The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-05
Remarks of Mr.. PowderIy.

When Mr.. POwderly stepped forward he
was received with loud applause. Bowling
to Governor Lee and to the large audience,
he said: Your Excellency: We are CRATE
full for the kind words of welcome with
which you meet us. We appreciate and will
always remember the reception given to us
today. The hospitality of the Southern peo-
pie is proverbial but until now many of us
never knew what it really meant. We come
to your city, not as an invading army, bent
only on destruction; we come not as the rep
resentatives of a class, nor do we come rep
reSenting section or part OF the country we
inhabit. We come as an army, it is true, but
our march by day is peaceful one and our
encampment at night does not forshadow
the clash of arms or the bursting shell on
the morrow Our battles are not fought for
the purpose of determining whether an indi-
vidual shall rule State or an empire but to
decide whether people who are entitled to
life, liberty and happiness shall live in the
full enjoyment of their rights and liberties
as becomes citizens of Republic. No men,
Der must feel as he turns away from the city
of Richmond after our work here is done
that he can safely or conscientiously thrust
aside the grave responsibilities and duties of
our American citizenship. If he is true to
himself. to his fellowmen, to his country and
his God, he will not shrink from bearing it.
and though the struggle will not end until
ing shadows into eternal night, the true
Knight must not despair or grow weary
while life lasts. To rescue the toier from
the grasp of the selfish is work worthy of
the noblest and best of our race. 1t is to
the accomplishment of that grand object
every energy. The question is asked: ''Why
have yoa such an organization as the knights
of Lab0r?" and the answer comes from the
lips of every man who does not
receive just compensation for labor
DONE 1t comes from the lips of thousands of
i'll updnrfpd and OVprwOrkp0
laborers and mechanics; it comes from the
months of the thousands of farmers whose
lands are as proftless as though blight had
fallen on them; it comes from every hilltop
and valley, and every home where the pangs
of unrequited toll are felt. That answer is,
because men in whose hands power and
wealth have been placed have forgotten that
this nation is a republic, because they have
forgotten that the founders of the republic
intended that it should be maintained, up
held and governed by and for the people OF
the republic We are Knight Of Labor be-
cause we believe that the Declaration of In
dependence means something more than
mere words and beautiful sentences. We
are Knights of Labor because we believe
that if it was wrong for an alien King to
oppress a people and rob them, it is also
wrong for any other man to Cypress or rot
his fellow creature. We are Knights Ct
Labor because we believe ''to whom belongs
the soil it is his even unto Heaven" We
are Knights of Labor because we believe
that law and order should prevail, and thai
both should be founded in equity. The
monopolists of to-day. are more dangerous
than the slave owner of the past. Monopoly
takes the land from the people in million
acre plots; it sends its agents abroad anC
brings hordes of uneducated, desperate mer
to this country; it imports ignorance ant
scatters it broadcast throughout the
land. Questions of wages or hours
of labor, shop disciplined or somt
other matter may cause a rupture here ant
there between the workman and his employ
er. but they can be readily settled If mutua
liberation and common sense are brought In
to controversy, and once settled they Shoult
he allowed to rest Continued reminders O.
past troubles often created new ones. IL
those who have fallen into such habits
would recommend the advice you so appro
priately gave to critic not long since, 'otol
| fighting when the war is over.
/ thank you, and through you the peopl
of the historic old city Of Richmond, for tn
warm reception given to us. When we seq
arate to go to our homes we Will carry Will
us a remembrance of this day and hour: W
| will also remember that it was from this cit
! that the ball of revolution, which crushed u
| dust the power of a King, started forth OF
| its mission. l trust that in the providence Q
| God we may be enabled to enact such legls
| lation while here as Will help to strike t
| the earth the last yestige of monopoly, an
| compel all men, whether rich or poor, t
| stand equal before a just and humane law.
| At the close of POwderly's address he re
| ferred to his introduction by colore
| Knight and the refusal of one of the hotel
to receive him as guest. The hall was the
cleared of all save delegates, and the tw
weeks secret session began. An adjourn
| ment was shortly afterward taken to
| o'clock tomorrow morning,