The Labor enquirer., 1885-04-25
do would be to set the philosopher TO


dowould be to set She philosophers TO
work 10 concoct scientific plan Of soci-
ETY., tell it to the people, and in a trice
have 1t organized; it would all be as
easy as Sidartha got his light into use in
Zeno's Dream. But unfortunately we
haven't that kind of people to deal with.
People are not intelligent, are not meek
and mild. and easily led into paths of
wisdom and peace. The principle of
revenge is not wholly eliminated from
the human heart. The masses are apa-
thetic, stupid and unwieldy; monopo.
lists are habituated, through long ages OF
UNJUST systems, to principles of greed
and are mott to be argued out of their So
called vested rights. Society has arrived
at d desperate stage mark that--a @dest
perate stage. We are not so sure that an
|over-ruling Providence, or the Spirit Of
Progress, or some infallible law is going
to tide us over terrible crisis and into
a higher and better civilization, whether
we do anything or not. Other civiliza-
tions have arisen and died from the very
causes that are sapping the, life of the
present one, we have no hope in any
thing, but-our own efforts, that we shall
survive. Submission means suffering,
death, utter destruction-even revenge
is better than that But I think. it is
scarcely fair to call rebellion against op-
preston, mere revenge. Though the
resistance may be a failure, though the
struggles of the oppressed may be di-
rected against an individual, who is to
them the embodiment of a system, though
persons may have to take the conse-l
auences of long ages of false teachings,
the feeling is something better, more
eleyating than mere revenge. s
No Anarchist would injure another
person after he had stopped being un-
Just, Just to punish him; If the object he
worked for were accomplished either by
education or force, he would not wish to
visit one iota of suffering on the deposed
tyrant's head. What force-adY Yocates do
say to the people is this '9;ks aoF ti1
"You are wronged. You are robbed
on every side by individuals through
the very systems YOU are taught to be-
|lieve are right. You are hoodwinked
and blinded. You must arouse your
selves and think of these things and in
the meantime science has placed at
your disposal force which you can use
if you must, in enforcing your demands
for Justice. You need not submit any
longer. You have power which will
compel capitalists to treat with you
on an equal footing. You need not be
one of a vast, drilled army under an ap-
pointed set of despots, at great ex-
pense, in order to fight your own battles
The poorest, most helpless of you, d may
take the benefit of this new force. 1t is
right you should all know this 1t is
right YOU should know what you can do
and that you have right to use your
power. rather than. submit and die,
slaves and we will tell it to you when
ever we can get you to listen. The pres.
ent system is working worse than death
to men, women and little children, all
over the world, and it must be over
thrown. Whoever or whatever stands
in the way and will not be argued out
must get out or take the consequence
Since this position has been taken
there has been deeper interest mani.
tested in industrial questions than was
ever known before. The apathetic work.
ingman is aroused to a sense of his real
condition and the possibilities before
him, the complacent capitalist grows un'
easy, and cultured men of the day begin
ito recognize the dignity and Importance
of the labor question. .5,. ..i,.,,..
The idea that there is force, and
that it is right to use it.rather than sub
NIT to injustice, makes vast difference
in the aspect of the industrial situation
1t was a grand move ahead when it be.
gan to be preached; though some idle
reasonless, absurd things are said, and
some foolish and unjustifable things
done, because of it, still the cause is
greatly advanced by the idea itself. r,
1t is not idle talk or buster, as some
insist it is but it is not always wise to
let the left hand know what the right
hand does. and so, while Anarchists be-
lieve in teaching the people their power
and their rights, they do not think best
to proclaim every plan they may have
studied, or every practical measure that
may be instigated, to the world. A good
general, before q powerful enemy, would
scarcely do that. They may appear to
be vain-b boosters, but accusations are not
in good form till later on. Dynamite
can and does exert a silent and powerful
influence without. actually exploding
and many an otherwise inexplicable
turn has been given to industrial affairs
through its unseen agency. .,@ .fs.
Peace reformers say, "You cannot &C
complish any permanent reform, even
by force unless majority understand
Just what YOU want; and if enough OF
you doyo can get your rights without
force" Fl ~ -.i..t
I think that in the work before us
both the elements of education and
force are necessary. You can talk much
more effectually to ignorant and careless
working people when you tell them that
they have the power to enforce their
claims, than if you merely point oul
their wrongs and tell them what ought tc
be +; and capitalists. bosses and specula-
tors are certainly not going to be argued
out of their positions. ,.
T." Force should be backed by intelli'
gence certainly. But intelligence must
also possess strength. 1t must rest calmly
on a material and thoroughly well-un-
derstood reserve of force, or 1t is helpless
and undignified. =
u Our fight is not one of sentiment alone.
Abstract theories of Justice without
action will not win our rights, even
though the masses comprehend them,
and it will take force of some kind to
makethe majority see anything in them.
Our enemies are in full possession ;they
have got tn e verv means of our exist
( ence., They have with parchment
scroll fenced around miles of land )"
they have'locked up our productions in
| warehouses, elevators, banks and vaults
they have shut our machinery from US !;
they have placed lock, and key on the
| uaru nates &c .natura and we are starry