The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-06-01
THE ECONOMIC BASIS
OF POLITICAL ACTION

ideal ana immediate demands are IN
line with the progress of the human
race towards prosperity, and that
every scheme for better social condi-
tions at all likely to effect it's purpose
must be of the nature of a step in
their direction, Socialists cannot lose
courage, because even in the midst of
temporary defeat they know that the
needs of the workers, who are in the
majority, will eventually impel them
into line with the Social Revolution
airy forces. From this fact our Irish
politicians revolutionists- may
gain, not comfort, perhaps, but wis
dom. The history of the American
Revolution, the French Revolution, the
Irish volunteers, the risings of 1898,
1848, and the Irish Land League, all
bear out our argument upon the econo-
mic basis of great political movements.
The American Revolution was re-
volt against the action Of England in
throttling the infant industries of
America, and came to head with a
tax upon tea-all "base" material
reasons; the French Revolution was
the revolt of an oppressed and fam
ished people against outworn, medi-
eval landlordism (feudalism) and the
vexations taxes upon industry i'm
posed by a corrupt court; the Irish
Volunteer movement was, in it's anti
English aspect, a revolt of the Irish
manufacturing class against the re-
strictions put upon their trade by
OVERWHELMINGLY TRADE, or else"
was the motto hung upon their cannon,
and when that one point was gained
all the patriotic enthusiasm" of the
leaders vanished; Grattan termed the
Volunteers, upon whose backs he had
climbed to political eminence, can
armed rabble," and the whole move
ment collapsed as suddenly as it had
arisen-the economic basis being gone
the patriotism was no longer evident
the French volution-despite the ly-
ing twaddle of the present day about
the society of the United Irishmen
being a Union of ALL CLASSES"
there is not in history any record of
movement, except the Paris Com
mune, in which the classes and the
masses were so sharply divided; 1848
found it's inspiration in the prompt
ings of famine-and it's failure in the
total incapacity of the doctrinaire
Young Irelanders to understand the
difference between revolutionary ac-
ton and "heroic" posings; the Land
League found it's inspiration in a par
tial failure of the crops, and in the
newly developed competition of Amer
ica-and the collapse of the Land
League came with reduced rents and
partial prosperity.
In every case the social condition of
the mass of the people was the deter
mining factor in political activity.
Where the mass of the people find ex-
listing conditions intolerable, and i'm
agine they see a way out, there will be
a great political movement; where the
social conditions are not so abnormally
acute no amount of political oratory,
nor yet cooperation of leaders, can
produce movement.
The great labor uprising at the Irish
local government elections of 1898
sprang up spontaneously without a
leader, and despite the political par
ties; when the men who supported it
have realized the futility of trying to
effect any great improvement in their
conditions by the action of local
bodies, they will seek for political
party which can express their class
interests upon a national basis-and
seeking it find the Socialist party,
ready and equipped for the task. By
our action today we are preparing the
ground for more aggressive revolu-
tionary action when the working class
of Ireland at last recognize in our
principles the embodiment of their
hopes; firmly grounded upon our
knowledge of the economic basis of all
political action, we confidently await
the day when the increasing pres
sure of capitalist society shall bring
the workers into our ranks-and the
destinies of the nation into our hands.
The New Evangel," published by
the Socialist Party of Ireland.