Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-03-23

Leuo, LOT instance, III seems 10 me tnat
he desires to give the impression that
Prof. Garside would be in favor of doing
thing that was in itself wrong, pro-
vidlng it could be done safely. There is
nothing in the passage to justify that
Interpretation. The argument is
strong one against the use of force, and
is not likely to be used by a man who is
himself in favor Of force To this he adds
an argument based on historical preced-
ents, as though to emphasize his opposi-
ton to the use of force, or 1.-The propa-
ganda of the deed"
The passage quoted from the article of
"a Chicago Socialist" in this connection
| will refer to later.
Prof, Garside used still another argu-
ment against the use of force, which
'Zeno' does not appear to have noticed,
but which shows his dread of suffering
and pain. | will quote it: There are
thousands living under this same sys-
TEN who are not socialists, suffering Just
as much as socialists do. To turn force
upon society is to turn force upon those
who suffer with us"
In the passage quoted by your CORE
spondent, relating to Legitimate means"
| think myself that the professor might
have saved himself from being misun-
derstood by being a little more explicit,
What | think must have been in his
mind when he wrote the words is, that
it is puerile to expect that the changes
| involved in the establishment of the
socialistic State can be brought about by
the ordinary process of reform; that is,
by the sociallzing of our institutions, one
by one, through the ballot, or by any
other political machinery. | do not
know whether Prof. Garside thinks this
way, but sincerely hope that he does.
do not know of any Legitimate
means" that we have that are of any
value except the free use of our tongues
and our pens. How long we may have
! these no man can say. Judging from
recent experience in Chicago and else
where, and by the experience of our
comrades in Germany, and by the expe
rlence of the Aboitionsts in this coun-
try thirty or forty years ago. we hold
these Legitimate means of propaganda
on very insecure tenure. Wait till
our numbers become formidable. Wait
till in some great businesses depression
masses of workingmen are unemployed,
discontinued and riotous then, perhaps,
we shall see what we shall see.
Prof. Garside rejects evolution ex-
cept as a crystalizer of thought says
"Zeno." He does nothing Of the kind,
| because he believes that crisis, sooner
or later, is inevitable-a cataclysm, if
you please. 1t does not follow that he
does not believe in the evolution by
which such crisis will be reached, and
in the evolution by which it will be fol-
lowed. The cataclysm itself is quite fire.
quent process of evolution. both in the
physical world and in the progress of
society. 1t is not necessary to mention
instances. | will give one, however, of
social cataclysm that is still fresh in
the minds of the American people-the
overthrow of slavery. The change will
probably occur during some great bust
do |. And ! agree with him in the
thought that "it must be total change,
an absolute reconstruction. He did not
say; ave are to fail if unprepared" las
though we ought to arm ourselves or
drill ourselves) What he said was:
Ruin for our hopes must result from
a crisis for which we are unprepared"
The preparation that he doubtless meant
is, the preparation of the nation by ear
nest and incessant socialistic agitation.
1t seems to me that the professors
whole object - instead of being, as
"Zeno" thinks, to reconcile anarchists
and socialists--is to show the true posi-
ton of socialism i'll the present conflict
between the capitalist and the laboring
classes. These two classes represent
competition and war The socialists
represent harmony and peace. Not
compromise, mind you not arbitration;
not mutual concession and an armistice,
but peace, peace, the only acceptable
peace; the only possible peace-peace
founded upon justice and the laws of
human society. The only way to har-
monte socialists and anarchists is to
convince the latter that they ought to
be socialists, since the theories of social
ism and anarchism are utterly irecon-
cilable. Their methods of propaganda,
however, can be reconciled, since there
is nothing in the anarchistc philosophy
that demands the use Of force, or any
other than evolutionary agencies.
] think "Zenos' letter contains moth
ing more that requires notice, except
the passage quoted near the beginning
of it from the article of "A Chicago
Socialist" Your space will not permit
me to add what | intended about that,
and will conclude with the remark that
if "Zeno' is so anxious for the conserva-
ton of socialistic doctrines, he will find
it an easier task to expose the absurd
reasoning of "A Chicago Socialist than
to overthrow the position of Prof Gar
side, INDICATOR.
To tLp UTOlklDpu's I1tOeutp