The Wilmingtonian., 1886-05-15
VOL. VINO. S22.

bly, motion was cast to boycott the paper :;
not that alone. but every person who adver-
tised in the columns Of the paper | wrote
to the assembly asking that they remove
the boycott, and it was done. We must
bear in mind that the general master work
man is only a man, and is not above criticism.
We demand for ourselves "the right of free
speech We cannot consistently deny it to
others. We must tolerate fair, open criti
cism. If a reply is necessary make it in
gentlemanly, dignfed manner. If we are
criticised or abused by blaokguard sheet,
treat it as you would the b!ackguard himself
in silence. That our aims and objects are
good, is no reason Why our members should
be regarded as beings of superior build or
material. We are no moro the salt Of the
earth than the millions of unknown tolers
who do the work Of the world. In our deal
ings with laborers and capitalists we must
deal justly and fairly by them. If we would
have it equally done to us, we in turn must
do equally others. This is the aim of the
Knights of Labor, and must not be lost sight
of in future Let me direct your attention
to few little abuses find that wherever
a strike occurs, appeals for aid are scattered
broadcast among the assemblies. Do not
pay one cent for such purposes in future I'M
less the appeal comes from your own district
assembly or the general assembly. If boy
colt notices are sent to you, burn them. l
have in my possession 400 boycott notices
which were sent to assemblies with request
that they be acted upon. Let me mention
some OF them. A member is editing a pap
er; he fears rival and proceeds to get into
an alteration with him. boycotts him, and
then asks the order to carry it out. A GER
tain paper is influential in one or the other
of the political parties. Members of the op-
posing party conceive the idea of getting rid
of the paper and they invoke the aid Of the
Knights of Labor, first taking the preeaution
to have the paper in question say something
uncomplimentary of the Knights of Labor.
In fact our order has been used as tail for
hundred different kites and in future it
must soar aloft free from all Of them /
hate the word boycott
CAPITALISTS ARE NOT ENEMIES.
Men who own capital are not our enemies.
If that theory held good, the workman Of to-
day would be the enemy of his fellow toiler
on the morrow. For after all, it is how to
acquire capital and how use it properly that
we are endeavoring to learn. No. The man
Of capital is not necessarily the enemy OF the
llborer. On the contrary they must be
brought closer together. am well aware
that some extremists will say | am advoca-
ting weak plan and will say that bloodshed
and destruction of property alone will solve
the problem, III man speaks such senti-
ments in an assembly, read for him the
charge which the master workman repeats
to the newly initiated who joins our "army
of peace. If he repeats his nonsense, put
him out. In the hands of men entirely
great the pen is mightier than the sword.
To that add In the hands of men entirely
mouth, the gun is harmless as his sword,
TO DRINKING MEMBERS,
To our drinking members extend the
hand of kindness. l hate the uses to which
rum has been put, but it is my duty to reach
down and lift up the man who has fallen a
victim to the use Of liquor. If there is such
man within the sound Of the secretary Is
voice when this is read, ask him to stand
erect on the floor of his assembly, raise his
hand to heaven, and repeat with me these
words 81 am Knight of Labor. | believe
that every man should be free from the curse
of slavery, whether the slavery appears in
the shape of monopoly, ,usury or ntemperance
The firmest link in the chain of oppression is
the one forge when drown manhood and
reason to drink. No man can rob me of the
brain my God has given me unless | am {
party to the theft. If | drink to drown
grief, bring grief to wife, child, and sorrow
ing friends. | add not one iota to the sum
Of human happiness when invite oblivion
over the rim Of glass. If one moments
| forgetfulness or inattcntion to duty while
drunk brings defeat to tine least of labor
plans, lifetime of attention to dut,
alone can repair the loss. | promise neve
again to put myself in such position" L
every member of the Knights of Labo
would only pass resolution to boycott
strong drink so far as he is concerned, fol
five years, and would pledge his word t,
study the labor question from its ditferen
stand points, we would then have an irwin
cib'e host arrayed on the side of justice.
|