The Labor enquirer., 1883-12-08
MANIfESTO.
Closing Portion 4 the Declarasion
Adopted y pittsburg,
October l6.

Lack of space in this issue forbids the
publication Of this great document en-
tire. The portion omitted contains re-
cital of the wrongs under which the peo-
pie suffer-.
All laws are directed against the work
ing people. In 30 far as the opposite APP
pears to be the case, they serve on one
hand to blind the worker, while on the
other hand they are simply evaded.
Even the school serves only the purpose
of furnishing the offspring Of the
wealthy with those qualities necessary to
uphold their class dominion. The chill
dren Of the poor get scarcely formal
elementary training and this, too, is
mainly directed to such branches as
tend to producing prejudices, arrogance
and seryility; in short, want of sense.
The church finally seeks to make COM
plete idiots out Of the mass and to make
them forego the paradise on earth by
promising fictitious Heaven. The cap
litalistlc press, on the other hand, takes
care of the confusion of spirits in public
life. All these institutions, far from aid
ing in the education Of the masses, have
for their object the keeping in ignorance
of the people. They are all in the pay
and under the direction of the capital
istic classes. The workers can, therefore,
expect no help from any capitalistic.
party in their struggle against the exist
| ing system. They must achieve their
liberation by their own efforts. AS in
former times privileged class never sur
rendered its tyranny, neither can it be
expected that the capitalists of this age
will give up their rulership without be-
ing forced to do it. q
IF there ever could have been any
question on this point it should long ago
have been dispelled by the, brutalities
which the bourgeoise of all countries =
in America as well as in Europe-con-
stantly commits, as often as the proleta-
riat anywhere move to better their con-
dition. It becomes, therefore, self-evi-
dent that the struggle of the proletariat
with the bourgeoise must have violent
revolutionary character. as
We could show by scores of illustra-
tions that all attempts in the past to re-
form this monstrous system by peaceable,
means, such as the ballot have been fu-
tile, and all such efforts in the future
must necessarily be so, for the following
reasons
The political institutions of our time
are the agencies of the propertied class
their mission is the upholding of the
privileges of their masters; any reform
in your own behalf would curtail these
privileges. To this they will not and
cannot consent, for it would be suicidal
to themselves. Il. 4 ~. H.
That they will not resign their privi
leges voluntarily we know that they
will not make any concessions to us we
likewise know Since we must then pe1Yl
upon the kindness of our masters for
whatever redress we have, and knowing
that from them no good is expected, there
remains but one recourse-force Our
forefathers have not only told US that
against despots force. is justifable, be-
cause it is the only means, but they them
selves have set the immemorial example.
By force our ancestors liberated them
selves from political oppression !; by force
their children will have to liberate them
selves from economic bondage. sit is,
therefore, your right, it is your duty"
says Jefferson, "to arm p I
What we would achieve is, therefore,
plainly and simply:
First: Destruction of the existing |
class rule, by all means, lie. by energetic,
a1o, IntarnQ-
tional action.
Second: Establishment of free So
ciety based upon cooperative organiza-
ton of production.
Third: Free exchange of equivalent
products by and between the productive
organizations without commerce and
proft-mongery. \
Fourth Organization of education on}
secular, scientific and equal basis for
both sexes.
Fifth: Equal rights for all without
distinction to sex or race.
Sixth: Regulation of all public affairs
by free contracts between the autonom-
GUS independent) communes and asso-
Citations, resting on federalistic basis.
Whoever agrees with this ideal let
him grasp our outstretched brother
hands!
Proletarians of all countries, unite
Fellow-workmen all we need for the
achievement of this great end is Organi.
zation and Unity.
There exists now no great obstacle to
that unity. The work of peaceful edu-
cation and revolutionary conspiracy we'll
can and ought to run in parallel lines.
The day has come for soliditary. Join
our ranks Let the drum beat defiantly
the roll of battle: "Workingmen of all
lands unite You have nothing to loose
but your chains; you have a world to
win!"
Tremble Oppressors of the world.
Not far beyond your purblind sight there
dawns the scarlet and sable lights of the
Judgment Day! ~.
Issued by the Pittsburg Congress of the
international Working Peoples Associ-
ation," on Octocer 16, 1883. |
Published by the Bureau of Informa-
ton.
English: AUG. SPIES,
German: PAUL GRoTTKAU,