The Labor enquirer., 1885-04-04

my replies, and II have chosen to MAKE
such replies more in, didactic way
while ignoring the individual, I hav,
done 80 with the best of motives: be
cause I thought, and still earnestly be.
lieve that such method of dealing with
fthe subject is more satisfactory to the
readers of The ENQUIRER, and because
an article written in that way, treatlnl
on vital subject, is much more attrac-
tive, and less likely to be acrimonious
and therefore offensive.
The editor will bear me witness that
in former article which appeared in
The ENQUIRER over the signature of "H'
but which by the way, left my hands
Esigned Cato took up several points
referred to by "Zenos and answered
them in q personal way. using the name
of "zeno" quite freely in my replies.
however, in private note to the editor
left it to his judgment as to whether this
part of, the article should be printed OF
not, but told him / preferred that be
would eliminate such personal references
from the article, which he; did, thereby
showing his good sense; and apprecla-
l.tion of my wishes not to make the mat
ter mere personal dispute.
Another thing: when people indulge In
these disputes they are apt to take un-
fair advantage of each other, to lose
sight of the main idea and to fall back
upon technlcalities, and to resort to trick
cry; the object being not SO much to dis
cuss principles and educate the people as
to gain their respective points. "zeno"
has several times taken advantage of a
mere ungrammatical expression, contra
dictory, or mis-statement uf terms, and
such small matters, when answering his
several critics, and has often shown a
disposition to ignore the main question
under consideration. Indeed, we are all
prone to do this in personal discussion,
for we do not like to be worsted in an
argument. and too frequently make use
of lawyer.like tricks to carry our case.
Now what we want to discuss Is not
whether "Zeno" or Cato" made mis-
take in stating so and so, or used such
and such an expression, or put this or
that word in the wrong place. 1t is i'm
material whether I said in one place that
peaceable solution of the problem is
desirable; and In another place that the
State Socialists are stupid because they
believe peace able solution possible, etc.
etc. We do not want to discuss the rel
ative difference betw cen tweedle dee and
tweedle DUN, or anything Of the kind.
We are none of US very learned, perhaps
none of US can be called masters of
rhetoric and composition. We are al
liable to make mistakes, and even con-
tradictlons. The great idea eyer to be
borne in mind should be the advance
ment of the cause of-human progression,
II had almost said Socialism, but fear
there might be objections, as 'Zeno"
does not seem to consider me Social
ist.) What we want, is the truth, ne
matter where it leads US, W neither into
materialism, spiritualism, sfatalism or
messianism let US have truth, though
the heavens fall. ~.
We are, in our small way, educators of
the people; we are teachers as we'll as
students. Shall we then consume our
own time, as we'll as that Of the people
whom we seek to benefit by engaging in
personal wrangles as to the merits ofthe
different methods of overthrowing the
system which we all alike condemn and
hate? Shall we waste our precio US time
in discussing whether dynamite should
be used in disintegrating an hypothesis,
or in blowing up Jay Gould or any other
product of the system? Pardon me, 1
had rather be excused. My time is too
valuable to waste in any such manner,
What time I have to spare I shall use IN
efforts to spread the gospel of discomfort.
I want people to know that they are rob-
he'd not only of the product of their
labor but of liberty, of reason, of health.
l want people TO k now that they do not
half live, that under the pr esent systems
real enjoyment of life is an utter impos-
sbility. I want the mer chant to realize
that he is forced to prostitute all the bet
ter nature within him in order to sue
cessfully carry on his business; that he
cannot succeed without recourse to
knavery and all manner of meanness. I
want the lawyer and professional man to
realize that they aresupportlng system
that forces them to live upon the Ills and
distress of their neighbors. 1 want the
laborer to understand that h is systemat
ically robbed of .ive-eighths of all tha
he produce 8 that under the competitive
and wage system there is an inexorable
law which prevents him from receiving
more than barely sufficient to keep him
alive. I wan t the capitalist, the politi
ton, and the army of Office holders tc
know that they are corner stones of this
iniquitous system, and I want them te
know that there is smouldering furnace
beneath them, which, at no distant day
will burst forth into volcano of wrath
and utterly sweep their privileges ant
their Infamous system from the face o
the earth. And want to add what
can to this fire of discomfort. l want t,
L