The Labor enquirer., 1884-03-22

There is oppression against every menu
ber of it when the social body is OPP
pressed. When the government violates
the rights of the people, insurrection is
for the people and for every portion OF
the people the most sacred of rights and
the most indispensable of duties. When
the social contract fails to protect cltl-
zen he resumes his natural right to de-
fend personally all his rights. In either
of the two preceding cases, to subject to
legal forms the resistance to oppression
is the last refinement to tyranny, and ls
both infamous and void.
XIV. ,
Public functions cannot be considered
as distinctions nor as recompenses, but
as public duties. The people ought, as
far as possible, to govern themselves
without the interposition of delegates or
representatives. But when these repre-
sentatives are necessary they must be
selected by such system as will insure
their being real and not pretended mi
crocosms of their constituents. The
crimes of such representatives should
be severely punished. The people have
a right to know the operations of their
delegates, and it is the duty Of the latter
to render to the people a faithful ac-
count of their behavior.
XVI.
Men of allcountries are brothers, and
the people Of each ought to yield one
another mutual aid, according to their
ability, like citizens of the same state.
He who opposes or oppresses one peo-
pie is the declared enemy of all, Those
who make war on people to arrest the
progress of liberty and to annihilate the
rights of man ought to be pursued every
where, not as ordinary criminals, but as
social outlaws, assassins and robbers.
Kings, aristocrats, tyrants of every de-
scription are beasts dangerous to the
welfare of mankind, and against them
should be raised the hand of every man.
- XVII.
The conditions which will establish
universal happiness upon earth consist
in the free endowment OF the natural
rights of man, combined with the exer-
else of all his faculties upon the highest
plane of mental, moral and physical
worth. The best guarantee of the ex-
istence and perpetuity of these condi-
tions is the loftiest possible elevation of
humanity. There will arrive time, if
be not impeded, when govern
ments will be useless To advance that
time, education seems to be the main
factor. Hence, what prevents or con-
strains the spread of intelligence is tyr
annous and unjust.
Governments, as at present existing
are machines used for the purpose of
enslaying the people. Such machines
should be abolished and society be per.
mitted to reorganize upon principles OF
equality. The people being too much
governed, all statute or common law,
except broad and simple declarations OF
principles and rights, should be abolish
ed. These principles should be inter
pl eted not by infamous precedent, but
by the light of common sense, to secure
justice to all.
XIX.
Neither sex, age, color nor condition
should ever be made barriers against
equal and exact Justice,
XXX.
Suppress the right of increase claimed
by the proprietor over anything which
he has stamped as his own property
while maintaining possession, and by
this simple change law, government,
economy and institutions will be revolu-
tionized and evil be driven from the face
of the earth.
DECLARATION.
We believe firmly, that as necessary
step in advance to that condition of per-
feet anarchy" when governments shall
be no longer needed, it is imperative
that the present competitive system of
industry and the social structure depend
ent thereon be abolished, and that in its
place shall be- substituted a system of
governmental co-operatlonin in all matters
of mental, moral and physical construc-
ton and elevation.
We believe in fact that the present
system necessarily is prophetic of a fu-
ture revolution, which must either result
in a greater and freer condition, or will
plunge our present civilization back into
barbarism.
We affirm that, believing this, it is our
duty to prepare for the impending con-
hict to lead it when it shall break upon
US, and to bend every energy to so direct
it as to secure as it's result the establish
ment of proper system of government
tai cooperation.
We affirm, furthermore, that all the
resources of science should be enlisted
in the battle to insure success and the
welfare of the people of the world.
We declare further that action ought
to be both international and simulta-
neous.
1t will lie remembered that in 1872, at
the Congress of the International held
at Hague, first arose the dissensions
which have since divided our ranks. 1t
was at this session that Bqkounine was
expelled and carried with him thirty of
the delegates, with the aid of whom he
established what has since been. called
the Black International, as opposed to
those who remained, the Red The be-
lief of the Red was in the gradual edu-
cation of the people and in taking no
forcible action until all the world was
prepared the belief of the Blacks was
in the total abolition of all present
forms of government by force.
The news of this division when
brought to Bismarck provoked from him
this historical remark Crowned heads,
wealth and privilege well may tremble
should ever again the Black and Red
unitew
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 solidarity. Ho
Reds and Blacks, thy flags are flying
side by side! Let the drum beat out de-
fantlythe roll of battle. "Workingmen
of all lands, unite! You have nothing
to lose but your chains you have a
world to win"
Tremble! oppressors of the world
Not far bevond vour nurblind sioht