The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-04-03
PATRIOTISM.

PATRIOTISM.
This word is the magic wand by
which the privileged classes have al
ways been able TO send the working
classes at each others Threats, cutting
shooting, manning and killing each
other, causing untold and almost in
conceivable suffering and agony. But
remembr, this suffering is all endur-
ed by the workers; they arc the ones
who go to the battleiields and into &C
ton. The privileged classes stay at
home and cheer and tell them whit
a fine thing il is 10 be a patriot and
fight in defense OF our country But
please keep in mind that they are at
home, enjoying the good things pro-
duccd in our country. The workers
and their sous do the fighting while
their wives and sisters do the suffer-
ing at home because the bread WIN
ncrs are on the fighting line. What
Of the privileged classes? IS there
suffering among them? Do YOU hear
anything about the anguish and heart
break their wives and sisters are suf-
fcring, wondering ii their husbands
and sons have become food for can
non-kiled or manned in the last bat
tie. Do you hear anything of any Of
them missing meals. or being denied
the comforts and necessities because
Of the war in defense Of "0ur" coun-
try? No, only the workers have to
live this horrible realty through, and
if ii VAS stripped Of its false glorlcs
and placed before the workers as II
actually exists they would at once and
forever refuse to uphold this hclllsh
ching called war.
The kept press is even at the pre-
sent moment trying with might amt
main to stir up race preJudlces
against the struggling poems of Mex
leo. 4 righteous revolution IS Iii
progress there and because some Of
the exploiting class Of this country
stand a good show ot losing their
grip on some of tic natural resour-
COS stolen from the people Of McNic"
they would set the industrial slaves
Of America at the throats Of their
brother slaves TO the south Of us. II
and understand these questions. Race
hatred and prejudice is creation OF
the master class. and is in their inter-
est; the workers have everything 10
lose and. nothing to gain by it. If We
will only ret busy and do some think
ing for ourselves, ard quit looking for
Il leader to take us into the promised
land, we can accomplish anything that
il is possible for man to do. Every
worker must be brought to the point
where he understands that any thing
that is done for the workers must be
done by the workers. Get busy and
inquire into things; uncover the rca!
facts in all cases, before you tell y0ln
fellow worker that you know all about
them.
Take the struggle that has been
wuged in West Virginia, Colorado,
aud Michigan. Who did the active
work of organization; who furnished
the supplies and the money to fight
these gigantic battles against the OK
rIotcrs; who did the Sufering-wlS
/ il not the workers who did it all, and
then they find out afterward that they
had been cheated of complete vic
tory and lied to by bunch Of trail
torous "Ieadrrs" who are still lying
10 them in the hope Of holding them
where they now arc. After YOU ac-
olilc knowledge YOU will not permit
them to lead you any longer. You
will assert yourselves, for the work
crs are the mighticst power in the
world. But in order to receive the
benefits Of our great strength VIC
must have intelligent collective ac-
ton: there is no other way to attain
our rights except this way, for re-
gardlcss Of what the master class
| may promise YOU, and regardless Of
what labor leaders may tell YOU OF
the benefits to be derived through
compromise and legislation Of the
master class parties: YOU have learn
ed, or should have learned, by eXpcr-
fence that YOU can hope for nothing
from them, for when legislation in
tcrfercs with profits the masters lg-
more The legislation. Just as they did
in West Virginia and are doing in
! Colorado and Michigan. Not only are
! thrv setting aside state laws but 60
ing 30 far as to declare that they are
| above the laws and constitution Of the
nation. They will continue to do
these things just as long as the work
| ers continue to vote to uphold them
in it. We will have wars just as long
rs We will willingly tight them. Let
the masters do their own fighting and
there will never be another war. #
anyone doubts that the constitution
has been violated let that person get
copy of the evidence secured by the
! committee appointed by tic senate 10
! investigate conditions in West Virgil
| MIA, Colorado and Michigan.
| When the next person approaches
! you shouting patriotism, tel! him y,u
arc Il patriot, but not the ;;ind M i
! looking for. Tell him f'Il' ne ioyal
| to Your class. and h"v" 40 desire 20
| injurc any member .: K, "hr;1".' It
be an American. Negro, Chinaman ~
anyother race, and that you ahsoi Ike
| Is refuse 10 be used as bullet stop
! pcr and SIuughterer for the n2"ter::
! Of bread. ~ Ut ttAN.
Another ugly ducNing Of the union
L. -