The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-13
THE SOCIALISTS AND THE RIOTS.

THE b0ClAL1STS AMI ne i0'
Mucb has been and will vet be said
concerning the connection of Socialists
with the three great riots which have
been chronicled this week in London
Seattle. Washington territory, and IN
the coke regions of Pennsylvania. Out
of all the utterances of the capitalistlc
press upon this subject there will be
little that is true of or just to the Social
lists; and as the telegraphic reports have
been and will be colored BY capitalism
to give bad impression of the Social
istic movement, the general reading
public will be deceived into forming
wrong opinion. But 1 purpose that all
who read The ENQUIRER shall have an
opportunity to hear botn sides OF tms
question and be enabled thereby to
Judge impartially. |
And to begin with, 1 say that the
paper, press reporter or talker who says
that Socialists arr at the bottom OF these
riots, is. without exception, liar. A
man need not be Socialist to see that
in London, Seattle and Pennsylvania the
working people have just cause for dis
satisfaction with their conditions, and
are correct in their conclusions as to
the sources from whence their mlserles
spring. The methods by which they
attempt to throw off their oppressors
and to better their situation, has moth
ing to do with Socialism, or any other
ism; they are but the promptings OF the
nature implanted in mankind at the
creation-the instinct of self preserya-
ton. That this instinct finds vent IN
physical force and mobbish destruction
is due to the ignorance of the oppressed.
By this mean that these mobs do not
understand the real causes of their
misery or the scientific route to perma-
nent relief; and they do not stop to con-
slider the great odds against such under-
takings as theirs.
The Socialist sees that the false prlncl-
Piles underlying our economic structures
are at fault, and that the simple acts OF
knocking off tile here and there or
storming against the natural effects OF
rotten-rooted system will not establish |
right and justice. And it is the work of
the Socialist to educate his fellows In |
these truths, and he can find no better
time for this education than when the
people are groaring heavily under their
burdens, or have been prosecuted to a |
a stage of wild desperation.
But, you say, the Socialists are the
leaders in these riots. This is not true.
In no case have they melted the people |
to mob violence; buS, as before said,
they take the opportunities when the
minds of the disinherited are opened by |
excitement (if you please) to SOW the
seeds of knowledge in the true science
of economy. One of our city papers is
fair enough to admit this, when it saws:
The thinking Socialists are not those
who are found inclting men to riot and
to bloodshed. The riots in Seattle had
no connection with Socialism, but the
same sentiment which the Socialists in
London played upon was manifested in
Seattle"
Men become prominent in move
ment in proportion to the effect their
utterances or actions have upon that
th ose who oppose the move
ment strive to DESTROY the Influence Of
these men, if it tends toward victory.
Then is it any wondsr that the whole
power of capitalism is brought to bear
against the Socialists, whose knowledge |
and clear-hea1edness would instruct
discontented people toward the sure and
effectual way of foverthrowing the cause
of the discomfort This explains why |
the capitalistic press reports are 80 con-
structed as to reflect discredit upon the
Socialists, and why the editorials of cap
italistic papers are constructed upon the
same plan.
To sum ups The Socialists, like all in
telhgent people, know wrong when
they see it; but unlike those outside |
their ranks, they hunt for the cause, and
would uproot it Knowing so we'll the
suferings of mankind they cannot, any |
more than others, suppress their sympa-
thy with the down.trodden, or withhold
their support in an hour of struggle. |
Thus, while understanding full we'll the
inadequacy of such outbursts as this !
week has witnessed, to permanently |
better the condition of the people. they |
cannot restrain the impulse to struggle,
fight and. if needs be. die with those
whose cause they have espoused. Aud
I want to krow if they are blamabIe for
this, and if it is net better for humanity /
that intelligence should lead an IN
famed army, whether it succeeds or not,
than that it should be left to its own wild
and objectless desperation
HIGH AUTHORITY.