Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-10-23
THE COLORED NAN AND THE
KNIGHTS OF la OR.

NJ
KNIGHTS OF La Dor.
We give below fair average of
newspaper comment on the question
recently made in Richmond about
the presence of q. colored Knight OF
Labor. We give both sides:
RqIefqh Ne,os & Observer Dem. Oct. 7.
1t is well that our people should
be warned in time of the new and
vile use to which the Knights Of La
Dor organization is to be put--that
is to say, if the Southern Knights
will consent thus to be used. viii
they? We don't believe it.
Charleston Ncos, Dem. oct. !.
The rushing OF the negro Farrell
into the theatre at Richmond, by the
New York Knights Of Labor dele
gates, shows that the spirit that ami
mated Billy Wilson's famous New
York zouaves in civil war times is
still pervading certain sections of
New York society. How does Gov
ernor Lee feel after making aorid
address of welcome to such a crowd?
ftttsburgh Com. Gazette, Rep. Oct. T.
Mr.. Blaine's lesson to the work
men concerning impositions on col
ored mechanics of the South, reaJ, in
his great speech during the recent
campaign in Maine, has been aptly
learned by Mr.. Powderly. The dash
ing leader of the Knights fully real
res now great menace to the Amer
lean toiler is cheap Southern labor,
and he brings that fact plainly home
to the people of Richmond in his
letter.
Phaddelphfo Press Rep. J oct. 10.
No one has accused Mr. Powderly
of being a demagogue, and yet by
comparing his language and that of
Mr.. Blaine, it will be seen that their
opinions on this question coincide to
a remarkable degree. They both
occupy substantially the same
ground. Each looks on the problem
in the same light. and each sees the
same menace to labor from the pres.
ent condition ofthe coIored working.
man in the South. nothing more
than clear comprehension of the
dangers threatening labor from this
source should result from the pres
mt session of the Knights it will
prove to be II fruitful meeting for
hem and all laboring men.
baltimore Sun Ind } oct. IS.
The colored labor Of the South is
or the most part unskilled, and be-
NO engaged in agriculture, is not
'rought into competition with the
rider of the Knights of Labor, which
0 far, at least, is an organization of
killed and partially skilled labor
ngaged in mechanical industries.
t is to be regretted, therefore, that
ar. Powderly has, even in appear
nee, been caught by Mr. Blaine's
allacy, and has been tempted to
onfuse social with labor questions.
New York World Dem. Oct. 10.
Mr.. Powderly is brave in standing
or the equal rights Of all men, with
1ut respect to race, color, opinion or
belief. Social equality can be left
to take care of itself. But the equal |
rights, equal privileges, and equal |
duties of all men before the law can
not be too strenuously insisted on.
1t is the principle that makes Amer.
lea the favored land of all the world.
1t is strange that "a leader of the
Knights Of Labor should incur any
prejudice for maintaining in the home
of Jefferson and of Patrick Henry
that "all men are created equal and
are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienahle rights among
which, as essential to '.life, liberty,
and the pursuit Of happiness, is the
right TO labor and to join in organi-
cations of laborers that are deemed
necessary to their protection and
welfare. There is no place in the
republic for a color line in respect to
national rights
---Azssa2z~----
Mr. JoHN 7 SILER, Of Morgan