National Republican., 1886-10-05
Knights of Labor Convention.

The opening day Of the great convention
at Richmond was rendered peculiarly inn
portant, as much by the speech Of Gov.
Fitzhugh Lee as by the able summary of
principles made by Grand Master Powderly.
We know something about the general posi-
tion Of the latter gentleman, who has been
prominently before the public for years,
but Of the opinions on the labor question
held by one who is the nephew OF II. r. Lee
and governor Of the Old Dominion much
has not been made known until yesterday.
The governor used many strong express
sions, although, perhaps as one in such
authority was compelled to do, he qualified
and modified their strength by the addition
Of goodly number OF commonplaces. For
instance, 1t was not necessary that man
should come from his grave to tell Knights
Of Labor at is great mistake TO think that
all classes are hostile to the laboring Glass;
or that arbitration is a good thing, or "al-
though Samson overthrow the temple OF the
| Philistnes, II is instructive to remember
what became Of Samson" Doubtless, II Is
well to know and remember all such mat
tiers, but they are not at all likely to be for
gotten.
However the governor was not blowing
hot and cold when he uttered the folio wing
words:
Make war against incorporated rdscality an 4
| we will help you to ride il down. Combat
great moneyed corporations that seek to con.
troll your legislation, federal md state, by
bribery and corruption In order that they may
get votes in the federal halls of legislation 10
reriect and fastcn upon the whole country leg.
islat!on for their benefit, and not for the benefit
Of the people at large. We will march shoulder
TO shoulder with you in that. Draw the fangS
from the money kings who seek to tAGe posses
sion Of the great telegraph lines Of the county
and defect them from their legitimate plrposc
by controlling them 10 defeat the will of Il free
people in an attempt to defraud the whole
country OF their constitutional right to elect
rulers, and we will order to your support
"horse, foot, aud Dragons" IA tllt. Orglnlz!
against capitalists who furnish money b clrry
elections and then claim a. their rcwarl the
selection OF the men upon whose snouldlrt
shall be thrown the purple robe OF the Jldici
AIRY, and we are with you in that.
Moreover, there is no uncertain souut
about the governors quotation from Wash
ington GLADDEN.: "You can have hell ii
your factory or you can have heaven there
Just as you wish. II II is hell you want
build your business in the law Of hell ,whicl
is simply, Every man for himself aud tn
devil take the hindmost'
No man could have used words which ex
press more strongly the necessity for or
ganlzation and co operation, aud, rs Gov
Lee enjoys the reputation Of one who doe
| MI hat fhn pp1n 80 Ia
guage is to conceal thought, his advice t.
the knights will come with all efficacy ant
authority from the fact that he clearly
believes in what he says.
The newspapers of yesterday contained
many references to great events Of world
wide interest and importance. Randolph
Churchill has stolen Glsdstone's old clothe
and is cutting them down to his own Ill
minutive size. Turkey is falling away frou
the Russian coalition, and is now grateful,
receiving overtures from Great Britain
Tho nanubion rriroiralitios ero on th
threshold Of some great movement, will
eventualitles IN posse, which no pOlitica
prophet can nationally depict. The Cana
dian fishery dispute drags its slow lengt
along, and Geronimo's capture is likely t
raise a serious diplomatic question. Henr
George is knocking about the 'grand oil
parties" OF New York In excellent STYLE
and New York journalists have taken
| hand in the game. Many other events ar
transpiring in America and Europe whic
are big with Importance to future geueri
tlons; but we are convinced that the cou
ventlon of the Knights of Labor now Assem-
bled at Richmond has in its power the con
troll OF greater movements and, practically
the decision of greater questions than an
which have agltated society since the brit
of Christianity.