The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-10-07
RICHMOND.
THE RACE QUESTION GRE
ATES A DISTURBANCE
AMONG THE KNIGHTS.
WHITES AND NEGROES TO BE AID.
MITTED To THE SAME BALL
ROOM FLOOR.

the Knights of Labor in the armory of the First
Virginia regiment in this city.
The session was to be an open one, and In addt-
ton TO large body of delegates, there were as
many others not of the order as could find seats,
and shared what little standing room there was
with its members. The large room Looked like an
immense banqueting hall, with tables furnished of
plain boards, near the length of the room, in rows
as close together as the possibility of moving be-
tween them would permit. On either eide
these tables were seated the delegates.
The sound of the master workman's gavel still
e-echoed when Gen. Fitzhugh Lee governor of
Virginia, entered. Mr. Powderly introduced him
to the members. When the applause that broke
forth at the mention of his name permitted him
to do so, Gov. Lee said:
We are told, gentlemen, that the organization
you represent is formed to elevate and protect the
rights of the working class Why, who are inter
fering with your rightss Who trampes upon your
rights as American citizensY Organized capital,
do heary Against that is war declaredy VIII II
be war to the knife, and knife to the hilt or will
there be peaceful issue to the conflict which, in
y0%F tRe PGn mtsrass Is Of sosS The hPe@
by men of different and apparently irrecon-
ciliable ways-and the constitution were only
framed by compromise of all conflicting opinions.
Compromise, then, gave us our constitution, and
compromise will solve the difficult problems of
the hour which you have assembled here to Crap
pie with The battle, we are told, is one of labor
against capital But what class of capitalists are
depressing youg What coursei is injurious to youg
The lines marked out by the founders of the re-
public divide capitalists into two kinds, and we
| will 90 with you and give the command: "For-
ward and fght' by your side, against one of those
classes Make war against Incorporated rascality.
We will help you ride it down. Combat the great
money corporations that seek to control legela-
lures, federal and state, by bribery and corruption,
in order that they may get votes in the federal halls
of legislation, TO perfect and fasen upon the whole
country legislation for their benefit not for the
| benefit of the people at large. We
will march shoulder to shoulder with you on that.
Organize against capitalists who furnish money to
carry elections and then claim as their reward the
| right to select men upon whose shoulders shall be
thrown the purple robe of the judiciary, and we
are with you in that But all capital, capital, my
friends is not used in this way, nor for such vicious
purposes. Let us make no war upon those who
use their good fortunes to alleviate suffering man
kind; whose eulogies are written In the hearts of
| thousands sn account of their generous donations
and noble deeds, and whose money is employed 10
| whiten the ocean with sails and cause wharVes to
| be laden with commerce. Employers, as has been
well said, have no right to lock out a whole shop
full of hands to bring few unwilling ones to
terms; nor have they, in my opinion, the right to
elgage with other employers TO fix the rate OF pay,
| or compel all to remain idle.
The large audience listened with close attention,
frequent applause approving of the. principal
points made. When the governor had taken his
seat on the platform, Frank j. Farrell, a colored
member of delegation district No. 40, whose as
sociaes refused to take up. quarters in hotel in
which he was refused admission on an equal foot
ing, assembled the platform. Taking a stand be-
side the presiding officers table, he said:
His eXcellency, the governor of Virginia, and
gentlemen of the convention: II is with much
qualification that | introduce to you Mr., r. v.
| Powdery, of Pennsylvania, who VIII reply to the
address of welcome of Governor Lee, of this state,
which is Of the Oldest in the arena of political
| influence of our country.
Whom Mr. Powderly stepped forward, he was re-
ceived with loud applause.
powDERLY's SPEECH
Mr.. Powderly, general master workman, ex-
| pressed qualification at the welcome he which had
been given the knights by the people of Virginia.
and more especially the people of Richmond.
| Mr.. Powderly continuing, said
"Men who owe allegiance TO the Knighte Of La
Dor are engaged in a conflict but II s one of truth
against error. 1t is not as many honestly believe
| and many more dishonesty assert, war of labor
| against capital. It If war in which the manhood
of the American laborer Is fighting for recognition.
In this war 1t must be determined which shall rule
monopoly or the American people, gold man
hood. Our battles are not fought for the purpose
of determining whether the individual shall rule
the state empire, but to decide whether the peo-
PIE who entitled to life, liberty and happiness,
shall have in the full enjoyment of their rights
and liberties, as becomes the citizens of the repub
lie. No member must feel, as he turns away from
the city of Richmond, after our work here is done,
that he can safely or conscientiously thrust aside
the grave responsibilities and duties Of our
American citizenship
Popular disregard of political duty and tolerated
continuance of political corruption will weaken
our government and destroy our liberties, for the
worm can eat its way through the oak which storm
and tempest could not bend. Political dishonesty
will strike where the lightning could never reach.
II this land is worthy that brave man should die
for 1t, II Is worthy that unselfsh thoughtful men
should live and work in grand devotion to the ideas
of real, true democracy.
We come here not alone to settle a question Of
dispute in regard TO wages or hours of labor. We
come here partly to study and learn some lessons
of the head and heart In practical citizenship. We
are engaged in work which, 10 the thoughtful OBJ
server, Ineans more than chids play; more than
the regulations of trade matter, and the work will
not end to-day; nor will the youngest among US
live to see 1t completed,
To remedy the evils we complain Of is diff
cult and dangerous undertaking, and the need of
etreng hearts, active brains, was never 30 great
at the present time.
The lash was stricken from the hand II the
slave owner of twenty five years ago, and II must
be taken from the hand of the new slave owner as
we'll. The monopolist of to-day ls more danger
Gus than the slave owner Of the past. Monopoly
takes the land from the people In million acre
plots. II sends its agents abroad, brings hordes
of unedueated men in this country; II imports ig-
norance scatters itbroadcast throughout the land;
IL and II alone is responsible for every manifesto
ton OF anarchy that our country has witnessed.
All men may not be willing to admit this state
ment true, but when monopoly dies no more an
archists will be born into this country for an
archy IL the Legitimate child of monopoly
While condemn and denounce the deeds Of yio-
lence committed in<he name OF labor during the
present year, am proud to say that the knights
OF Labor, as an organization, is not In any way
feepOnslDle fOr eucn conduct. lie 10 true hnlghJ
of Labor who with one hand clutches anarchy by
the throat, and with the other strangles monopoly
We are told that II Ia because Of the importation
of so many ignorant foreigners that anarchy has
shown It's head In our country. Rather Is II true
that because Of the importation OF foreign airs
manners and graces by the wealthy, we have tor
gotten what tits that constitutes true citizen OF
the republic.
The man who still believes In the little red
school house on the hill should take a holiday
visit 70 the mine, factory, coal breaker and mill
There doing the work Of men will he find the
future citizens of the republic, breathing an At
mosphere Of dust, ignorance and vice
The history Of our county Il not taught
within these walls. The struggle for independence
and the causes leading 20 that struggle are not
spoken Of there. The name Of q Washington iB
unknown: the words that rang out trumpet
tongued from the lips Of Patrick Henry never men
toned. Our country, her history, her laws and
institutions are unknown 10 these poor children.
How, then, can child Of a foreigner learn 10 ap-
preciate the freedom that they have never been
told about, much less appreciated
The questions Of wages, OF the hours of labor,
shop discipline, or some other matter, may cause
a rupture here or there b stween workmen and
their employers, but they can readily eette Il II
mutual liberation and common sense are brought
into the controversy, and once settled they should
be allowed 10 rest Continual reminders Of past
troubles often create new ones. To those who
have fallen into such habits, / would recommend
the ADVICE yon so appropriately gave 20 critic not
long since: "Stop fighting; the war is over"
thenk you, and through you,a people of his