The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-24

Europe, quaked under the Revolutionary
upheavals Of 1s48. Want of employ
ment creates misery misery produces
restlessness Of spirit restless spirits es-
tablish lack of security; and with that
the circulation Of social evils is COM
plete, for lack of security again produces
want Of employment. Every Revolution
of the nineteenth century can be traced
to these immediate causes. Misery, scare
lity of tile nececities of life, oppressive
means of the powers to subjugate the
powerless, and the inert instinct of the
masses, that they must protect them
selves, or become more miserable, more
detected, more enslayed Whenever
natures law ofself-preseryation becomes
necessity to the masses, the masses at
once act under its forcible dictations,
and launch out into Revolution. Nothing
has been ableto prevent such outbreaks
no power on earth can forestall it; NO
reasoning can subdue it. Mans feeling
becomes the master of his reasoning,
and he at once acts upon the dictates Of
his heart. So when the masses became
aware of their rights and social priv.
leges, which they found had become al
most entirely abolished, they stopped
thinking; they reasoned no more, but
in concert, took up Revolution as the
only means of self-preseryation. Yet
they were junorganized and in conse-
quence did not succeed in obtaining
either political, moral or social liberty.
The whole period of Revolution became
but partial success, and after a few
years of such, inferior at least, reaction
again raised its hydra head and gradu-
ally, but surely, under the protection of
millions of bayonets, stole and robbed
the people of their Revolutionary
achievements of 184S. Yet the seed
-sown has, in spite of the frost cast upon
it by this severe reaction, germinated
into vigorous plants, which seem to be
perennial and cannot be uprooted again.
The masses have learned great lesson
in 1S4S and never again lost the. thread
of their narrative. They are to-day CO.
operating with one another all over the
globe, and fearful will be the reckoning
between the masses and their oppressors
if the latter do not betimes open their
eyes and willingly and voluntarily &C
cede to labor and the people that which
belongs to them before God and man,
to-wit:
San equal share of the profits of every
thing which capital and labor produces"
Equality of every man and woman
before the laws"
"No privileged classes no aristocracy ;
no royalty; unconditional political
equality"
Labor must not be obliged to work
over eight hours day"
"Capital must not be allowed to exact
more than 6 per centum per annum in
terest. ALI contracts to the contrary
must be null and void"
These conditions can only he success
fully obtained through the thorough and
complete organization of labor. Self
preservation demands it. Self-preserva-
ton will correct all the abuses of society
hereafter, so long as its being the first
law of nature is not argued away by the
sophists of the world.
Yet Socialism and its success are in
constant danger. The enemy without is
not to be feared so much as the enemy
within. The doctrine of Socialism must
be organized and distinctly def ned.
There are hundreds AYE, thousands-of
would-be leaders, and when you come to
sift down their definitions of Socialism,
you will find that scarcely any two agree.
The would be leaders must not pretend
to lead upon and with their particular
ideas. They must subjugate themselves
and their ideas to and und3r the true
definition of Socialism, as it should be
established for the sole and unprejudiced
benefit of the people, of all human be-
ings. Egotism has to be abandoned by
the Socialists or Socialism will never,
never succeed. This egotism of the
would-be leaders is the fercest and most
dangerous enemy Socialism has. The
enemy without Capital privilege, church
power, standing armies, royalty are not
nearly so dangerous as the egotistic pro-
clivities of the would-be leaders of the
doctrine. A congress of all workmen of
the masses of the world should be held,
wherein the properly elected representa-
tives sho Id be made to establish beyond
any doubt the doctrine of Socialism,
Then the masses will know what they
want and the doctrine can be emanci-
pated, proclaimed fought for and estab,
lished., w. X.-CARL WULsTEN.
THE END.
The Prize Address.
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