Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1887 — POWDERLY TO THE KNIGHTS. [ARTICLE]

POWDERLY TO THE KNIGHTS.

Patriotic and Timely Advice in Regard to Celebrating Independence Day. To the Order wherever found, Greeting: For several years the practice of ho’ding demonstrat one and celebrations on the Fourth of July has been dying out. The old and the middle-aged are forgetting that on the fourth day of July, 1776, a nation was born and a government was inaugurated which differed from the governments and nations of the earth, inasmuch as it was to be a nation and a government to be composed of the whole people, to be managed and controlled by the whole people; and the intention was that those who served the people aspublic officers wore to act ferthe whole people. Even while the Declaration of Independence was being read, the struggle for liberty—for free speech, for a free people and a free country—was going on, and it continued until liberty throughout the length and breadth of the United Colonies was an established fact. For years the citizens of the republic were accustomed to meet on each succeeding Fourth of July and celebiate the event which proclaimed a nation born. For years the doings of those who erected the proud structure on which our Government rests were told and retold in song and story. Each Fourth of July saw the citizens of the republic gathered together under one—and only one—fla?, cn the village green or the city square, and, amid the booming of cannon and beating of drums, awakened memories of the “days that tried men’s souls. ’’ The speaker of the day told how the power of a king gave way at the command of the people. Or, if no speaker could be had, one of the celebrants rend to the assembled multitude the Declaration of Independence. Uld men among us can recall such incidents as these, but they are fast forgetting how it was done or what it was for. and the young people ore not taught to respect or celebrate the day. Such a condition of affairs is wrong and unpatriotic. There is one portion of our country's population that should never cease to remember that they, above all others, should celebrate the fourth day of July and keep alive the memories which it recalls. Those who gain large fortunes, those who acquire large tracts of land in the country, and who own blocks of buildings in our cities, are not the ones who celebrate, or care to celebrate, that day which gave to the world a nation whose strength lay in her common people. It belongs, therefore, to the ones who have not gained the most and fared the best under our Government, to the common people, to kindle once more and keep forever alive the memories of the struggle which dethroned the king in royal robes and enthroned the sovereign in homespun—which discarded and spat upon the scepter of a monarch and honored and exalted the hammer and plowhandle of the man of toil. Two classes, representing diverse feelings and interests, would have the common people forget that we have a country or a flag. The monopolist and the anarchist care nothing for American liberty or institutions. The former, having accumulated an immense fortune, would hail with delight a king and a strong government, and] is hopeful of a change in that direction. The latter has either lost hope in our institutions or else knows nothing about them or their history, and would destroy both the good and the bad in them .to make way for the rule of nobody and nothing. Monopoly and anarchy are twin evils. The latter, by attempting to overturn all law and order because Some of our laws are not properly administered, would give to the former the pretext for the establishment of a strong 'Government. Monarchy before anarchy! would then be the cry. The watchword of the people should be : Neither monopoly nor anarchy shall rule in this country—both must go. Men who labor by baud or brain make up two-thirds of our voting population. Two-thirds of the voters can, if they are honest, patriotic, and vigilant, vote good men into office, and good men, if properly watched and assisted by the people, will make and enforqe good laws. It follows that, if there is anything wrong in the affairs of State or nation, we, the people, are to blame, and v e have no right to grumble or threaten to break up the Government because of our own neglect. What, then, is our duty ? What is the duty of the Knights of Labor in particular? It is to study the principles an which our Government is based and teach others what we have learned. I therefore recommend that on next Fourth of July the members of the order, where there is an assembly in existence, bold 'demonstrations and celebration# in honor of the birth of a people’s government. If other societies intend to celebrate, the Knights can join in; if no other society,will celebrate, then the Knights should celebrate by all means. In localities where a puplic demonstration would cause some liberty-hating employer to discharge his workmen, I would advise that no risks be taken. Join in with other citizens in getting up Celebrations. Secure a speaker to deliver a short address. If no speaker can be had, secure a good reader to read the Declaration of American Independence. In the line of march and on your stands and public places use only one flag—the stars and stripes. Snow to the world that no matter where the Labor citizen was born he respects and honors the United States flag. Show to the world that we are determined to find out what is wrong in our system of government, and that we are equally as determined to right such wrongs as may exist, by peaceful, legitimate means. I desire,.also, that the question of the restoration of the people’s lands to the care of the people be discussed. Pass resolutions declaring that the holding of from fifty to sixty millions of acres of the public domain by aliens is sinful and un-American. Go further, and demand that the alien landlord shall let go his hold. Pass resolutions declaring that every acre of land acquired by fraud, perjury, or chicanery, is an acre stolen, and demand that the thief be required to make restitution to the people. Pass.resolutions never to take your eyes off the land until one good, plain, simple, honest law shall govern the holding of land, whether the holder be rich or poor, individual or corporation- Make the land for the people, under the people’s lawft, the question of the day. It was not for air, sunshine or water alone that our fathers fought; it was for the land, and we must hold this land free from the shark and speculator, whether native or alien. This is n» political question; it is a national, a patriotic question, and must be understood. Do not fear the taunts or ridicule of any man or set of men. Let those who feel so disposed call our demonstrations “spread-eogleisju” or “Yankee-Doodleism,'" if they choose. Give them to understand that we are in earnest, and that we prefer spread-eagleism to indifference. Let it be understood that we are determined that the wings of the eagle shall hereafter spread over a nation of free men and women, who own the land we live in; that the wings of the eagle shall no longer spread over a single acre of land owned or controlled by an alien landlord or native rogue. Do not forget to celebrate in a becoming, dignifted manner the one hundred and eleventh birthday of American independence, especially as this year is the centennial anniversary oT the formation of the Constitution under which we now live. T. V. Powderly, General Master Workmajj.