The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-08

Have, then, no fears, soldiers, from a
patriotic point of view The revolution
soon to come, will but fortify France
against all outsiders in arming all citi
zens to defend her, and through them
procure everywhere allies interested IN
her triumph.
We count on you. We know that the
existing army is not composed, as were
the armies of Louis Philippe and Ma
poleon H., of multitude of idle soldiers
obedient even to servility, insolent and
ferocious, more intrepid against the dis
armed people than against the enemy.
You feel that you have other interest,
than those of your chiefs you compre
hend that if they support you withou
your producing an equivalent therefor
it is merely to make you, play the role o
watch or fighting dogs.
Fully assured that you will return il
time tothe bosoms of your families ane
to your shops, you will not allow your
selves to be blinded by the earesses hf5S
decelvlng tiatteriesiwhich tend to make
you believe that the soldiers ought to be
everything and the people nothing.
The livery in which they have clothed
you, far from being a source of pride
ought to appear to you sign of seryi
tude.
Workmen and peasants, become sol,
dlers by force, you only aspire to return
to your comrades; it is repugnant to you
to think that they might later repulse
yol if you accept the task of the exc.
cutioners.
You do not desire that they curse you
as they have cursed the soldiers of June
lS4S, of December. 1851, and of May
1871? Where is the soldier of these hor-
rible epochs who now dare boast of hav-
ing been among the sIaughterers? They
all blush over their sangunary work
unless they have become the vile agents
of the police. For in that career are ad-
mitted by preference those who have
committed the most atrocities and who
impudently glorify themselves over their
infamy.
We no more desire permanency for the
army than we do for the police; we
think that all citizens ought to watch in
their turn for the public security, as
much as it may be menaced, whether
from within or without, where each will
find without effort, freely, the satisfaction
Of his wants in the harmony of general
aspirations.
But, even in the case where an army
of national defense would be necessary,
it will readily be admitted that it ought
not to be constituted as in that of to day.
The army not to be used as a support
to the police ; it ought not to interfere
in civil discords.
1t is its intervention that has always
produced and maintained tyranny.
How many governmental crimes have
been committed with its aid?
The place of the armies should be at
the frontiers so long as we may have for
eign enemies.
When the peoples shall have suppress
ed the frontiers, the army will have no
longer reason for existence-the same
as all police will become useless the day
wherin all citizens shall have conquered
their complete liberty.
1t is to the realization Of this dream
that we summon thee, soldier.
Yes, thou wilt aid us to overthrow the
wicked ones who but serve themselves
through thee to hamper this holy work;
thou wilt strike them with the same
arms they have given thee to strike us !!
Should human sociability always con-
denim us to support governments which,
under the pretext of defending us against
possible enemies, organize armies really
destined to oppress' us and provoke wars
themselves, to give sanction to the ne
cessity of these armies?
If it must always be thus, better would
he the savage state where each, at least,
would be able to defend his liberty with
out having to struggle in vain against
governmental forces, under the accumu-
lation of which he is fatally crushed.
Understand it well so long as there
will be governments, so long it will al
wavs be to their interest to maintain
armies there will be wars, and the peo-
pie will be oppressed.
The reign Of liberty and justice can
only be founded on the ruins of false
government
I. is above all necessary to be well con-
yinced that there are urgent reasons 10
begin the social revolution, so as to profit
by the unpopularity of the Chambers
and the present ministers, as well as the
agitation caused by the question OF rent
at a time when the sutterings are
greatest. .,
We do not understand that French
yorkmen, because soldiers, can support
any government that maintains scandal
GUS privileges in the army.
WHY are not the emoluments Of mill
tary service equal for all citizens?
The volunteer principle is only a dis
puised substitution it is the privilege ol
money as the substitution, and it constl
tutes besides a new privilege-that, o.
money. .rr
l. Two privileges instead of one! Ant