The Labor enquirer., 1886-08-21

Hutton must be forcible one, but that
political equality accompanied by social
inequality is sham from which the
middle class alone can derive any sub
stantial benefit. In America, for in
stance, every man can vote. monarchy
has never existed, a titled aristocracy is
unknown; and vet there the wage
slaves in general work longer hours,
sometimes for worse nay. than they OBJ
tain here; the capitalist and landlord is
even more powerful than in European
countries, and both exploiters and ex-
plotted tacitly recognizs that another
civil war is inevitable. " 81 f.,
] After all there ia sound sense in the
argument of the opponents of manhood
suffrage that the workers, as class, are
not competent to decide on the respec.
tive merits of the candidates between
whom the electors have to choose.
They are incapable because they have
no time for meditation and education.
Without knowledge and leisure for re-
Election it is impossible for any man to
understand the complicated problems OF
modern civilization. Without know
ledge and leisure it is impossible for any
man to protect himself from the snares
and pitfalls which are laid for him by
the professional politician, to distin-
guish clearly between the policies of the
opposing parties, and to ascertain what
measures are of progressive and what
of reactionary character. And why is
it the mass of the people lack this know
ledge aud leisure which is so essential
to proper performance OF the duties of
an elector? Why is it that for once the
resctionists have truth on their side?
Simply because the non-producing, con-
fscating classes-that Is to say the reac-
tionjsts themselves-have robbed the
workers of their time and opportunities
by compelling them to work four tunes
as long as is necessary, and appropriate
ing the wealth which they produce, in
order that they-the drones Of societv-
may have plenty of food and plenty of
leisure.
But, even if every man in this country
was an elector, and knew how to use the
vote, the dominant class of to-day would
continue to rule Money is king and
will never be dethroned by voting
papers. In monarchial England as we'll
as in republican America, men can be,
and are, compelled under threat of dis
charge to vote as their employer wishes.
Moreover, poverty stricken electors are
very easily persuaded Is more
agreeable word than bribed-tO vote for
the candidate who has the greatest
amount of wealth, And then the cleo
tioneering machinery is completely in
the hands of the capitalists tools. The
liberal, radical and conservative organi-
cations being supported by capitalist
money, have usually to put ftrward can
didates approved of by their middle
class friends. Their independence" is
a mere figure of speech. In fact the
monev-lords have-and will have 80
long as they exi5t-almust entire control
over the elections. Their slight differ
ences of opinion, and consequent divis-
ion into parties, serve onlv to blind the
unthlnking to the fact that they are one
united party as opposed to their slaves
the workers-and that the trivial in
stallments of Justice we have secured
have only been granted US from fear, or
as a matter of policy.
Let US suppose, however-wild as such
a supposition is-that the Social Demo
cratic party being supplied with wealth
sufficient to contest all seats in the
country-and that wealth would have to
be en- ormous, not likely to be furnished
by an impoverished wage-earning class
succeeded in obtaining working ma
jority over the propertied class, does
any sane Englishman dream for a mo-
ment that the latter would surrender
theis ill-gotten wealth peaceably at the
bidding of such an assembly? Surely
not. Tie fight which our constitutional
Socialists wish TO escape would as GER
tainly ensue then as the civil war took
place in the United States over chattel
slavery. The southern slave owners on
that occasion, seeing they were likely to
be worsted in the legislative contest,
flew to arms, and had to be beaten
badly by the northerners before they
submitted. Will English wage-slave
owners differ, think you? A short time
ago it seemed probable that the Irish
question might be settled by the British
parliament granting the Irish people
home rule. And what occurred
These very people that we shall have tt
fight with to establish Socialism were
shrieking about civil war and rebellion
If they are ready to fight over the ques
tioa of freedom for Ireland, do yor
think they will quietly hand over to the
nation the means by which they plund
cred our class? No, comrades, the
; bloody, minded class who oppress us will
fight sooner or later to keep us in sub
iantinn of ns not he dalndad