The Labor enquirer., 1886-10-23

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the working people and other righteous
parties, namely, that on the evening of
May 4,2OO armed men, under the com
mand of notorious ruffian, attacked a
meeting of peaceable citlzens-witn
what intention? With the intention of
numbering them, or as many of them as
they could murder.
The wageworkers of this city began to
object to being feeced too much; they
began to say some very true things that
were highly disagreeable to our patr-
clan class; they were discontented, and
put forth-well, some very modest de-
mands. They thought eight hours hard
toll day for scarcely two hours pay
was enough. This low rabble had to be
silenced. The only way to silence them
was to frighten them and murder those
whom they looked up to as their lead
ers." Yes, these foreign dogs had to be
taught lesson, 80 that they might never
again interfere with the high-handed
exploitation of their benevolent and
| Christian masters. Bonfeld, the man
who would bring blush of shame to the
managers of the Bartholomew night
BOnfeld, the illustriOus gentleman with
visage that would have dole excellent
service to Dore in portraying Dante's
fends of the Inferno-Bonfeld was the
man to consummate the conspiracy of
the Citizens association of our patri-
clans. And If had thrown that bomb,
or had caused it to be thrown. or had
known of it, | would not hesitate mo.
ment to say so. 1t is true a number of
lives were lost, many were wounded, but
hundreds of lives were thereby saved.
But for that bomb there would be 100
widows and hundreds of orphans where
now there are few.
These facts have been zealously sup
pressed, while we were accused and con-
victed of conspiracy by the real conspir-
ators and their agents. This, your
honor, is one reason why sentence
should not be passed by a court of JUS
tlce If that name has any significance at
all.
But" saws the state, "You have pub
lished articles on the manufacture of dy-
mantle and bombs" Show me daily
paper published in this city that has not
published similar articles. remember
very distinctly long article in one Chi
cago daily of February %, 1885. The
paper contained a descriptive article,
with drawings of different kinds of infer
nal machines and bombs.
The prisoner referred to several
papers which contained articles on the
same question, and then asked:
May l learn why the editors of these
papers have not been indicted and con-
victed for murder? Is 1t because they
have advocated the use of this destruC-
tive agency only against the common
rabble? seek information.
My fort in behalf of the disinh erited
and dlsfranchised millions, my agitation
in this direction, the popularization of
economic teachings; in short, the edu-
cation of the wage workers-is declared
"a conspiracy against society" The
word society is here wisely substituted
for "state" If education issaGonsplracy
against society, then even such lnstltu-
tions as public schools are seditious, and
should be abolished in the interest Of
the state-as represented by the patrl-
clans of to-day. 1t has always been the
opinion of the ruling classes that the
people must be kept IN lgnorance-they
lose their servility, their modestY and
obedience to the arbitrary powers that
be as their intelligence grows.
The education of black slave quar-
ter of a century ago was a criminal Of
fense. Wby2 Because the intelligent
slave would throw off his shackles at
whatever cost, my Christian gentlemen |
And why is the education Of the work
ing people to- day looked upon by GER
tain class as treason against the state
For the same reason. The state" how
ever, wisely avoided this p )int in the
prosecution of this case. From their
testimony one would really conclude
that We had in our speeches and pubIl-
cations preached nothing else but des-
truction and dynamite. In all histOri-
cal cases of this kind truth was, truth
had to be, perverted by the priests of the
established power, that was nearing its
end.
What have We said in our speeches
and publicauons7 We have inter-
preted to the people their conditions
and relations in society; we have ex-
planned to them the different phenom-
ena and the social laws and clrcum-
stances under which they occur; we
have, by way of scientific Investigation,
incontrovertably proved and brought to
their knowledge that the system OF
wages is the root of the present social
iniquities, iniquities so monstrous that
thew cry to heaven. We have further
said that the wage system, as specific
form of social development, would, by
the necessity of logic. have to make room
for higher form of civilization; that
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