The Labor enquirer., 1885-12-26

to EN- brace world what
aprodlgal waste of affec- -. -. :.
tIon to lavish such wealth on one.
During the distribution of labor litera-
ture he sought but never found PAM
phlet or book which stated in brief
but pithy and concise manner the creed
of Socialism; hence he was exceedingly
anxious to have something written that
would meet his sviews-something cheap,
handy and meaty. To accomplish this
fondest desire of his heart he had the So
cialistic section appoint Committees on
Pamphlet" Those committees met oc.
casionally for three years, discussed the
subject, but never accomplished any
thing. As last resort, he decided to
write it himself, he jotted down his
ideas on various points, but in manner
unsatisfactory to himself. It was atthis
junction that he appealed tolhis friend
Wilson with whom he had been living
for some years.. to help him out Of the
difficulty. Ofcourse Wilson cheerfullY
consented, but he was as lazy and imprac-
tical as ten committees combined, so that
Stark kweather had another year of hard
work, entreating, cajoling and swearing
before the first line of it was written,
but once started, it was soon completed,
the result being the well-known pamph-
let Evolution or Revolution" The
first edition of which was published ex.
cfusively at Starkweather's expense at
time when he was unable to work, and
to the full extent of every cent he
owned in the world, the returns from
which did not pay for the paper on
which it was printed.
An edition of $1,000 copies was re-
Gently issued by Lowell. No. 461. of Loy-
ellis Library, and the first installment
reached San Fran cisco few days before
his death. AS starkweather knew moth
ing about the negotiations that had been
some time pending, to receive copy
was at once the greatest and most pleas
ant surprise of his life and more than
aught else smoothed his pathway to the
grave it was the Divine Chrism, the
Extreme Unction. of one of the noblest
devotees that eyer suffered and died for
men. A#
The lung disease which he contracted
in the mines of late years was aggravated
through hard work and exposure, day
and night, in the cause of labor, SO that
literally he was a martyr to the Gospel
of Humanity which he loved with en-.
thusiasm and advocated with extreme
earnestness.
For more than a year prior to his
death (which occurred November q
1884, he was an invalid. and the
anguish of mind he endured during that
period was keen and unmitigated the
reason for this suffering was threefold :
First. That he should be a burden to
his friends.
Second. That he should die so ignobly
| in bed, instead of on barricade or lead
ing charge against the tyrants he SO
cordially hated.
Third. That his life had been 80 un
fruitful OF good to humanity, and that
the freedom for v hich, he wrought and
suffered was yet perceptible only to his
prophetic sense.
With regard to the first he was nj
burden to anyone in any pecuniary Of
disagreeable sense. and even we're he
/ dependent on the bounty of his friends
and comrades, to them 1t would hayt
been the greatest pleasure to minister t.
his needs, to alleviate his suffering, and
4 to make the end of the journey as pleas
i ant and cheerful as walk through the
woods in spring. Secondly, his dying il
bed was no evidence of coward1ce, or un
faith, but indubitable proof that the
Social Crisis had not come to demant
this sacrifice, which at the most coult
not have been nearly sogreat as any ont
, Of thousand which he had made be
t fore.
Thirdly. Instead Of his life being =
he supposed. unfruitful Of good, it va
i eminentls productive during his time