The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-27
THE ArrnoAoHrse BATTLE.
TAs nay Net Far Dsseaat When tAs
CenASet ostwssn Justacs ana Op-
Pesssien viii be Upen Us.
For IS. Enouir.r

1 v
have seem it stated somewhere that
in every village in Russia there is one OF
moro intelligent and active Socialists
When We connder the vastness of the
territory, the immense distances be-
tween many Of the settlements. the igpo-
rance Of the peasants, the repressive
laws and fearful penalties against Social
lists, and above all, the very few years
that have elar sed since Nihilism was
founded in that country; we may well
be amazed at the rapid growth of Revo-
lutionary ideas, and this energy and de-
yotion of our Russian camrades. Proba-
bly, in no other country on the globe
could such results have been achieved,
or such heroism have been shown We
Socialists are not hero-worshipers, for
We deem every sacrifice duty-nay, a
high and holy privilege e-that is de-
manded Of Us for the furtherance of the
great cause but We we're ungrateful in
deed If we failed to recognize and ap-
plaud the unceasing labor of our Rus
sian comrades and the splendid results
lofthelr agitation.
Here, in America, we are also daily
made aware Of the rapid spread of the
glorious Gospel of Discomfort. From
every quarter comes the cry for more
light land the agitation, but Just begun.
promises to be general throughout the
country. That the coming spring and
summer will witness tremendous wave
ofinquiry and agitation there can be
scarcely doubt, and that it will result
in increasing strength to Socialism is also
true.
In q year from now the number OF So.
cialists in Americawill be doubled. New
and able agitators and speakers will
arise, groups formed in almost every
town, and the movement receive boom
that will carry it forward with irresisti-
BILE impetuosity. Then will come the
DAYS that will try men'ssouls.
We must not lull ourselves into the
belief that when the capitalists and the
rulers of the country perceive the rising
power of the proletariat, they will quiz
etly step down from their lofty seats and
recognize the demands of labor and JUS
tice. No, indeed Between the two
factions-the rulers and the ruled, the
slaves and the masters, the present
holders of capital and the producers of
it-there aoiu be eternal ,oar;; war to the
knife-to determination. Either the
Socialists will be the victors, the system
abolished, and liberty and equality be
forever proclaimed, or the proletariat
will be relegated to worse condition of
servitude than that which he now suf-
fers. Until one of these two conditions
is brought about there can be nothing
but war, most cruel and destructive.
The enemy will fight! Having all the
implements of warfare. the power. and
the means of repression, nothing will be
left undone to sustain the government
and those for whose interest it is main
tanned. Prescriptions, penalties and
prisons will be in order. 1t will be dam
gerous to be known as a sympathizer
with Socialists; the police and the mill
tary will be strengthened, and, in short,
all the repressive and oppressive meas
ures which now exist in Russia, will be
brought to bear against us here.
That will be the time for great deeds
and heroic sacrifices. Then shall we
know who are our enemies-for who is
not then for us will be against US. In
that time we shall be armed with the
strength of our convictions, and there
shall be no looking back. The common
danger that surrounds US will unite US
more firmly, and we shall be unfinching
and terrible in our punishment of the
oppressors of the poor.
Let the day come quickly that shall
see the beginning of the end. We al
ready hear the commotion of
the coming storm. and it is
sweet music to US. We feel the thrill of
approaching battle, and each skirmish,
sounding the death knell of human
slavery. brings US nearer the time when
all true hearts and hands shall be united
in one grand coup de etat; the overthrow
of human tyranny and greed. Caro-.
Riahardaam,a SupplY Point