The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-06-11
The Boycott.

SnOulu England declare war against
the United States she would attempt to
boycott our commerce by blockading
our ports with powerful men-of-war. In
revolutionary days our good great
grandmothers boycotted the tea mer-
chants, while our valiant grandfathers
threw lot of it into Boston harbor, to
say nothing of resistance to the Stamp
Act and the resolution to use no English
productions.
Our government now boycotts foreign
goods by tariff to large per cent. of
their value. The earnest temperance
women try to boycott liquor dealers.
Formerly, anti-slavery men were thor
oughly boycotted at the South, and, in
deed, at the North. while the subjects
of it as resolutely boycotted anything
contaminated by slave labor. Does a
politician or partisan journal fall out
of the party ranks, they are quickly
boycottcd Capital blacklists labor and
labor boycotts capital
Boycotting is but new name for an
old and common practice. Aristides
was ostracised by the people because
they were tired of hearing him called
'.The Just" Christ and the early
Christians were prescribed and cruelty
prosecuted. Even in modern times
non-conformists to the established
church have experienced good degree
Of ~ io1
circles continually taboo those outside
their set. A poor, unfortunate woman
is mercilessly ostracised by her sisters.
The boycotting now in vogue with
labor organizations is proclaimed as
an attempt to offset the tyranny of
capital. Although disorganizing for the
time, its process is educational, leading
as it does all classes to consider the
problem presented and try TO solve it.
1t is a form of civil warfare in which
moral forces are engaged. Violence
or injury to property legitimately forms
no part of it, though often incidental.
/ Ireland after generations of malad-
/ ministration commanded a hearing
( through cruel boycott. 1t is a crude
and barbarous way of righting wrongs,
/ but it seems at times inevitable. America
had to fight for independence. Tyranny
in France and slavery here were
scourged to death by bloody wars.
Wrongs as well as rights retreat for
defense behind statute laws which can
not regulate the complicated relations
of social life and industrial activities.
Liberty and property each proclaims
itself as sacred. Suppose their claims
are antagonistc on point not covered
by any statute law, and neither will
yield, what is the duty of the stateP lst.
To keep the peace and prevent injury
to person and property. 2nd. If the
subject be matter of public interest,
like railroad franchise, let the State
inquire into the trouble and order a
public officer in the mean time to take
charge of the road and run it pro bono
publsco until the company can do so.
Personal rights and considerations
should always have precedence over
property rights. as persons are superior
to property They establish the State
and not property the State; they are
action, property is passion. Social SEN
tment fashions society. and dynamite
will clear the way for its expression if
necessary. Through its free action a
higher evolution IS wrought.
By the aggregation of capital and the
inception of great enterprises, small es-
Establishments have been ruined, and ablc
men forced into the ranks of wage-earn-
crs They comprehend the situation,
understand both sides cf the problem,
and can be trusted to counsel wisely
with capitalists. Or if the present con
flicts should force them into general
profit sharing or integral corporation,
and thus end the capitalistic wage sys.
tenn and restore them to manly indus.
trial freedom, the prize would be
cheaply won at almost any price
Like the foremost statesman of the
age, let us appreciate the situation,
conquer our prejudices, and give {
good degree of Home Rule to our Ire
land of Labor, paraphrasing slightly his
language:
1--WE have come to the time for deci
sive action; have come to the time fol
throwing aside not only private inter
csts and partial affections, but private
devices and partial remedies; have come
to the time for looking at the whole
breadth of this subject and cndeavorins
to compass it in our minds; when W.
must answer this question whether VIZ
will make one bold attempt in thu
great and necessary work of establish
ing industrial harmony or whether WI
: will continue to struggle on as we have
done, living from hand to mouth, leav
ing society to a famine of useful i'm
provements and to continuance o
social disorder, of a social disease tha
we know not how to deal with, an an
CRY discord which we make no attemp
to cure. "Teras Sytinys.