The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-04-01
THE NEW POLITICAL ORDER
The Knights of Reciprocity, What They
Are and What They Aim to Accomplish.
The Order Is Yet in Its Infancy, but Gives In
dications of Becoming Potent Factor in
the Politics of the Country.

AS the press Is calling the attention of the
public to an organization of very recent
date. bearing the suggestive title, Knights
of Reciprocity, it has been decided by the
local organization in this city to ma Ike an au-
thoritative statement Of the principles and
objects of the order. and in furtherance of
that decision the undersigned were ap-
pointed to prepare such statement.
OF the extent of the organization Of the
Knights of Reciprocity we submit that it
is by no means quasi-orgarization. but
that it is real, live. potent force. destined
to perform grand work in tho sphere of
its operations. which we will assume to be
the American Union. and the countries of
the western continent desiring to avail
themselves of the benefits mutually accru-
ing. by virtue of the adoption of the car
dinal feature or principle of the,organiza-
ton, viz, reciprocity.
The order is in It's infancy, and yet during
the few brief weeks that have elapsed since
the first lodge was organized has gsineda
permanent hold In several of the States OF the
Union. some of which have already perfected
State organizations, or State grand lodges.
among the number being the State OF
the order is truly phenomenal, the Grand
Lodge officers finding it difficult to answer
the calls from the various sections of the
State for some one to come and institute a
than q month old. and yet it boasts mem
bership of nearly five hundred, included
among which are many of the representa-
tive meu OF the city. All conditions of
mankind are eligible to membership in this
organizations; 1t seeks to fraternlZe all hu-
man interests. and. therefore. unite the
professional man and the artisan. the cap
italist ana the lab0rer, the employer and
the empioye. the producer and the con-
sumner, the learned and the unlearned, the
rich and the poor. the high and the low, all
alike to become members, the test of mem.
bership being full. free and unconditional
assent to its principles and objects.
Believing that our country, the American
Union, the United States of America, Is the
best country upon the face of the globe,
and that its form of government suggests
the acme OF human wisdom, we therefore
submit that the thoughtful consideration
of the American citizen should I've addressed
TO the bject of the preservation and per-
petuity of the same.
WHAT THE ORDER FAvORs.
When armed traitors songht the destruc-
ton of the government it's patriotic sons
and individual az feeble reward for their
heroic services. we are in favor of just and
liberal provisions to all the honorably dis
That as the successful development of
the varied industries of this country is the
augury of multiplied millions OF national
wealth, We affirm the wisdom of the policy
OF protection TO the same.
As we would not, as nation, accept
from others that which would contribute
to orr prosperity without granting an
equivalent therefor, neither would We con-
tribute of our inexhaustibie resources to
the prosperity OF other countries without a
reasons we favor fair aud equitable reel
procity between all nations on the AmerI-
can continent. and for no less cOgent
reasons we favor fair and equitable reci
procity between all interests in our own
Nation.
Our form of government is that of MAORI
ty rule: the abrogation of this principle is
subversive of republican government or
true democracy. The future of the Repub-,
lie is predicated upon the intelligence
of the citizen and his honesty
as applied to its government. Fraud
and intimidation have no rightfui
sway at single voting precinct In the
country, and wherever practiced the elect
i've franchise exists in name only. the cleo
ton is Initiated and the people wronged. As
q safeguard against such monstrOus evils
we demand an intelligent ballot. fairly cast
and honestly counted: and as a means of
guardin the purity of the ballot box. We
favor the disfranchisement of every citizen
who offers or accepts a bride to influence
ballot.
The foregoing brief outline of the princi-
pies. suggests the objects OF the organIza-
tion. which are to study and teach the i'm
portant duty OF citizenship. to study and
discuss political history, political economy
and economic questions that may be up for
legislative action, to the end that the voter
may cast an Intelligent ballot.
In other words. that the citizen may more
easily, and thoroughly acquaint himself
with the fundamental principles. policies
nE Nynv ant lee, <kE
the different platforms upon which the
candidates come before the people asking
suffrage.
1t inculcstes self-reliance. independence
of citizenship to vote iutelligently. with
out being directed by any person or per-
sons. 1t is non-partisan organization.
Its central idea is reciprocity. not only
between nations, but also between individ-
ual industries. etc.
WILL NOT BOOM INDIVIDUALS.
In REPUTATION of the statements made by
persons wholly misinformed, that the OBJ
jects of the organization are to boom the
candidacy of the distinguished citizen
whose name is intimately associated with
the development of it's leading principle,
we say that such is by no means the case.
and, further, that the said citizen did not
know anything about the organization of
the order until he read or 1t IN the news
papers.
All persons, therefore, possessing the
requisite qualifications for mem bership and
DESTROYS of knowing more about the order
who can honestly answer affirmatively the
| following questions:
i. Are you in favor of the perpetuity of our
Union!
O. Are you in favor of just and liberal pensions
to all honorably discharged soldiers and sailors
of the Republics!
| lean industries:
A. Are you in favor of fair and equitable reci-
| procity between all the nations on the American
| continentl
s. Are you in favor of fair and equitable reci-
procity between all interests in our Natloni
6. Are you In favor of an Intelligent ballot,
honestly cast and countedl
z. Are you in favor OF DISTINGUISHING every
| citizen who offers or accepts bride to influence
\ a ballot
Are cordially invited to unite with us in
| the promul gation of the principles therein
contained.
It is the intention of the lodges in this
city to hold an open meeting at an early
| date, to be addressed by prominent men,
bers of the order. among whom will be Hon.
1 l.. II. Peters, supreme representative from
| Kansas to the Supreme Lodge, who will
| explain more fully the principles and OBJ
| iects of the order. A. NJ. FULLER.
n. G. w. DEsHLER.
| j. NJ. BRYAN.