Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-22


lily was built up from the same source as
the fortune of the Gladstone family-that
is to say, the slave trade; but while this Is
so, it is no exaggeration to say that Hynd-
man has spent not fortune only, but the
best part of his life as well, in seeking to
Danish from the world every form of social
slavery. OF his early life little
need be said here. Suffice it
to mention after q successful career at
Cambridge University that Hyndman be-
gan to devote himself seriously to literary
work During the great Italian war Of 1866
he acted as special correspondent to the
Pail Mall Gazette, but it was after he had
returned to England that he first set him
self to examine the real position of men and
women at home. To man Of Hyndman'
sympathetic temperament the sight of evil
and suffering soon awoke strong desire to
lessen somewhat the misery which con-
fronted him in the working class world;
that working class world that we see in the
Highland glens of our Bonnie Scotland, in
the fairest dales of Merry England and in
those foul slums that breathe death and de-
vastation DER beautifA and happy world.
How true is Lord Beaconsfield's saying,
1--WE have two nations in our midst-the
rich and poor-and the one nation knows
not how the other nation lives.'
Hyndman soon discovered for himself
that the people of the other nation had
hearts that knew much Of suffering and
SOULS souls that were shrivelled up in the
desperate struggle for existence; stomachs,
too, had they that were not full-and bodies
that were all too seldom warmly clad, let
the winter winds blow ever so chill. Des-
pite all this, he did not blossom out all at
once into blown Social Democrat.
1t is no sudden conversion that inspires in
one knowledge of the wide fields of soci-
ology. The new light breaks out but
slowly upon the midst Of old world nations
And so it came to pass that Hyndman, by
path which he knew not Of, was led gradu-
ally on the way to Socialism. First, there
was the personal influence of that Indian
patriot, Joseph Mazzini-''a great man
with noble ideals, and a genuine love
for the people, Hyndman calls him
Then his travels abroad-on the Continent,
in Australia and in America--all helped to
broaden out his mind in forward direc-
tion-so much 80 that in Australia we
find him strenuously advocating Free Edu-
cation, Land Naturalization, and similar
reforms. Then came the rising Of the
Communards in Paris during the spring OF
| 1871; their heroic efforts on behalf Of Dem
ocracy, striking n responsive chord i'll
many heart besides that of H. M. Hynd-
man. Then followed next his studies in
Indian finance, the first result of which he
gave to the world in series Of articles in
the Nineteenth Century, which were after
wards published in book form under the
title of 1.-THE Bankruptcy of India" In
this work he contended that in India we
were working up to hideous economical
catastrophe, beside which the great Irish
famine of 1S47 would seem but mere child's
play. And certainly, as Hyndman often
tells with pardonable pride, recent de-
velopments have proved almost-if not
entirely-the truth of his main PROPOSE
tions.
About this time-or shortly after this
he received from a friend French copy
of Karl Marks great work on Capital"
This was the beginning that ended in his
entire conversion to Social Democracy. 1t
took him, however, two whole years to
master the work, which many lesser man
Qmagining vain things) has torn in shreds
and scattered to the breeze after a cursory
glance over the index and title page.
Knowing a little now of what manner Of
man the founder of modern Socialism is,
we may better understand the real nature
and gigantic scope of the work performed
in London during the early eighties-at the
time when every mans hand was against
the compact little knot of Socialists fight
ing in the metropolis. 1t was early in the
year 1881 that Mr.. Hyndman took the first
steps for the formation of the Social Demo-
cratic Federation. At this time few
radical clubs, mainly upheld for the discus
sion of beer and Scotch whisky, represented
all there was Of advanced thought in Lon :
don. The last echoes Of the Chartist agi-
tation had died away-though much good
work still remained. The Utopian Social
Ism OF Uue Brduu Olu hopcII OWcu Was
seldom mentioned. The "Red Inter
national'' too had disapp cared, and scien-
tific Socialism was yet unborn. In the
January number of the Nineteenth Cen
tury' appeared an article, 1.-THE Dawn of
Revolutionary Epoch first Social
Democratic article ever penned in England.
In it Hyndman proclaimed his intention of
commencing Socialist propaganda in
Great Britain from the political side. "
But the wiseacres Of the times knew better.
What introduce into the land Of the free
born Englishman, and stalwart independ-
emit Scotchman the dwelling doctrines Of
State paternalism that were animating the
minds Of the weak willed German workers.
Never! his labor would be thrown away
and the great talents and ability which he
undoubtedly possessed-all would be com
pletely wasted. But Hyndman was not to
be turned aside. A few of the more sym
pathetic Radicals, Social Reformers, and
one or two Socialists came to his aid and on