The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-13

know that the hosts united IN II teel Ina
they are confronted by what the English
call burning questions" / have, within
the past few years, addressed hundreds OIL
"lRbor meetings" here and there, at many
OF which the audience seemed to be pos
sessed by the spirit OF the conquering
SaTAcens of the seventh century or OF the
Crusaders OF the eleventh. This is not the
mere efervescenCe Of log,cabil campaign
politics, 1t is deep and mighty force
not to be overlooked,
D, It's Moral Features-All the organize.
tions OF labor are In some measure train
ing schools for their members, and those
who know the most about them will best
appreciate their work as such but among
the Knights OF labor, "eduCation"-thRt
Is to say, sChoOlingiR the principles Of the
ordsr-is the supreme and never ending
duty OF all members, The methods adopt.
ed are known to those who have taken
upon themselves the obligations Of mem.
beship, but the results may bedisCoVered
by any man who looks for them in the
proper quarters, 1t is q Lesson Of high
morals even to be made aware OF the fact
that four OF the Fleeing classes OF modern
society are prescribed as until to enter the
organization. The educational features
Of this great body add stability to the
present labor movement, OF which 1t Is
the vital energy.
Z, Its AmeTlcanism OF CharaCter-The
present labor movement is not "foreign
importation" as Jay Gould implied. The
order OF the Knights OF Labor was founded
by an American OF the old anti-slayery
school upon an American basis, and has
developed according to the forms and in
stinCta OF American life, There never has
been an organization like 1t in any part OF
Europe. II Is American throughout in lis
system; and the massiveness and inClus.
iyeness OF its groundwork make it worthy
Of American idealism.
Finally, the present "labor,moVement"
is larger and deeper than the mere labor
question in the old narrow view. Itisthe
all-brscing social question. II is the vol.
canlc energy Of society under the forces Of
the depths. 1t is the child Of tho earth
quake that Is Convulsing and Transforming
the American commonwealth.
have gone over these features OF the
present labor movement in reply to our
question as to Its future, so that every
man may on his own account reach fair
judgment, It must bs evident that it 10
ON 9 basis Of abiding strength, not to bs
easily wrecked or snbverted, not depend
emit on any single mans policy or tactiCs
1t has become far more formidable, II
covers greater issues, aud 1t has acquired
a far greater momentum than any labor
movement Of the past generation Of man.
kind. II the knights OF Labor and the
~ an "A . kinpu ~ 10
morrow, 1t would take on other shapes
more to be dreaded by the enemy. 1t Is q
necessary movement for the salvation OF
the under world, working along the lines
Of the unconscious will, and is not to be
repressed. 1t will gain Its end some.
how, ior the need OF them has entered
into the common heart, and they are
within reach OF the common hand, which
Is sure to find way OF grasping them. II
is resorting 10 all sorts Of crude devices 10
get them. 1t is trying politics in lltlu!
way, and Is trying the resources or organ,
ization, including colossal strikes, with all
that the word implies. Be assured that 1t
can not be turned bach, for that way is the
pit. 1t ID doomed TO advance, for that Is
the way Of life. We can aid it by legisla-
ton, but cannot stop it. We have no
force that can overcome 1t, for IL Is itself
the controlling force. Louis Napoleon
once boosted, that he could Brighten
France with "a Whit Of grape-shot," but
he did not thus boast when the grape had
full play in 1871.
Now and always, let vain threatenings
be Rbjured, and let every man whose
hopes are bound up in the peaceful devel.
opment OF our young Democratic Repub.
lic seek for ways Of peremptorily rightiug
the wrongs that have turned II out Of It's |
proper course.
The demands OF tho labor movement
which are to-day proclaimed from the
housetops and striven Tor by the organized
forces here spoken Of, have their root In
that primeval law Of equality proclaimed
by the Declaration OF Independence and
in that familiar trilogy OF common rights
which Jefferson put as It's preface.