The Labor enquirer., 1884-11-08
LONDON LITTER.
{he Social lsmocnatic csSfavacs London
ITO 30 Asaated Mis Kistsr Street Corner
kscturs ciysn ty or Champions Ths
ovsment in Scotland

tovsmsnt IN Scotland
LpNDoN, Eng, IA Patefnoster Row..
October 20, 1884 y
Edit Labor Enquirer.
4 The Social Democratic Federation helt
a Conference at Anderton's hotel, Flee
street, London, on October 9, H. NJ
IHybdman in the chair. Delegates froh
tho different, London branches of thu
Federation of the Labor Emancipation
League and from other social and polit
1ichl societies we're present, A good
| many foreigners, most Germans. were in
/ the meeting, as indeed it must be admit
ted that the English speaking Germans
1 in London are among the most energetic
and intelligent Of the Socialists
| The general tone of the conference
was decidedly good. 1t was quite easy
to see that that company of comrades
in the peoples cause knew what they
wanted and by the scheme Of winter ag-
itation sketched out by H. Fl. Champion
\ it was easy TO see also that they meant to
have it. OF course all were not exactly
df one thought,and for one course of
attion; that is only possible in party
which is held togethersby gold or hero
worship, and dead level Of unanimity
is not desirable in party where every
indlviduali is expected to have his own
way of looking at things, and where
unanimity of purpose and method is
gained by the true ideas coming to each
by his own process of thought and ex-
perience. ,y
:. The women were not entirely
without representatives, as there was a
sprinkling of ladies present. But we
cannot yet say that we have drawn many
of the young women into the movement.
We intend to agitate London all over,
and when it is recollected that there are
several million, people to agitate, it will
be seen that we have no indolent task
The distances in, London are great, the
people in the different districts are quite
unknown to each other. The poverty is
something immeasurable, but the people
are so much accustomed to it, and their
intelligence so bunted by the effects Of
exploitation that they are really hard to
rouse. .... .-.g --E$-..r.
Our chief work must be to inspire
hope into these hopeless and helpless
victims of capitalism. To let them know
that their poverty is!pot caused BY the
hand of fate but by the grip of a class of
robbers. We must show them clearly
that better life is easily attainabEe-if
thev will but awaken from their apathy.
and put their hands and heads to work
for the. salvation of themselves and
everybody else. < f.,
The interesting question of finance was
also brought forward. William M iris
appealed to the conference to urge the
workmen to subscribe their pence as the
small sums were really the man support
of the funds and the. workers must learn
that upon themselves devolved the duty
of paying the expenses of the propagan-
da. Hitherto the funds for the move
ment in the country have not been found
by the proIetariat, bnt there are signs
that thev are now awakening to-the fact
that if our cause is tolprosper it will be
by the efforts of the workers alone. If
we have succeeded id convincing large
number of workmenIto pay for their own
agitation, we have good reason to hope.
The question Of educational propa-
ganda was next brought forward. DR..
Aveling opened the discussion with "a
speech which was enthusiastically terse,
pointed and lucid. A course of lectures,
will be delivered by DR.. Avellng for the
purpose of thoroughly educating our asvn
members in the really scientific nature
of Socialism. DIR. Aveling has the rare
and useful faculty of making others fully
comprehend what he knows himself, and
as teacher of Socialism, expect him to
render valuable assistance to the cause.
On the whole this conference was very
satisfactory although 1 trust the next
NAV be, and must be still more so. The
conferences will be held every month.
Ernest Belfort Bax will deliver some
lectures during the coming winter on the
historical development of Socialism.
These lectures are sure to be of great
educational value as there is no more
competent person than comrade Bax to
deal with the subject.
The agitation at the east end of Lon
don has now fairly begun. The prospects
of making progress is very encouraging.
A procession of members of the Fedora
ton paraded the streets with large red
standards. A halt was made at the
street corners and a lecture delivered.
In this way three meetings are often
held in one night within 500 yards of
each other, The people are eager and
much quicker to understand US than I
expected. l may forward an account of
our agitation at some future date.
Iwoul d like to draw the attention of
American comrades to series of articles
now appearing in Justice on the French
Revolution. E, Belfort Bax is the writer,
and the articles are of particular value to
Socialists, because they demonstrate the