The Topeka state journal., 1897-02-15
Crazy DaIzell's Appeal for War
To Settle the Unrest
Of the American People At
tackled by J. E. Sovereign.
THERE is AN ORDER
Named the Iron Brotherhood
Composed of ReyOIutionists
Who Need But "War Talk" to
Encourage Them.

Chicago. Feb. 15.-A special to the
Times-Herald from Denver, says:
j. r. Sovereign, grand master work
man of the knights of Labor, has writ
ten a sensational letter to the Industrial
Advocate, with Private DalzelPs ex-
hortation for war with a foreign nation
as his text.
He declares secret revolutionary so
cietieS, known as the Iron Brotherhood
and the Industrial Army, are being or
ganized in every part of the country,
with their members leagued together to
resort to civil war a. a means of obtain
ing remedies for the populace," which
they cannot secure by the ballot <ee
deprecates Private Dalzells talk as be-
ing in a line which might tend danger
ously to fan this sentiment into an open
flame but asserts that if such revolution
comes he will not be''among the towards
now on the side of the plutocratic
classes
His letter is dated at Sulphur Springs.
Ark, on February 5th, and is in part as
follows:
Private Delze1l. in recent article in
the Washington Post, writes long tale
of Woe He mentions our two million
enforced idlers. our one million tramps,
the Overcrowding of our penal institu-
tions, the increase of landlords and ten
ants, the hopeless increase of debt, and
a long list of other lamentable condi-
tions- Concluding he says:
" Civilization, as Napoleon said of
armies, travels on it's stomach and it is
very hungry now, for the most part.
But, where can it be filled? Hence all
this unrest, all this wild war talk and
discussion of silver and gold and tariff
by people who have neither silver nor
gold nor anything to pay customs Re
lief shall not come in that way. 1t new
er did at this stage of society. 1t will
come in the old way, in war and not
otherwise; either insurrectionary which
God forbid, or foreign, which heaven
hasten, if it shall quiet this people and
give them rest, if only the hOnored rest
of patriots grave, fighting for human
ity."
Replying directly to the sentences
quoted, Mr. Sovereign goes on to say
that what the people Of the United
States need is an agitation at home that
will force them to a test against their
own social and economic disorders, but
that il should come through insurrec-
tiOn, with all its revolving horrors is a
proposition repulsive to all the higher
impulses of humanity. Continuing,
says:
instructions. like great conhagra-
tions, start with a spark and are quen-
ched only with a deluge. One reason
in favor of inSurrectiOn to idle, starv-
ing and debt -burdened people is more
potent eXC1I1nS war than q thousand
| reasons against fnsurrection are in
preserving peace. For that reason Dali
zell at this time, is dangerous writer -
Mr.. Sovereign then devoteS consider
able space to a history of two secret re-
vOlutionary orders known as the Iron
| Brotherhood and the Industrial army
now being formed in this country and
| for fear Mr.. Dalzell may not know what
| these societies are doing he quotes for
| his benefit several sentences from the
| prelude of a secret circular now being
| distributed. by one of the secret So
cietieS, viz:
"Comrades@There comes a time in
| the affairs of men and nations when
| desperation compels the human mind
| to pause and bring to it's aid that ele-
ment of reason so long discarded. We
| have reached such a crisis in the des-
| TIMES of this American republic. One
] hundred years of national existence has
| demonstrated that the political fabric
/ of our government contains within it's
| warp and Woof the elements of it's own
| destruction, with the fact that the bal
| lot has proven most lamentable fall
| ure as a safeguard of free institutions.
| In the closing of the nineteenth cen
| tury we see a class despotism esta blish-
| ing itself upon the ruins of the republic
| an Oligarchy is in power and already
the hideous phantom of Imperialism
| OVershadOWS US, as embodied in the au-
| tOcratic claims os the federal court,
and the acts of unbridled military des-
| potism characteristic of the federal
| government today.
| What is to be done? We have ap-
| pealed in vain to the ballot. Every
| trial of strength in the political arena
| has resulted in victory for the unscru-
| pulous money power. History proves
| that you cannot be freed through the
| ballot"
Commenting on the above, Mr.. Sow
| ereign says: Scarcely a day passes
that I do not receive one or more ap-
| peals to join one or the other of the re-
| volutionary orders being formed in this
| country, and offers of money and arms
| are frequently received if 1 will give my
| efforts to the cause of revolution. Thus
| far 1 have persistently declined to give
| aid or encouragement to such move
| ment But, if through the writings Of
| such men as Private Dalzell, revolution
| comes in spite of all my efforts to pre-
vent it, 1 will not be found among the
towards nor on the side of the pluto
cratic classes"
In conclusion Mr.. Sovereign fires Z
parting shot at Mr.. Dalzell by warning
him to desist from recommending wal
as relief to the people. One word, h'
says, in favor CT war with a foreign
country would multiply ten fold a de
sire for revolution at home.