The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-28
rnEDUcArE OR K1LL.nj

&
KILL" in which the writer offers very
truly the definition Of Socialism as
understood by his class, and demands
the enlightenment or extirpation OF
its believers. I am impressed by read
ing it by the fact that, as always has
been the case, the issue between the
right and the wrong is mainly between
people who differ chiefly in position
relative to the truth, one Oh one side
and the other on the opposite, and both
claiming IT. The liberal and fair-minded
of both will be nearest and perhaps but
slightly separated. Allowing for some
incoherence, probably due to haste, and
change of application of his utterances
would make of this writer a first-class
dynamiter or anarchist. He demands
that society Educate or Kill" Pre-
ciseiy what the HOPELESS and starving
and desperate class demands, proclaim
ing the right of self-preservation for the
patient laborer who finds patience and
labor inadequate. But l will quote, not
part but fully:
SOCIALISM is on the same line with
dynamitism and Nihilism and other
atrocious schemes of rebels, traitors, MUIR
derers and regicldes. 1t is 80 far removed
from any legitimate change from right
to wrong that it is wrong itself. 1t has
its origin in envy, malice, vicious hatred
and laziness. 1t strikes at society al
though a part of society. 1t makes a
ruin although sharing the consequences
of ruin. Imagining wrongs where there
are rights, it destroys even its own right
to exist. From that confusion which is
only apparent, it makes confusion worse
confounded. With frantic shrieks it
appeals for protection where there is
every protection for its devotees. With
incoherent rawlings about labor, it would
inaugurate rebellion against that
which encourages and protects labor.
1t blindly attacks friend, 1t sees
fends where there only angels. Be-
cause incapable of accumuhting riches,
honor and position, it vainlytears down
the same. Gangrened with jealousy and
revenge it hurls anathemas against what
1t fain would enjoy Itself but has no
capacity for enjoying. Being in hell it
seeks to demeralize heaven. Caring
nothing for orderly results, it rushes on
to compulsion."
From the far borders of the monopo-
llstic side this small voice shrieks an
Rthemas that answer word for word the
very ,utterances of the surging mass OF
humanity that as yet, on the other bor-
der, is only menace.
Who are the murderers, say they, but
the men who build palaces, that crowd
US into cellars, factories that labor with
myriad arms of steel, the racks on
which our children pant and pine and
die, the rivals against which We pit our
lives in hopeless struggles for the bread
they do not need, and which those who
monopolize them will not give US except
on such conditions = the RIVALS that
should be our benefcent servants, since
we made them, instead of the engines Of
new force in our oppression.
Who are the lazy we, we who
have done all, we who get at best
but subsistence while class, in
tercepting the returns of labor, live in
idleness; the laugh that comes from that
dark border ls perhaps sardonlc.
Attack our friends, those who are
only angels" where we nee fends
What an illusion; angelic friends who
look into our hell and weep that we
blinded by sulphuric fumes recognize
in them the instigators of the torments
that consume us, and IN their. sorrow
Christening US for our good, send theil
creatures to thrust in more fuel. The
shout that goes up with this ilony might
we'll demoralize a heaven built upon 6
hell and disconcert the builders.
Rebellion against that whIch encour
ages and protects, indeed. lift be capita
and the capitalist, which is probably in
tended, perhaps we may refuse to believe
in the necessity of protection except By
possession of the power labor has created
and which should protect labor and en-
courage accumulation by and for ths
laborer; no one to control and protec
him with it, and vaunt the God-liks
power thus conferred.
A.t The remedy too we accept with som,
- slight revision. The word "fostered
~ wewould make discouraged" 1t read
better from Socialist standpoint.
3 "a The remedy is exhrpation either
= FIRST, by education or second, by lega
; suasion. In the schools there shoulC
q be systematic instruction concerning tn,
law of supply of demand, concernin,
, labor and its equivalent, coDcerninl
riches and poverty and their causes ant
l4 remedies, and above all, concernln
LOYALTY and treason, their penalties
q their results, Patriotism should be in
iculcated as d prime virtue and all chal
ING under the restraints Of law, al
uroundless discomfort, all effort to secur
ANYTHING except by the most open an