The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-20
Its Use as a Means Compared
With Revolutionary Physi-
cal Force.
Effect Of Manifest Determination
On the Pacific Coast and in
New York City.
The Industrial Glasses are Entitled to
Arms and Ammunition, Because
They Produced Them.
For the Enquirer.


physical force" as a means by which the
industrial classes are to obtain their
freedom, and the rewards of their toll.
Extremists on both sides, have spent
much time and occupied much valuable
space in discussing the question. Re-
cent events show, to my mind, conclu-
sively, that all the moral suasion or rea-
son in the world avails little unless
backed by sufficient display of physi-
cal force to put the theory into practice.
The two principles are, in fact, INSOFAR
able, and must be employed as circum-
stances and discretion dictate.
The late riots in London. and the
events prior to their occurrence, are fit
illustration of my position. Hyndman
and others, during the year previous,
had maoe strenuous appeals, unavail-
ingly, to the government for action TO
be taken towards relieving the distress
of the unemployed in the metropolis; he
and others had gone at the head Of
thousands, and tens of thousands, to the
government, peaceably, orderly and
quietly and humbly begged in the name
of the starving multitude for aims ? No.
Simply to crave an opportunity to, earn
bare subsis' ance. No respect to the
prayers or the necessities of this orderly
crowd was paid by the authorities as long
as it remained passive and law-abiding,
but when it playfully, asit were, showed
its claws; when it began to exercise its
idle teeth" on the dainty viands con-
tanned in the well-stocked larders of the
swell club houses of the West End,
then, and not till then did they awake
to the fact that something had to be
done. Fear stirred the coward hearts
that could not be touched by compass
sion and sent trembling hands hastily
down into we'll filled pockets. Subscrip-
tions for the needy roured in from all
sides. A special investigation was at
once instituted by parliament and Che
break is now being tinkered up in the
government shop at Westminster in the
best style known t5 the political profess
sion. Such are the comparative practi-
cal effects of moral and physical force.
at work in England .-.....
The same rule applies in this country
aud everywhere else. On this coast, a
few years ago, more than 80 per cent of
the population voted to restrict Chinese
immigration, but notwithstanding this
preponderance of moral force the Chi
nese still came. The restriction act over
which so much time and effort was
spent is practically a nullity. and the
will of the people, 80 overwhelmingly
and emphatically expressed at the polls,
is set at naught in the most barefaced
manner by those entrusted to admins
ter the laws. This is practically the re-
suit of the ballot and moral suasion IN
regard to the Chinese. Moral suasion
however, having exhausted itself, about
twelve months ago, physical force was
gently and humanely applied. The re-
suit is that many towns have rid them
selves of the Chinese without disturb
ance or hurting hair of their heads,
and thousands are preparing to leave
the country as soon as possible. \.
Again, more recently in New York,
the demonstration of physical force on
the part of the car drivers won them
the battle. The good-natured but de-
termined manner in which they dumped
loads of coal upon, and gently placed
the cars across the track, was an argu.
ment more effective than all the reas-
oning or logic that "zeno' could in
vent or write in lifetime, and what is
more, it is greater educator.
I quite agree with Comrade Owen that
the masses must cease to look for lead
ers, they must work out their own sal
vation. Organization has taught self.
reliance, and this, above all things is
essential to success. Men, who few
months ago as an unorganized mass
trembled and fed at the approach of a
few of their fellows, clothed in blue
cloth, brass buttons and brief authority,
can now, with the consciousness and
knowledge of their own united strength
and with statistics at their fingers ends
upon which to base their estimates, run
their eyes over these fellows and calmly
measure the amount of moral and physi-
cal force they embody. Conscious of
their weakness as individuals, discre-
ton made them cowakds. Organization
has awakened in them realization OF
their own prependerant and irresistible
power when united, and has innocu-
lated them with courage and self-reliance
organization on true bottom principles
tends to create men, where before things
only seemed to exist, and men II is that
are needed; men who feeling the just
ness of their cause are not afraid to
stand up manfully and enforce their
rights when peaceful methods have
failed to secure them.
CONTINUED on fourth pagel