The Labor enquirer., 1886-10-23
SPIES SPEECH.
e,oncluded from tlrst page.l

and furnishing the foundation for So
cial system of CO. operation, that is So
clalIsm. That whether this or that
theory, this or that scheme regarding
future arrangements were not a matter
of choice, but one of historical necessity
and that to us the tendency Of progress
seemed to be Anarchism, that Is, free
society, without king or classes, So
ciety of soverelgns, in W hich the liberty
and economic equality of ALL will fur
nish an unshakable equilibrium as a
condition of natural order. 1t is not
likely that the honorable Bonfeld and
Grlnnell can conceive of social order
not held intact By the policeman's club
and pistol, nor of free society without
prisons, gallows and states attorneys.
In such a society thew probably fail to
find place for themselves. And is this
the reason Anarchism is such a PERM =
cious and damnable doctrine?''
Grinnell has informed US that "An-
archy" was on trial. The theory of
Anarchism belongs to the realm of spec
uIative philosophy. There was not a
SYLLABLE said about Anarchism at the
haymarket meeting. In that meeting
the very popular theme Of reducing the
hours Of toll was discussed. But An
archy is on triol," foams Mr.. Grlnnell.
If this is the case, your honor, very
well, you may sentence me, for am an
Anarchist. believe with Buckle, with
Paine, Jefferson, with Emerson, Spencer
and many other great thinkers of this
century that the state of castles and
classes, the state where one class domi-
mates over and lives upon the labor of
another class, and calls this "order"-
yes, believe that this barbariC form of
social organization, with its legalized
plunder and murder, is doomed to die
and make room for free society, vol
untary association and, if you like, uni
versal Brotherhood. You may pro,
nounce your sentence upon this crime,
honorable Judge, but let the world know
that in A, D. 1886, in the state of Illi-
nois, eight men were sentenced to
death because they believed in better
failure, because they had not lost their
faith in the ultimate victory of liberty
and justice.
"You have taught the destruction of
society and civilization!" howls the
agent of the Bankers and Citizens asso-
ciation-Grinr ell. That man has yet to
learn what civilization is, for otherwise
he would not talk in that way. 1t is the
old, old argument against human pro-
gress. Read the history Of Greece and
Rome, read that of Venice, look over the
dark pages of the church, and follow the
thorny path of science: mo change, no
change; you would DESTROY society and
civilization" has ever been the cry OF
the ruling classes. They are 30 COM
fortably situated under the prevailing
system that they naturally abhor and
fear the slightest changes. Their privi-
leges are as dear to them as life itself,
and every change threatens these prlvi-
leges. But civilization is ladder
whose steps are monuments OF such
changes. Without these social changes,
always brought about against the will
and against the force of the ruling
classes, there would be no civilization.
. And to the destruction of society,
which we have been accused to seek
this sounds like one of Esop's fables,
like the cunning of the fox. We, who
have jeopardzed our lives to save So
cietv from the 6end, the fend who has
grasped her by the throat, who sucks
her life blood who devours her chill
dren We, who would heal her bleed
ing wounds, who would free her from
the fetters you have wrought around
her. from the misery you have brought
upon her-we her enemies? Honorable
Judge! the demons of hell will join in
the laughter this irony proyokes
We have preached dynamite. We
have predicted from The lessons history
has taught us that the ruling classes of
to-day would no more listen to the voice
of reason than their predecessors did.
They would atte npt by force to stay the
wheel of progress. Did we lie, Or was it
the truth we told? Are not already the
large industries of this once free coun.
try conducted under the surveillance of
police, detectives, military and sherif5 :?
And is this revival of militancy not de-
veloping from day to day? The Ameri-
can sovereign, think of it working, like
the galley convict, under military
guards We have predicted this, and
predict that soon these conditions will
grow unbearable. What then? The
mandate of the feudal lords of our time
is slavery, starvation or death ! This
has been their programme during the
past few Years. "When this hour
comes" we have said to the toilers,
know that science has penetrated the
mystery of nature; know that from
JoYe's head has sprung once more q
Minerva-dynamite If this deClara-
ton is synonymous with murder, why
not charge those with the crime to
whom We owe the invention ?" To
charge US with an attempt to overthrow
the present system on May 4. or any