The Labor enquirer., 1884-01-12
Why II is Decided to be Neces-
sary, in Some Form or
Other.
How the Revolution Is to be 40
complishod Against Pros
tituted Power.
When and Where Action Will First
be Taken--It May be
Precipitated.

Precipitated.
From the Toosin.
Labor produces all wealth labor must
enjoy all wealth. This can only be &C.
complished by . co-operative, or Social.
istic form Of government, under which
all land, all business enterprises and I'll
natural advantages would be the prop
erty of the people All individuals
would receive from the public fund &c
cording to the labor performed by them,
and all profit, interest and rent would
90 into the public treasury, to be re-
turned to the peoplein public improve
ments, schools, libraries, etc. To &C.
complish this change, and thus forever
wipe out the non-producers, is the object
Of the Revolution.
How is this revolution to be accom-
plished? It is desired to bring about
the change by a thorough organisation
of the laboring men. and revolutionary
convention representing from 100000
to 100000 workers. Isay revolution
ary convention, for Of course their first
action would necessarily be to set aside
all existing laws, constitutions and gov
ernments, preparatory to framing just
cooperative social system, and truly
representative government This action
would be revolutionary, but it would be-
in accordance with the expressed will Of
the people, and hence right and proper.
The result Of their labors would of course
be submitted to the people for ratification
or rejection. 1.-THE workingmen are per-
mitted to proceed quietly and peaceably
in this way, the change can be accom-
plished and the object fully attained
without spilling drop Of blood or ex.
ploding an ounce Of powder. But only
the most sanguine hope for such an easy
victory. Tyrants and oppressors have
ever fiercly contested, inch by inch, for
the privilege and power that was wruna
from them, and they will, it is feared, do
it in this instance. Whenever the capi.
talists, land monopolies, ETC.. see that
labor organizations are becoming formid
able, and that their "vested rights" are
threatened, they will demand and secure
legislation against the ''alarmists" and
"agitators." Labor papers will be sup
pressed, labor advocates imprisoned,
labor organizations forbidden, and an
armed conflict will thus be forced upon
the half-organized and unprepared
toilers, who, from their lack OF arms,
ammunition, supplies, etc., would seem
comparatively helpless. Fifty years ago
a half-ripe and premature revolt might
thus have been crushed. Then wealth.
commanded all the efficient means Of
destroying human life, and war without
the "sinews" would have been impossi-
Bile. Now 1t is different. Chemistry has
come to the aid of the poor, and to-day
$40 will arm hundred men with an ex-
plosive more terrible than the most ex-
pensiye cannon ever made. If the op-
pressors of the poor preclpitate conflict
their blood will be on their own heads.
The laborer demands nothing but his:
rights, and he will have them, peaceably
if he can, forcibly if he must.
II Z E
But when and where will action first
be taken? If the people are permitted
to quietly combine for this purpose,
action will be simultaneous, and soon;
but repressive legislation, or financial
panic, or some tremendous social pressure
may precipitate the revolution at any
moment. Let it find no laborer unpre-
pared. ..., ! ...
1t is and will be the old conflict Of
liberty against oppression, of lsbor
against idle robbery, of Just right against
unjust privilege, and to dream of sup
pressing principles like those inyolvedin
Socialism is to dream of the impossible.