The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-04-29

case is that none of the numerous strikes
with which the country has been afflicted
seem TO have been justifable. Even the
more intelligent of the strikers themselves,
as well as prominent leaders of the knights
of Labor admit this No doubt great ma
iority of the strikers would have continued
10 work for their employers had they not
been ordered to quit by hotheads like Martin
Irons who had no shadow Of legal or moral
right 10 interfere with what was, most en-
phatically, none of their business.
Every man has an inalienable right to sell
his labor to whomsoever he chooses and on
just such terms and conditions as he may
choose. and no blatherskite like Dick IRE
vellick or Martin Irons, has right to inter
fere with him, or prevent his SO doing.
When this personal liberty is interfered with
as it has been during the recent strikes,
when men are ordered to quit work and
compelled to obey such orders against their
better judgment and through fear of per-
sonal violence, they cease to be free citizens
and become slaves to the most contemplate
and reprehensible tyranny. The American
people are proverbially long suffering but
they will not forever tolerate such tyrannical
and unwarranted interference with the
rights and privileges of any class of citizens.
And not only have the strikes led to disaster
and stagnation OF business and suffering
among laboring men, but they have led to
much wanton destruction of property and
to loss of life.
AS an institution, the Knights of Labor
have been regarded verv favorably by the
people, and if their efforts should be con-
fined to the legitimate work of the order as
explained and detailed by General Master
Workman Powderly in his letters and in his
testimony before the congressional labor
committee, they can but result in benefit to
the laboring man But there is no DISCUS
ing or gainsaying the fact that the strikes,
especially the great railroad strike. that have
been so prolific of disaster and suffering,
were ordered by some of the leaders OF that
order, and that they have been endorsed,
maintained and upheld by the order. True,
its members disavow and claim to discoun-
and wanton destruction of property and all
responsibility for the riots that have taken
place and for the loss of life that has resulted
in consequence thereof. But the fact re-
mains, nevertheless, that the strikes were
inaugurated and ordered by their leaders, and
that without such action on their part they
would never have occurred. Reasonable
men, everywhere, whether connected with
the Knights of Labor or not, concede that
there was no good cause for such state of
affairs as has afflicted the country, and the
order should not complain that it is and will
be held responsible in the matter, and that
it has forfeited, in large degree, the conf
dence and good will of the people of the
country. The order owes it to itself and to
the people to bring, as it undoubtedly can.
existing strikes to speedy close. and to
take measures to prevent their recurrence.
Other, more American, more peaceful and
more legitimate means can be devised for
settling differences between employers and
employees. Strikes should seldom be re-
sorted to in free country like ours, boy
colts never. Should the great and power
ful organization of the knights of Labor
fail to apprehend its duty in this matter
or. seeing its duty, fail to perform it. it will
lose its power for good. forfeit entirely the
confidence and good will of the people, and
its decadence will be even more rapid than
has been its growth.