Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-08


We are indebted to Councilman f. NJ.
Crumley, Of this city, delegate to the gen.
eral assembly Of the Knights of Labor,
now in session at Richmond, for copies OF
Richmond papers containing a verbatim re-
port of the address OF welcome to the
Knights by Governor Fitz Hugh Lee, tvr.
ical and ideal representative Of the element
that, only quarter of century ago, not
only owned, but enslayed the laborers of
the south. With this also we have full
report of the response, made by Grand
Master Workman Powderly. northern
democrat Whatever the people may think
of the labor organizations, one thing is GER
tain-namely-thati it is important that all
should be fully advised of their official ut
tersnces and acts.
In his address Governor Lee asserted his
loyalty and announced his acceptance of the
adverse result OF the war, quoting from 'Nir-
ginia's greatest statesman" Thomas JEFF
ferson,l the sublime declaration in favor Of
equal and exact justice to all men, of
whatever persuasion, religious or politi-
cal" This motto the Knights were request
ed to place upon their banners, and it is
certainly motto that should be accepted
and enforced by every American citizen.
The governor pledged to the Knights CO.
operation in a war against the class of caI-
italists who are oppressive and dishonest, in
the following:
But what class Of capitalists are depressing
you and whose course is injurious TO the
lines marked out by the founders of the re-
public! l divide capitalists into two kinds
and will 20 with you and give the command.
forward and fight by your side against oEe
OF these classes. Make war against incor-
porated rascality, and we will help you TO ride
10 down. Combat great moneyed corporations
that seek to control your egislatures-Federal
and Stately bribery and corruption in order
that they may get votes in the Federal halls of
legislation TO perfect and fasten upon the
whole country legislation for their benefit and
not for the benefit of the public at large. We
will march shoulder TO shoulder with you in
that. Draw the fangs from the money kings
WI" seek to take possession Of the great tele-
graph lines OF the countryand defecuthemfrom
...>.I IegIIlmaIe purpose by controlling them
TO defeat the will OF free people in an at
tempt TO defraud the whole country Of their
constitutional right to elect rulers, and we
will order TO your support horse, foot, and
dragons" in that. Organize against capitalists
who furnish money TO carry elections and then
claim as their reward the selection Of the men
upon whose shoulders shall be thrown the
purple robe OF Judiciary, and We are with you
in that. You will feel the touch of our elbows,
too, in assisting TO keep down any men or set
Of men who seek TO depart from the lines
marked out" by our forefathers, and set up in
control the people, when the fathers formed q
government TO be controlled by the people.
But all 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
fortune to alleviate the sufferiHgs of mankind.
and whose eulogies are written III the hearts
of thousands on account of their generous
donations and noble deeds. and whose money
is employed 20 whiten the ocean with sails and
cause the wharyes 10 be laden with commerce,
not againsta a class of our fellow-citizens Of
whom IL was so eloquently said that pht;an-
thropy would sing in ringing chimes of their
public charities; that sorrow would find s0lace
in their deeds; that despair would be lifted
up into hope by their voices; that there
would be churches whose heaven kissing
spires would chronicle their donations; that
schools would claim them as patrons and hos
pitals as benefactors: that science would
even lean on them while her vision swept in
Unity; aye, that the very footsteps Of progress
would be sandaled by their silver. You have
no fight against beneyolence and charity.
The rights Of all men are going to be protected
in this country.
The governor certainly makes a very
proper distinction between two classes of
capitalists, which distinction all should take
pains, at all times, to observe.
In his response, Mr.. Powderly speaks of
the solemn responsibility of every citizen,
to himself his country. and his God; and
answers the question-''W have you such
an organization as the Knights of Labor?'
as follows:
We are Knights Of Labor because we believe
that the Declaration of Independence means
something more than mere words and beauti-
ful sences. We are Knights of Labor because
We believe that if il was wrong for an alien
king 10 oppfess people and rob them. IL Is
also wrong for any other man to oppress or
rob his fellow-creatures. We are Knights Of
Labor because We believe To whom belongs
the soil, il is his. even unto heaven" We are
nights Of Labor because We believe that the
rights of the poorest, humblest man or woman
OF toll should stand forth more clearly, and be
leges conferred upon. or stolen by, the wealth.
est in the nation. We are Knights of Labor
because politicians and political parties have
deceived, degraded and debauched the people,
because they have too often gained power
through deception and fraud. and in return
for the confidence reposed in them they have
basely deserted the common people and knelt
at the shrine OF gold. We are Knights of La
Dor because We believe that law and order
should prevail. and that both should be
founded in equity.
The complaint which Mr.. Powderly
makes against oppressive capital and mo-
nOpOly is printed below:
To remedy the evils we complain of is a diff
ncult and dangerous undertaking. The need
Of strong hearts and active brains was never
50 great as al the present time. The slavery
that died twenty two years ago was terrible,
but bad as IL was, IL never developed million
dlre, while the new slavery which now reaches
Jui with a far stronger hand than the old, has
developed hundreds of them. The lash in the
hands Of the old-time slave owner could strike
but one back at q time, and but one of God S
poor, suffering children felt the stroke The
lash OF gold in the hands Of the new slave
owner falls not upon one slave alone, but upon
the backs of millions, and among the writhing
tortured victims, side by side with the poor
and the ignorant are TO be found the well to o
and the educated. The power OF the new slave
owner does not end when the ordinary day
laborer bends beneath his rule: IL reaches out
still farther, and controls the mechanic. the
farmer, the merchant, and the manufacturer.
it dictates not alone what the price Of labor
shall be, but regulates the prics of money as
well. This new slavery counts among its vie
tins servants Of the state who have been
chosen by the people TO execute the people s
will. Not alone does ii control the legislator
It the state capitol. but in the halls of our
national congress will you md its most
willing. cringing slave. Ii reaches out even
farther. and holds in its iron grasp the judge
upon the bench; not that alone, but il has the