The Labor enquirer., 1888-01-28
PREP ARK!
II Labor's Robbers Knew We
We're Going 10 Get
Each
A Big REPEATING RIFLE,
what Theni-Why the Robbers
Would Cease to Rob,
Thats All.


For the Enquirer.
BY WIN. CLARKE MARSHALL.
The Knights of Labor before
they get their demand that is ito
abolish all laws which do not bear
equally upon capital and lador,"
will have either to abolish every
law in existence to-day, or petit
tion nature to create a special
kind of lsborer with a lot of porta-
BILE arms and legs which he can
take off and put on as required
by the demands of capital.
In other words, as long as
money can be capitalized, the only
equality that can be between capi-
tai and labor must be found in
the ability of labor to capitalize
itself. When the new Briareous
appears then will capital weak
en-, not be fore. No, gentlemen.
you can kill capital but all
attempts to get it to live in
peace with labor will be found
as vain as to try to mix fire with
gunpowder. Again then l say
we must abolish capital
Now, as to the means; and here
we must move with the greatest
caution; for every known engine
of warfare will be brought against
us. We have not only to encoun-
ter the financial forces of our own
land, but those of the whole
world. 1t may be, and probably
will be, that we shall have to par
ticipate in war of such proper
tons that the bloodiest wars that
have blotted the pages of history
will seem but skirmishes. 1t may
be that generations shall come
and go and yet this war still live.
1t may be also that the adherents
of the wrong, noting our deter
mination and our courage and
fearing our vengeance. for centu-
ries of crime, on their part, will
yield easily. Y
The institution of this war, If
war is to be, does not rest wholly
with us. If we combine to effect
our designs lawfully and reach a
point where even a measure of
success will attend our lawful
efforts, capital will here put forth
its old we'll known Napoleonic
method-it will precipitate war
upon us. What is called hard
times will appear; capitalistic en-
terprises will languish; hundreds
of thousands of laborers will be
driven by starvation to riot;
money which could not be found
for the peaceful employment of
labor will be found in any quantity
for the purpose of shooting down
or the hanging of the laborers.
After a carnival of blood, then
a bastard "peace" will attend the
refreshed reign of capital and an
other generation will be required
to renew the efforts of labor to
obtain justice.
To this end we must Prepare! !
The better prepared we are for the
usual immolation, the longer it
will be deferred-for, mark you,
capital never moves in this. direc-
ton without assurance of victory.
Once make it apparent to capital
that its court of appeal is doubtful
and it will not appeal. Therefore
l say to yo u again, and again, pre-
pare! And again | say to you
that the better prepared you are
for danger, the less danger there
will be.
And, further, | say to you that
if every workingman in the coun-
try possessed rifle and its accou-
trements. and knew their uses,
there would be no fortress defac-
ing the prairies of Illinois to-day.
And, still further. on this point, it
Eis perfectly legal for a man to
own, possess and acquaint himself
with a rifle.
Having. l hope. made fairly
clear the necessities of labor in its
fight with capital, ! now lay before
you plan of action.
As | have shown you from your