The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-03-31
The Attack On Security

ing out for "justice" and righteous
ness" the two great words in pro-
phetic literature. Their utterances
reflect a tense social struggle be-
tween the people and the ruling class.
The attack on freedom and security
was on in full fury.
This social struggle is evidenced
by what Samuel says: And he (the
king or ruling class) will take your
fields, and your vineyards, and your
olive orchards, the best of them,
and give them to his servants; and
he will take the tenth of your seed
and of your vineyard and give them
to his officers and to his servants +. :.
Of the ruling class, Issiah says: 1t
is We that devoured the vineyards,
the plunderer of the poor is in your
house.
These references to Hebrew lit
erature serve as the most accessible
evidence of early class war. For
more detailed picture of the struggle
for freedom and security under a sys-
tenn of class rule we shall pass over
a period of some two thousand years
of history We shall take a look at
England whose history we also have
read.
During the heyday of English Feu-
dalism, say during the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries, the ruling class
consisted of the land holders the
barons on great lands, the lords,
and various grades of military ten
ants.
The system was introduced by Will
liam the Conqueror, who upon con-
quering, seized the land and par
celled it out to his trusted followers.
In return for the privilege of hold
ing land-the fief-the tenants were
obligated to swear allegiance to the
king, supply him with soldiers, and
serve him in many ways.
Their allegiance and responsibility
was to the king only. They were re-
sponsible to on one else. The great
mass of people were the agriculture
serfs and free peas
ants.
The serf belonged to the soil;
he could not leave the land. When the
land changed owners-tenants-
was sold with it, like the buildings,
the fences, or like any other thing
attached to the land.
How the serf Jared in his attempt
to secure some measure of what we
now consider the most elementary of
human rights depended on the char
acter of the master and not on any
legal codes. The ser
yices expected of him might be I'M
United and likewise were determined
~ the wisdom and morality of the
ord-the land holder. AS one Feud-
Il writer put it, the overload may
deprive him-the serf-of all he |
confine him to prison when
yer he pleases, justly or unjustly, and
S held responsible only to God.
Judged by our standards of justice
nd equity, it was dull, weary life
hat the serf led; it was a life we
night consider as likely to lead to re-
elton and all sorts of m n Or
reaches.
We would probably be right in MAX
ng such an assumption for even in
hose earlier days, among the most
egraded serfs, there must have been
ut standing personalities, brave souls
nth keen sense of justice, and
isions of better day. 1t would be
if such characters did not ,
isplay a tendency towards noncon- ;
tendency towards radical
;m 1
How would the lord-the tenant s
cal with the actual or potential trans
ressors, the malcontent; the ones
lost likely to encourage general ,
iscontent among other serfs? ,
Surely, he had to do something; his {
osition of power and advantage ,
epended on keeping the workers sup
ressed Then as now, the ruling class
ad to keep the majority in line. :
Suppose the serf became bold !,
and outspoken in his demands for
more freedom, more security? Sup
pose he boldly asked for more or 6
better food, better shelter, or less 1
diffic111t tasks and fai1ino choSa