mr.. POwderly then took
the platform and delivered an ad-
dress, which ii Is not the purpose of this
editorial to review. No more sugges-
tive gathering than that now assembled
IL hlCuuOuu COulu well De COuCtlNtu OLE
The opening, SO dramatic, so suggestive
of Il dead past, may lead TO close in
volyng the veal or woe of free labor in
America for generations to come. The
lines Of incident converging to this point
are plainly seen; they lead from the death
OF slavery to the birth of a new day and
a new destiny for the laboring hosts.
Whether that day shall brighten and
gladden. to meridian splendor, or be early
obscured with clouds and dreary mists,
will very largely depend upon the wis
dom and foresight ofthe representatives
now assembled in the capital of the ex-
cOnfederacy.
The Times miscOnslrues the silence of
the LIGHT on the democratic nomina-
tiOns. The republican party has no can
didates In the field for county officers,
and outside of republican party nomina-
tons the LIGHT is taking no interest in
political matters just now. In many re-
spects the democratic party nominations
are damning enough without any cur
sing from opposition journals. Con-
demned by the leading democratic
daily of the county, it was not necessary
that republican journal should echo
that condemnation. II the Times wants
an opinion, however, 1t is this, The
democratic nomination ia very largely