Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-16
Boyootting.


DOyCOtI was all IL lShLiah' LIS ~
litical opinions were obnoxious TO
his neighbors and they resolved upon
a system of non-intercourse with
him. Nobody would buy from or
sell to him. Laborers refused to dig
his potatoes or husband his grain.
Storekeepers dare not so much as
sell TO him the food necessary for the
support of himself and his family
His fields remained untitled and UNI
cared for, life Whereabouts became to
him impossible, and he soon found
his departure a necessity. The new
and peculiar treatment he received
was deemed, by those who admins
tered it, so pronounced a success
that they called it by his name, and
now the use of the word "boycotting"
is co-extensive with the language.
The thing it represents has since been
turned to many uses, until lately 1t
has reached the strange denouement
in Ireland, that the people of whole
parishes have refused to attend
churches in which boycotted individ-
uals have chosen to worship God. II
seems that under and by virtue of
the terrorism of boycotting, a man is
not only to be avoided in this world
but Stunned III the next. This sys-
TEN, born of Irish ideas of liberty,
has found its way to this country,
and is rapidly becoming American
lied. No longer is it the inalienable
right of the American citizen to pur-
sue happiness in his own way. No
longer may he eat drink and be
clothed as lie wills. No longer may
he employ whom he pleases or serve
whom he desires. No longer is he
free man, but a serf to any ire
sponsible combination of men, who
may issue in secret or openly, as best
pleases them, the dread ukase, which
far transcends in tyranny anything
that ever issued from the Gar of all
the Russias. Let the tyrants of the
hour but pronounce the edict-"Boy'
colt him"-and he might as well be
dead, unless he has the means 10 be.
take himself 10 some happy spot
where boycotting is deemed sneaking
cowardly, unmanly and un-Ameri'
can, and altogether unworthy of this
liberty-loving people and age. 1t il
the Chinese who are the victims to-
day, but it will be somebody else TO-
morrow. Indeed, already are Others
being victimized. Once recognized
as laudable and permissible proceed
ing and there will be no scotching O.
this deadly serpent. Amy man who
lie courageous enough to hold an un
popular opinion will be driven Out
by the fools and knaves who believe
that Demos is God. The liberty Of
the individual to do right will be
suppressed, whilst the liberty of the
many to do wrong will be paramount
There is no telling where the thing
will end, but this much is certain
Boycotting will always be weapon
used by the strong against the weak
That is inseparable from the nature
of the thing. The strong can resist
ana uefeat III, ana therefore III VIII
never be applied TO them. That il
why it is sneaking and cowardly in
its very essence. Surely it can never
take root and thrive upon American
soil. 1t is an evil, noxious and for
eign weed that ought 10 be strangled
at once lest it become acclimatized
Meanwhile it will be well for the
demagogues TO remember that boy.
cotting is not the legal thing some Of
them believe it to be. 1t is an un.
doubted conspiracy, and as such il
punishable both criminally and civil
/ y. No set of men, however numer'
Gus, may conspire to rob another o.
his property, his means Of living OIL
his good name, fame or credit, or dc
aught to bring him into ridicule ant
contempt in the community in which
he lives without rendering them
selves amendable to the payment Of
money compensation and condigr
punishment. We shall be surprised
if the weight of the law is not mad,
to fall upon some foolish people be
fore we hear the last of boycotting.