Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-05-29
A FEW REFLECTIONS.

Dldlucu lOf DelnS IOO HuuCH vi tiiO oiuS
of the Strikers indeed it has been
mildly boycotted in one or two direc-
lions therefor. Of course these little
boycotts are more rep%rehensible than il
they came from less informed mel
who thought themselves the subjects OF
wrongs. Let all that be as it may, il
is a very small matter, and does not in
the least deter us from expressing ouI
honest and independent views. We
use the word Independent particularly
because some of the very men who
talk the most in favor of independence
in a newspaper are the first to visit II
with their displeasure and vengeance Ii
its independence leads it to express al
opinion contrary to their views or in
terests.
A very good friend, and a most excel
lent man, said to us not long ago, thai
we would do much better if we were
not quite so independent, and did moi
tread on so many peoples toes. Thai
is, if we were less honest. He did moi
mean that, but that is what it amounts
to. He did not intend to accuse us Of
discourteous language, but of ventur-
ing to criticize certain persons and i'll
slitutions capable of rendering us SER
vice in patronage, etc. This is ont
way of looking at journalism. 1t in
wolves a convenient muzzling of a news
paper, making of it a negative kind OF
machine as to opinions, and turning lis
columns INTO general and promiscuous
puffery. Very likely there is money
in that, but it must get to be a little
n~auseating at last.
However, we did not start out to
write all this; it seems to have flowed
naturally from the first sentence OF
two. What we did intend to say is.
while we feel very kindly to the
Knights of Labor as an organization
seeking by proper methods to anchor
ate the condition of working men, that
we deem it to be a duty to reiterate
our warning of two weeks ago against
permitting a secret society to take part
IN our politics. 1t is un-American, I'M
democratic, unrep ublican, and cannot
be tolerated.
To be plain, a few weeks ago the
knights of Labor in this city permitted
themselves to be used for the purpose
of electing two school directors. Thai
they did SO was patent; Knights have
admitted to rs that it was done, and
we are glad to say that all those who
have spoken to us upon the subject
now think they did wrong. But we have
not seen all the membership. 1t is
generally believed that there has been
desire upon the part of certain gen.
tlemen to repeat this experiment. lin the
city election. Can it be dOne?, That
is the question! Is there to be q
secret meeting a night n two before
the election to fix up a ticket? We
cannot say. We know that the better
men in the order oppose such action.
Are they strong enough to prevent it !
Look at the %unfairness of the thing
Probably with the united Knight Of
Labor vote, and a few accessions from
other sources, that body might be able
to carry the city election, in which they
have neither more nor less interest
than other citizens. To do this they
must meet together, in secret, where
the public cannot come, discuss the
matter and select their candidates. In
such a meeting the demagogues who
have joined the order, not because they
are themselves work-people or wage
earners, but because they have desired
to use it to get trade or political place,
both, will be apt to come to the
front. To carry their point they viii
laud their candidates and belittle
others. If the first are Knights Of
Labor and the latter are not, what
chance does it give those who are not
Is this fair play? Is it honest? Is
there a Knight of Labor who would
like to be so treated-accused of this,
that or the other with no chance to re-
ply. AS for ourselves we belong t.
two secret societies, and have done sc
for years. They are benevolent an6
charitable, based upon the highest
name in earth or heaven, and we arr
attached to them, but were either t.
attempt, directly or indirectly, behin(
its guarded door, to NEEDLE with poll
tics, we should abandon 1t tomorrow
and use what little influence we hav,
against its further existence.
The society of the Knights of Labor
confined to those lawful principle
which it avows through its chief, is
good and a deserving organization ,laud
able in its ends, and worthy to be Ell
thought of 10y all men. By acting from
the bottom instead of the top, follow
ing its ignorance rather than its intel
ligence, and by countenancing lawless
ness, if not directly responsible for it
the order has set itself back five year
in Its mission. At least we tear so
We hope not; and it depends upon tn
wisdom, the temperance and the con
servatism of its councils whether O
not it shall recover earlier than thai
In nothing can it sooner reinstate itse
in the public confidence than by spew
ing out its demagogues who have jon
it for gain and Office. An independen
course in this particular will win bac
many of the friends who have bee
alienated from it. Public opinion is
big thing in this country. 1t is som
times wrong, temporarily. The pas
sion of the moment, a demagogue
appeal, prejudice or w~hat-not, ma
sway it for a while, but give it tim
and it is ure to reach the right col
clusiOn. With public opinion on i
side the Knights can succeed; withou
they are defeated ere the battle h;
been fairly joined.
Princes have their courtiers al
f%atterers, blending the pregnant hing
of the knee that thrift may folio
tawnIng.' The combined power Of IL
Knights of Labor will bring to the