Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-16
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Great Work Which They Propose
 -The Good and Evil in 1t.

From the Providence Journal
 The organization of the Knights of Labor is attracting great deal of attention at this time. 1t is the most numerous, the most widespread and the most powerful of the trades unions or organizations of working men which have ever existed in the United States, and is perhaps without rival in this regard in any country It aims, as we un- derstand it, at nothing less than combina- tion of all the wage-workers of the country into one organized body for the purpose of mutual protection and elevation by all means consistent with peace, harmony and the good order of society, and it is governed or at tempted to be governed to that end by se- cret council of administration like federal government, with a central authority of ex- ecutive and judicial power and representa- tive bodies of local jurisdiction.
 Such an organization would naturally at tract the attention of the philanthropist, the student of social phenomena, the patriotic and the selfish politician, and all who have an interest in the welfare of the community as well those directly concerned. the workingman, who hopes to be benefited by it's action, and the employer, who appre- hends or has experienced what he believes to be attack and uniustifable and inju1i- ous interference. x What is significant is that the Knights of Labor begin their work by the profession of a conciliatory spirit, and an antagonism to the wild theories of communism and socialism which, we would fain believe, are repugnant to the great body of intelligent American workingmen
 It is a great work which they have under taken, to organize and still more to hold to- gether the great mass of worki9gmen with their often conflicting trade interests, to and int, 6,,,1y, government, to exercise and, still more, to restrain its force, and to survive the disap- pointment of the extravagant hopes and the non- -fulfllment of impossible ends; these will try the wisdom, the patience and the skill of the most intelligent body ot men in the world, and we may frankly say that it will be hardly less than a miracle if it suc- ceeds at this time and in this form. Mean while as it exists, it is to be recognized, to be commended when it's ends are wholesome and good, and to be met, argued with and antagonized so far they are mistaken and injurious. In so far as it teaches tolerance, temperance, frugality, harmony and mutual support and protection to reasonable and proper extent, which does not interfere with the rights of others, it deserves commenda- tion and approval. An evil which may come from it, and which is to be opposed, is the creation of class feeling, calculated to make a caste of the workingmen, separate even CnOugn not nOStl16 to the rest or the community. This would be grave harm to them and to the community, and do more to prevent their rise to independence and in dividual prosperity than any benefits of pro lection or aggregate improvement. Finally SO far the organization and it's action may tend to antagonize enterprise and check the courage and confidence of capital it will have direct and injurious effect upon their prosperity. The workingmen should have intelligence enough to knew and considera- tion enough to feel that the men whose abil- ity, courage and enterprise have created and carry on the great industrial works by which they live are as necessary to their livelihood as their labor is to the creation of wealth, and that they and ought to be friends rather than enemies. There will be ques- tions of the proper share of reward and an tagenisms of individual interests, for tho world is selfish, but, whole, thrift, en- tcrprise and ability does not receive dis proportionate reward in this country, and a class ahtagonism between labor and capital would be the extremity of folly.
 Finally, it would be strange if in this new development and experiment of cont bined labor dealing with capital there were not blunders, antagonisms, bitterness and per haps injustice on both sides. The millen- nium for wage workers is not at hand. Neither is the reign of socialism, eommu- nism and the destruction of free develop ment and independence imminent. Forbear- ance, mutual consideration, tolerance and kindliness are not only the virtues but the wisdom for the time. AS said ill the Koren-'Ye have strength and thoughts, and ye have compassiOn on one anOthern