The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-19
o~,x FAIR PROFIT WANTED.

FRIDAY. MARCH 10, 1886
ONLY A PAIR PROFIT WANTED.
When railroad companies want any
thing from the public or from legislat-
i've authority they plead that railroads
are a great public necessity; that the
iron highway is our true civiliser, and
the world would go backward II the
work Of railways we're brought to &
pause. This is certainly true, but the
people and the working classes have
some rights which the roads are bound
to respect Charters are granted by
the Legislatures, lands are given "
Congress and the right Of way across
private domains for the benefit OF the
public az we'll as the stockholders.
But the railroad magnates do not care
q penny for the public, aud take
the position that the roads are built
''by men who invest their money and
expect to get only fair profit" What
il a fair pro6t7 The wealth of the
Stanfords, Crockers, Goulds, Hunting
tons and Vanderbilt, represent
ing as Il does something sur
passing the dreams Of Aladdin
and Monte Cristo, has been accumu'
lated rom these fair profits
ON railway investments. To them
the wealth OF the country, its devel-
opment, its growth and its prosperity
are nothing, except go far as these
things pour new streams OF wealth
into their Golfers. Hiring one man TO
do two mems work is part OF the
admirable system by which railroad
maOnates are able to build palncee,
buy princely works Of art, and skim
the cream from every material pleas
ure that the world affords. This
pleasure and wealth are the products
Of depressing labor. II workingmen
received a fair compensation there
would be more equitable division OF
wealth, not on the agrarian plan, but
the wealth earned by honest toll,
Capital and labor have locked horns,
and the contest will 90 on until ad'
justed by the patriotism and justice Of
the country. The Knights Of Labor
will gradually drag into their ranks sl
the laboring classes just as the lesdini
seces sionists dragged the whole South
into the rebellion. The organization
Of the Knights OF Labor is now 30 thor
ough that at the signal every maj
and woman must stop work. Their
can be no resistance. The order i
absolute and imperative. Their per
sonal preference may be to remain a
their post, because a weeks idlenes
brings hunger and want 70 wives anC
children, but these considerations ar
not TO be consulted. Good workmen
also, who for any reason do not carr
10 associate themselves with the or
der, or come under It's pleasure, suffe
great hardships from It's operations
They End themselves excluded iron
employment, and the means OF gain
ing living Tor themselves aud thei
families. But this is the only syster
on which an organization of this kin
can be run. 1t is the old system {
absolutism, the subordination OF ind
vidual rights and interests to the res
welfare of the many, Better relation
between capital and labor will be tn
outgrowth Of this conflict, provided tn
laboring classes violate no law, comm
no outrage upon the rights Of othon
Through the gioEth, the wealth, tn
arrogance Of great corporations, tn
need of some effective plan Of dc
Tense for the mMsss-the men an
women whose labor and skill are ei
sential to the success of the world
material interests-hfs long been fell
The itsue has come, and IL cannot b
evaded, and the sooner II is met tn
better for the whole country.