The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-13

tioD$l resources, to restore general perm0-
nenS prosperity and to harmOnizs the exist
ing SntagonIsms between capital and labor
thaIs the gold base fallacy, free trade and
protective theories, or any other plan that
has yet been proposed. This is a cardinal
principle in the platform Of the Labor Re-
fOri1 party, and upon this line we propose
to lght it out If it takes the balance Of our
lifeItime.
THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR CON.
GRESS...lI
considering either the policy or justice
Of The Basic declarations, that " society has
tha right Of abolishing privste property and
Of establishing the collective property Of the
lard )" as stated in our last, it is necessary
to understand the circumstances by which
ouf European brethren are surrounded, and
the nature of the legislation by which the
sristoCracy have fortified themselves
Add as we prefer to let the delegates
speak for themselves, We give below the ar
grtnents advanced by three of their most
prominent members, in advocacy of the prin-
cifle, because they contain the gist of the
cdmmunistic ideas which received the sane
tim Of the Congress.
Mr.. Bakounine paid no attention whatever 70
tbh little scruples expressed by some speakers.
No matter" said he, eff the country people
hsve not been consulted and are unrepresented
ire the congress. The congress Is powerful
enough to settle any question in which they
may have an interest In all time progress
h Is been accomplished BY minorities acting In
the name Of all. We represent Che added) not
tic middle-class revolution, called the French
revolution, but the protestation Of Baboeul.
Individual rights are invoked but an individual
isjonly produce of society. Man is a sociahle
aaimal who progresses but collectively. At
" origin we we're but gorillas; 1t is owing to
s,3ciety's progress that we become something
bitter. Some people speak tbout primitive
c4ntracts, but gOrillas do not make any con-
t{acts. Individual property is exploitation,
Tpt liberty. The state made no concession.
Shine people seized upon land, and thus be-
II me landlords; some Otters became owners Of
tie soil BY purchase, but purchase is simply
piasked brutality, an abuse OF force. We must
IFoceed as soon as We can to the liquidation
sIhich is to destroy the political and Judicial
Nate now existing. Every productive labor is
collective, consequently We must organize the
IRbor of the new society by SOLITARY communes."
I Mr.. Lucraft said he was in favor OF common
troperty in land, and in favor Of its being cul-
9ivated by the state for the benefit of all, not
~ the direction Of State that was opposed to
She mass of the people, but under the direction
az the whole community. The fact that 50
Pnany we're starving was owing to few posses
{ng the lard. He did not want the large es-
5ates broken up and divided into as many as
Hsny little plots as there were men 10 cult.
sate them; he wanted it cultivated on a large
@cale by machinery ard the application Of sci
tncc, for the benefit of the whole community.
Mr.. Chemale had given a very curious reason
Nbecause it had never existed before it could
Tot exist now. II nothing was to be introduced
but what had been introduced before we should
heVer have any improvement On his way
ti.her through France he had seen miles Of
hood and fertile soil cut into strips. In one
blaze he had seen q notover-well looking COW
Watched by girl to keep it from trespassing.
She estate of her master had been so small
chat the COW had hardly been able to turn with
but stepping on the neighbours property. II
the people ruled the State they would put poo
ole at the head OF the public departments who
knew their business. At present ministers
<wcre only appointed because Of their political
connexions and to receive large salaries A
department Of .agriculture-of the production
lof food-would require an agrlculturist for
minister, under proper responsibilities to par
tliament There was no reason why such a
! mode Of production should not succeed. A
practical man would appoint proper men for
I the business they had g do--men to direct and
men to work.
, Mr.. Lcssner said Mr. Chemale was afraid
the abolition of private property would lead to
Communism; he was in favor Of Communism.
He wanted that every child born should re
ceiVe good education, and that every one who
was able to work should have access to the
means of labor without selling himself, 50 that
he could lead life worthy of human being.
A hundred years ago there had still been $780,
900 landowners in England; at present there
we're only $4,000. he agreed that nothing
should be done without the consent of the
majority, but they had a right to pass resolu-
tions in the interest Of the majority. Science
had decided in their favor, and the soil must
become common property.
Snow, sir" said one of the most prudent
and intelligent trades unionists in Great
Britain, let us look at this matter from our
standp point. Remember the extent of our
territory exceeds by little the area of Him
ole. Upon hiSterritory are 100000 hu-
man beings. No matter low Providence
favors Us with abundant harvests we cannot
raise enough to support this immense popu-
lation. Keep this important fact in UisV.
Now 20 with me to many Of our man
ufacturing centres. See the want and mis-
cry which preVs much Of it because there
Is no employment for our sO-called surplus
population. Under these circumstance don't
you think it just and proper that all Of our
arabic land should be placed undercultiva-
ton for the support Of the peOple2 Yet.
what are the factsf The entire domain Of
E sRland is held as Lesener states by 80, 900 |
men, and the growing tendency is to dlmin.
lab this number. Within half an hours ride |
from London or Sheffield, can show you
estates Of 5000 acre., kept as game pre-
serves, for the pleasure of prOAigate, de-
,aucbed, on-prOduciDg aristOcracy, where
he hound and the hare can roam, but where
IN Englishman is regarded as little better
than felon, if found intruding on them. Is
han jIstice'
Look at the immense tracts of land own
Cd C9) by the Dukes Of Sutherland, Rox-
ourgh, Devonshire, Northumberland, and
Others Where are the happy peasautrv who
once occupied them2 Virtually fugitive, on
foreign sou. What crime have they COM
mitted? None By what right, human or