The Labor enquirer., 1886-10-09

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first engine and the old fash ioned means
of transport. But the new engine
makes no Revolutionary change over
the old one, because, although the
change is great, it has been accom-
plished by improving the old principle,
not by bringing in fresh one. Revolu-
ton, then, means displacement of one
principle bv another as distinguished
from improvement of an existing one.
Socialists, therefore, are Revolutionary
because they hold that reforming or I'M
proving the present system is i'm possible
! and that the guiding principle of our
present social life must be done away
with and its place filled bv new and
quite different one. Do not think am
now trying to shirk the question of the
use of force. l will come to that after
wards and whether you then agree with
me or not you shall at least have no rea-
son to grumble about vagueness or stuf
fling in dealing with it. In the mean
time l want to explain the meaning of
the new principle of social life and our
reason for rejecting the old one, because
that is the real subject matter of Social
Revolution. The means of bringing
about that Revolution is question sec
ond in order and second in Importance.
The most striking feature of the So
ciety we now live in is tho universal
competition going on IN every depart
ment of life and amongst and betwe cen
all classes. The workers Of all grades
compete against each other for employ
ment; the capitalists compete again at
each other for markets while the enmi-
ties between different nations is the re-
suit of an international competition for
the trade of the world. Besides this
there is the great class fight going on in
every civilized" country between those
who work for wealth and those who
get it by stealing.
1t would seem at first sight as if the
world could furnish a sustenanCe for
only part of the people in it. That of
necessity some must be driven to the
wall; and, therefore, that there we're no
help for this inCessant selfish struggle
that is going on, in which every one tries
to get in front of his neighbOr, knowing
what will befall the hlndermost md
anxious to avoid that unpleasant fate.
Indeed, this idea, that the mad, blind,
frantic scramble for living takes place
because all cannot be plentifully pro-
vided for, has given rise to a school OF
thinkers who hold that over-population
is the cause of poverty. Malthus de-
clared that there were not seats enough
for all at natures feast. And 80 plaus-
ible does this contention seem that NAL
thusianism is to this day one of the
ChHf principles of orthodox political
economy. Yet it is obviously untrue
that society could not provide for the
wants of all its members if its resources
were worked for that purpose. At ma
ture's BOARD there is room for all and for
many more besides. Natures supply of
the means of life, or rather, mans power
of increasing that supply, ls quite as
limitless as the probable number of her
4 10 hot
competitive system a great number must
be trampled down in the struggle for
life But this is the fault of mans So
ciety, not the result of natures stingl-
ness.
Let us look at the various classes and
see how competition effects them
In the working class competition for
employment forces wages down to sum
that will purchase only the barest needs
of life. This puts the workman al the
mercy of the masters, and so strong ls
the force of this competition, so much
power does it give thJ masters, and 80
u6lDlCSS
the majority of wage earners have no
more power to better their conultlon
than the slaves of America had. The
trades union movement has done some
thing for its own members, but they are
mere fraction of the total number Of
workers. The great majority OF the
WORK people of this country have to
drudge from ten to fourteen hours dav
for bare livelihood and be thankful for
the chance of earning one at all. The
greatest part of them live from hand to
mouth-a few weeks idleness being
enough to bring them within sight OF
starvation. They are, IN short, herd
of slaves driven hither and thither as
as may suit the employing class. The
slave drivers whip has been dispensed
with, 1t is true, but because co mpetltlon
has made it unnecessary. The capital
ist class monopolze the means of living
and then know full we'll that the whip
of hunger welded by the economic laws
of the present system will smart more
keenly and serve his purpose better
than any thong ever handled by the
worst of olden slave drivers.
This system of rating wages by compe,
tition is the most important of all facts
in our present social life. 1t not only
thrusts down the working class but 1t
prevents them from ever rising again.
Try as YOU will to better your condition
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