The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-03-30
An Editor Who Pr0nOunces IL an
Evidence of "Higher Civ
ilizati0n."
Is 1t a Weapon for the Protection
of Homes Against the
Shyl0cks!
Is Boycott an Evidence That an
Employer Has WrOnged His
Employees.

of "The Boycott" appeared in the ed
itorial columns of the Sedalia Demo
crat of December 81, last-a little
more than two and One-half months
ago
There is great cry against the
boycott" raised by parties who have
not given the matter the close study
that is requisite for a proper under
standing of the great weapon of the
workingman. The boycott is indeed
an evidence of higher civilization and
is as far above the action of the courts
as the legal machinery is above trial
of right by arms. In the early days
of man, when might made right, an
injury to an individul was followed by
a fight; later on the courts were or
dained with pompous paraphernalia to
try the causes of difference. AS the
world grew in wisdom the courts lost
some of their pomp and simpler meth
DDS were used, but still the machinery
was costly to both parties, and abuses
of office at times made it impossible
for the poor and oppressed to receive
justice against their wealthy and more
powerful neighbor.
The boycott has been used for a
number of years, and in an ostracism
from society, has been a powerful
weapon used for the protection of
homes against those who are morally
wrong. The action has been used but
no name has been applied to the force
or power until Captain Boycott found
himself to be an outcast from the
society of his fellow man because of
an order of a land league in Ireland.
The complete victory of the system in
his case became known to the world
and gave the name to this engine of
punishment that is so effective in its
action. 1t is not the lowly and OPP
pressed alone who use this weapon,
but for ages society has used it to keep
out those have shown themselves to be
lacking in those things essential to the
advancement of the moral tone of the |
world. ALI men are In themselves
natural boycotters and endeavor in a |
small way to injure the business of
those who have done them harm.
But it remains for the combination of |
forces to make the boycott a true
weapon for good or evil. The band,
ing together of the laboring men in
unions for mutual protection and the
uniting of those unions into Trades
assemblies with one common cause
the welfare of the laborer-makes the
use of the boycott their sole reliance
in the time of danger. The oppres-
sions of the poor; the grindings of
monopolists; the injury to the laborer
can not be remedied by suit at law,
but those organizations have placed in
their hands legal weapon far more
powerful than the edict of any court
in the land. 1t is not necessary to go
into detailed statement of the man.
ner of working and the efficacy of &C
ton of the boycott. Our own city
has shown the workings of it and the
proof of its efficient action was before
our eyes. Merchants and manufac-
turers fear the boycott, and fear it
Justly. Statistics show that 237 cases
of boycott have occurred in the past
two years that have come to public
knowledge and in every case the
trouble ended in the great financial
distress of the party boycotted. To
be boycotted now means that the
or manufacturer has been
unjust towards his fellow man, for
boycott Is never started on man un-
ess he refuses to abide by an arbitra-
ion of his difficulties by disinterested
parties; and to be boycotted throws
IS much stain upon a mans business ,
integrity as to allow his notes to 60 to :
protest. 1t does not only injure the c
business at the time, but forever the G
tain clings to him, and evidence
hows that it takes years to recover .