The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-05
Master Workman expressed his qualification at
the welcome which had been given the Knights
by the people of Virginia, and more especially
khn x,onrio ofR ichnnnnd Continuing ha said.

"The men who owe allegiance to the Knights
| of Labor engaged in conflict, but it is in
/ war of truth against error. 1t is not, as many
| honestly believe, and many more dishonesty
! assert, war of labor against capital It is
war in which the manhood of the American la
borer is fighting for recognition. In this war it
must be determined which shall rule, monopoly
or the American people; gold or manhood. Our
battles are not fought for the purpose of deter.
| mining whether an individual 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 member must feel as he turns away from
the city of Richmond after our work
| here is done. that he can safely
or conscientously thrust aside the grave respon-
slbilities and duties of our American citizenship
| Popular disregard of political duty, and tolera-
ted. continued political corruption will weaken
| our government and destroy liberties; for
the worm can eat its way through the oak which
| storm or tempest could not bend, and political
dishonesty will strike where the lightning could
never reach If this land was worthy that
brave men should die for it, it is at least worthy
| that unselfsh, thoughtful men should live and
| work in a grand devotion to the ideas OF real,
| a true democracy.
eve come here not alone to settle the question
| of dispute in regard to wages or hours OF
| labor. We come here partly to study and learn
| some lessons of the head and heart In practical
| citizenship. We engaged in a work which,
| to the thoughtful observer. means more than
chlld's play, more than the regulation of trade
matters and the work win not end day, nor will
the youngest amongst US live to see it complete.
To remedy the evils we complain of is diff
cult and dangerous undertaking. The need OF
strong hearts and active brains never so
great as at the present time. The lash was
stricken from the. hand of the slave-owner of
twenty five years ago. and it must be taken
from the hand of the new slave-owner well.
The monopolist of to-day is more dangerous
than the slave-owner of the past. Monopoly
| takes the land from the people in
millionaire plots; IL sends its agents
abroad and bring hordes of uneducated, desper
ate men to this country; it imports ignorance
and scatters it broadcast throughout the land.
1t, and it alone, is responsible for every mani
festation OF anarchy that our country has wit
messed All men may not be willing to admit
that this statement is true. but when monopoly
dies no more Anarchists will be born into this
country. for anarchy is the legitimate child of
monopoly. While condemn and denounce the
deeds of violence committed In the name of labor
during the present year, am proud to say that
the knights of Labor, as an organization, is not
| in any way responsible for such conduct He is
the true Knight of Labor who with one hand
clutches anarchy by the throat and with the
other strangles monopoly. We are told that it
is because of the importation of so many gno-
rant foreigners that anarchy has shown its head
in our country Rather is it true that because
of the importation of foreign airs manners and
graces by the wealthy. we have forgotten what
it is that constitutes the true citizen Of the Re-
public The man who still believes in the little
red school-house on the hill should take one
holiday and visit the mine the factory, the coal
breaker and the mill. There, doing the work of
men, will he find the future citizens of the Re-
public breathing an atmosphere of dust, igno-
rance and vice. The history Of our country
is not taught within these walls. The
struggle for independence and the causes
leading to that struggle, not spoken of there;
the name of Washington is unknown, and the
words that rang out trumpet-tongued from the
the lips Of Patrick Henry are never mentioned.
Our country her history, her laws and her in
situations are unknown to these poor children.
How, then, the child of the foreigner learn
to appreciate the freedom that they have never
been told about. much less experienced
Questions OF wages or hours of labor, shop
discipline, or some other matter, may cause a
rupture here and there between the workmen
and their employer, but they can readily settle
1t ii mutual liberation and common sense are
brought into the controversy and once settled,
they should be allowed to rest. Continued re-
minders of past troubles often create new ones.
TO those who have fallen into such habits. l
would recommend the advice you so appropri-
ately gave to critic not long slnce: Stop fight
ing when the war is over
II thank you, aud through You the people of
the historic old city of Richmond, for the warm
reception given to us. When we separate to go to
our homes, we will carry with us a remembrance
of this day and hour. We will also remember
that it from this city that the ball of revo-
luton which crushed to dust the power of q
king started forth on its mission. trust that
in the providence of God, we may be enabled to
enact such legislation while here as will help TO
strike to the earth the last vestige of monopoly
aud compel all men, whether rich or poor, to
stand equal before just and humane law"
In concluding his Speech Mr.. Powderly said
that some of the members Of the visiting dele
cations who of darker hue than their
brothers, could not find place in some of the
hotels. This was in accordance with what had
long been the custom here, and old customs and
prejudces do not readily vanish. There had
been particular mention made of one instance,
where delegation numbering sixty members
had only one colored member among them and
he was refused admission to the hotel where
they intended TO go. and the delegation stand
ing by the principles of the order, which recog-
nizes no distinctions of creed. nationality or
color went with their colored brother. That,
he said, was what made the selection of that
brother to introduce him to them, so that it
might 60 forth that they practiced what they
preached.
At the close of his address, Mr. Powderly re-
quested that all those present who were not dele
gates should retire. and thanked them for having
come to the opening session.
Mr.. Bennett, of the Richmond district, moved
q vote of thanks to Governor Lee, and after this
was heartily and unanimously given, it fol-
lowed by burst of rousing cheers for Virgnia's
Governor. All but the delegates then left the
hall. and the convention settled down to the
practical work that had called them together,
and in which they bid fair to be engaged for the
next two weeks or MORE
| In secret session the only business done was
| the appointment of committee minor Gre
dentials An adjournment was then taken to
| o'clock tomorrow morning.
The committee on credentials is in session to-
| night, and is industriously at work upon two
three complex questions, with fair prospect of be-
| ing able to report in the morning. The vexed
question before it is that presented by the Mon
tack district Brooklyn and District 49, A portion
of the city of New York very strongly opposed
| the admission of the Brooklyn district, and it
looks to night as though the Brooklyn men would
be refused recognition, in which event they will