The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-05
REAL POSITION OF OUR LEADERS
They Only Say What Thousands OF us
y Believe to be True, Because
Better Fitted.
For the Enquirer.

For the Enquirer.
How can labor agitator or reformer
be properly accused of "arousing discon-
tent" or melting to riot? If wrongs did
not exist and if people were not suffer
ing from injustice, the agitators, no mat
ter how eloquent, could gain no hearers,
and could WELD no influence whatever.
The speaker who creates enthusiastic
interest in throng of listeners is sim
ply portraYing truths in vivid pictures ;
depicting facts already known. in clear,
strong language defining, fastening,
holding up to view, the real conditions
which every hearer feels vaguely, sui
lenlY, ignorantly perhaps-but still
feels.
A prosperous community containing
no poverty stricken members, colld not
possibly be "incited to riot"
The authorities knew, that while this
country was new, and profit systems
had not vet crowded its citizens to the
wal, it was entirely safe to allow perfect
free speech; with no immediate occa
SION for "discontent," agitators might
talk and disturb nobody. Now, when
in this country as well as every other,
there is an army of men without q
chance to work, and larger army O.
people who work like slaves and live
like paupers while millionaires grow
richer and more tyrannical, it is not safe
to allow reformers to state their griev
ances and wrongs. All the people feel
for them to know would be to act, anC
the power of the bourgeoise would van
ish.
Our most prominent speakers anG
writer's are called LEADERS," "inciters,
breeders If discomfort" etc. This is s
mistake which even many laborers per
haps make. They only say what thou
sand of US believe to be true, because
they are more fitted to say it than the
rest of us. Thev give to the world Wha
we want to see given to the world, anC
what so many of their hearers feel il
t! cir heart to be true. They speak anC
write what is necessary to the move
ment should be exp1 essed, because they
are able to do so and feel it duty
They are MT urging on reluctant fol
lowing to hazardous and foolish posi-
tions-theY are simply obeying the cal
of an idea-an idea which is permeatlne
the whole working world to-day. Their
neither undue praise nor undeserveC
persecution should rest upon their heads
If the authorities want to try anybody
for the radical ideas that have been ex
pressed in the past few years, they
should try the whole body of advanced
free thinking men and women-in fact
the whole grand movement for human
freedom all over the world The mer
on trial to-day have only put in words
the feelings and principles inspiring
millions of people; they have not ere
ated principles or aroused feelings which
did not already exist
Free thought-free speech itself is or
trial. If in the United States, preCe
dent is established for the limitation O.
speech, from this time forward, when
ever any powerful party has an interest
in gagging someone else, his ideas vii
be classed among the prohibited ones
and he can be ef'ectually silenced.
1t then, behooves every lover freedom
in this country to assist in the defense
of the socialists in Chicago. We want
no such precedent established. We
want it to be impossible for quiet, peace
able gatherings to be broken up lawfully
The people of the west especially, noted
for loving freedom, should be willing tc
sacrifice something and help the defense
both financially and sympathetically
Friends assist the defense
LIZZIE NJ. SwANK.