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By ERIC HASS HASS ERIC By
of of
Socialism Socialism Americanism Americanism
The The A`' A`'
(Printed in the United States of America.) America.) of States United the in (Printed
strates that Socialist Industrial Unionism Unionism Industrial Socialist that strates
ican people. people. ican
is the bearer of new freedom for the Amer- the for freedom new of bearer the is
of lies spread by the capitalists. It demon- It capitalists. the by spread lies of
makes it imperative. imperative. it makes
needs of the working class majority demand demand majority class working the of needs it. The threat of civilization's collapse collapse civilization's of threat The it.
end of modern capitalist despotism is is despotism capitalist modern of end
"Americanism." "Americanism."
American. The times call for it. The The it. for call times The American.
to admit that—in order to prove their their prove to order that—in admit to
reactionists of the present day are forced forced are day present the of reactionists
ruling class was American. Loyalty to a a to Loyalty American. was class ruling
with the forward-looking traditions estab- traditions forward-looking the with
foreign king was un-American. Even the the Even un-American. was king foreign
lished lished cialist movement are in complete harmony harmony complete in are movement cialist
the principles anr anr principles the
Editor of the,WEEKLY PEO5g shows, shows, PEO5g the,WEEKLY of Editor
en-American. Indeed, as this work by the the by work this as Indeed, en-American.
. Revolt against the tyranny of a foreign foreign a of tyranny the against Revolt .
Read this pamphlet. It refutes a host host a refutes It pamphlet. this Read
Similarly, the Socialist demand for the the for demand Socialist the Similarly,
61 61
Socialism is international. Yet, it is not not is it Yet, international. is Socialism
Cliff Street, New York City. City. York New Street, Cliff
by the rebels rebels the by
The Americanism of of Americanism The
48 48
By Eric Hass Hass Eric By
Socialism Socialism
pp.-5 pp.-5
aThVb1"thrsgeintine So- aThVb1"thrsgeintine
of 1776. 1776. of
cents cents
The Americanism Americanism The
NEW YORK LABOR NEWS COMPANY COMPANY NEWS LABOR YORK NEW
Of Socialism Socialism Of
61 61
C1i Street, New York, N.Y. N.Y. York, New Street, C1i
Eric 1-lass 1-lass Eric
By By 1942 1942 Second Printing
First Printing
November 1941
March 1942
Hamiltonism vs. Jeffersonism Spurious vs. Genuine Americanism Throttle Minorities at Your Peril! Free Speech—Weapon of Truth Anti-Militarism—American Tradition
The Constitution and the Right to Revolution . .31 Industrial Feudalism or Industrial Democracy? .36
Twenaeth Century Democnacy
CONTENTS
11
16
24 20
48
civilized man. man. civilized
Red flag of International Brotherhood, Brotherhood, International of flag Red
on Earth;—that fact ganders the American flag the anticipation of the the of anticipation the flag American the ganders fact Earth;—that on
to herald time Solidarity of peoples; the first drapery-symbol of Peace Peace of drapery-symbol first the peoples; of Solidarity time herald to
of of
nation in the world would be represented in that blue field with her her with field blue that in represented be would world the in nation
own star—that fact confers confers fact star—that own
each state, expressed the hope that the day would dawn when every every when dawn would day the that hope the expressed state, each the scheme of the flag was presented to,him, a blue field with with field blue a to,him, presented was flag the of scheme the
apart from from apart
was the first to wave over a constitution that "legalizes revolution";— "legalizes that constitution a over wave to first the was
his own fortune; apart from the circumstance that the American flag flag American the that circumstance the from apart fortune; own his
insure the aitien the power and responsibility of being the ardhitect of of ardhitect the being of responsibility and power the aitien the insure
fact that the scientist, the noble-minded, the venerable Franklin, when when Franklin, venerable the noble-minded, the scientist, the that fact
boundless natural opportunities nihich the land offered to to offered land the nihich opportunities natural boundless
economics, economics,
by men, who, who, men, by
being being
Apart from the circumstance that the American flag was first raised raised first was flag American the that circumstance the from Apart
the first on earth to urge the Brotherhood of Nations; the first first the Nations; of Brotherhood the urge to earth on first the
did sincerely believe that the American flag raised over the the over raised flag American the that believe sincerely did
these and and these
however, and and however,
many other kindred circumstances, the historic historic the circumstances, kindred other many
upon upon
pardonably, mistaken in their sociology and and sociology their in mistaken pardonably,
the American flag the lofty distinction distinction lofty the flag American the
and and
—DANIEL DE LEON. LEON. DE —DANIEL
endears it to the heart of of heart the to it endears
industry, industry,
a a
-star for for -star
would would
The Americanism Americanism The Of Socialism Socialism Of
do not see the matter as he does. does. he as matter the see not do
agitate agitate
who thinks lee sees this decay, does not excuse him; it is is it him; excuse not does decay, this sees lee thinks who
litical litical
that gospel, the citizen twho thinks he sees that the commonwealth's commonwealth's the that sees he thinks twho citizen the gospel, that
ERNMENT in such such in ERNMENT
undeniable and indefeasible right to ALTER THEIR FORM OF GOV- OF FORM THEIR ALTER to right indefeasible and undeniable
instituted for their benefit; and that they have AT ALL TIMES an an TIMES ALL AT have they that and benefit; their for instituted
for a new suit, is disloyal; he is a traitor. That he may be the only one one only the be may he That traitor. a is he disloyal; is suit, new a for
whose constitution declares "that all political power power political all "that declares constitution whose
vented by monarchy, let monarchy keep it. it. keep monarchy let monarchy, by vented
loyalty of unreason, it is is it unreason, of loyalty
people, and all free 'governments are Vounded on their authority and and authority their on Vounded are 'governments free all and people,
to rags, to shout for rags, to worship rags, to die for rags—that is a a is rags—that for die to rags, worship to rags, for shout to rags, to
ing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, comfortable, be to cease ragged, become out, wear can clothing and ing,
cease to protect the body (from winter, disease, and death. To be loyal loyal be To death. and disease, winter, (from body the protect to cease
institutions or its office-holders. The country is the real thing, the sub- the thing, real the is country The office-holders. its or institutions
stantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, over, watch to thing the is it thing; eternal the thing, stantial
for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere cloth- mere its are they extraneous, are institutions to; loyal be and for,
You see, my kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its its to not country, one's to loyalty was loyalty of kind my see, You
clothes are worn out, and yet holds his peace and does not agitate agitate not does and peace his holds yet and out, worn are clothes
anyway, anyway,
• •
and it is the, duty of the others to vote him down if they they if down him vote to others the of duty the, is it and
("A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's ,Court.") ,Court.") Arthur's King In Yankee Connecticut ("A
a manner manner a
pure pure
animal; it belongs to monarchy, noas in- noas monarchy, to belongs it animal;
as they may think expedient." Under Under expedient." think may they as
I I
was from Connecticut, Connecticut, from was
is is
MARK TWAIN. TWAIN. MARK
inherent in the the in inherent
his his
and and
duty to to duty
po-
care care
The politicians say so. Your employer is emphatic on on emphatic is employer Your so. say politicians The
nity to brand Socialism "un-American," If you are are you If "un-American," Socialism brand to nity
the point. The labor fakers rarely miss an opportu- an miss rarely fakers labor The point. the
like most workers, you're sceptical. First of all, you you all, of First sceptical. you're workers, most like
American Legion Commander-in-Chief' who said sev- said who Commander-in-Chief' Legion American
can't quite swallow the "Americanism" of the super- the of "Americanism" the swallow quite can't
smash Socialism. Socialism. smash patriots who peddle this yarn—super-patriots like the the like yarn—super-patriots this peddle who patriots
eral years ago that his organization would be used to to used be would organization his that ago years eral
States." States."
Italy what the American Legion is to the United United the to is Legion American the what Italy
Socialism, you smell something fishy in their attacks. attacks. their in fishy something smell you Socialism,
to give the Socialists a hearing. It is up to them to to them to up is It hearing. a Socialists the give to Moreover, your native sense of fair play prompts you you prompts play fair of sense native your Moreover,
prove their case. case. their prove
one is spurious and is a reflection of property interests; interests; property of reflection a is and spurious is one
prove that there are two kinds of "Americanism"; that that "Americanism"; of kinds two are there that prove
in an interview copyright by the N.E.A., January, 192 January, N.E.A., the by copyright interview an in
that the other has its roots deeply embedded in Amer- Amer- in embedded deeply roots its has other the that
'Alvin-Owsley, former Commander-in-Chief of the merican Legion, Legion, merican the of Commander-in-Chief former 'Alvin-Owsley,
You've been told that Socialism is un-American. un-American. is Socialism that told been You've
"Do not forget," he said, "that the Fascisti are to to are Fascisti the "that said, he forget," not "Do
Because such people are the loudest in traducing traducing in loudest the are people such Because
That's precisely what we aim to do. We aim to to aim We do. to aim we what precisely That's
Spurious vs. vs. Spurious
Genuine Americanism. Americanism. Genuine
I. I.
7 7
A 3. 3.
racy and their material interests clash, they are ever ever are they clash, interests material their and racy
may pay lip-service to democracy but, whenever democ- whenever but, democracy to lip-service pay may
ready to strangle the former to preserve the latter. It It latter. the preserve to former the strangle to ready
sought sanctuary in a church, the exploiters of modern modern of exploiters the church, a in sanctuary sought
times seek safety in the folds of the American flag. flag. American the of folds the in safety seek times
anny is saved. Just as. the rogues of the Middle Ages Ages Middle the of rogues the as. Just saved. is anny
and Americanism, are one and the same, capitalist tyr- capitalist same, the and one are Americanism, and
to believe that capitaliim and democracy, or capitalism capitalism or democracy, and capitaliim that believe to
treasure the Bill of Rights. If the workers can be made made be can workers the If Rights. of Bill the treasure
know the workers cherish American traditions and and traditions American cherish workers the know
"Americanism" as synonyms for "capitalism." They They "capitalism." for synonyms as "Americanism"
racy" or "Americanism." They use "democracy" and and "democracy" use They "Americanism." or racy" talism they do not say "capitalism," they say "democ- say they "capitalism," say not do they talism
this device: When capitalist apologists speak of capi- of speak apologists capitalist When device: this
solutism, the fiction of 'The divine right of Kings.' " Kings.' of right divine 'The of fiction the solutism,
Long ago monarchs invented, as a preservative for ab- for preservative a as invented, monarchs ago Long
the striving for freedom be made to seem immoral. immoral. seem to made be freedom for striving the
itself in protest against servitude and inaction inaction and servitude against protest in itself
longing for freedom is ineradicable. It will express express will It ineradicable. is freedom for longing
unless it is believed to rest upon moral sanction. The The sanction. moral upon rest to believed is it unless
neatly when he said: said: he when neatly
against themselves. Justice Brandeis made the point point the made Brandeis Justice themselves. against
among the enemies of despotism and divides them them divides and despotism of enemies the among
that virtue is nutraged. In this manner it sows doubt doubt sows it manner this In nutraged. is virtue that
in virtue. When it- is attacked, it cries to high heaven heaven high to cries it attacked, is it- When virtue. in
pirations of the Founding Fathers. Fathers. Founding the of pirations
ican tradition and is in harmony with the loftiest as- loftiest the with harmony in is and tradition ican
2
"Other People's Money," by L. Brandeis. Brandeis. L. by Money," People's "Other
The capitalist class and its sycophants and servitors servitors and sycophants its and class capitalist The
Here is a modern example of the employment of of employment the of example modern a is Here
"Despotism, be it financial or political, is vulnerable vulnerable is political, or financial it be "Despotism,
It is an ancient device of despotism to cloak itself itself cloak to despotism of device ancient an is It
8 8
unless unless
1 1
was the big industrialists and financiers who financed financed who financiers and industrialists big the was
and who applauded the strandlation of free speech, speech, free of strandlation the applauded who and
the rise of Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy, Italy, in Fascism and Germany in Nazism of rise the
curbs on human freedom. Like the slave-owning class class slave-owning the Like freedom. human on curbs
applauds every liberty-throttling measure that is pro- is that measure liberty-throttling every applauds
tries. And it is the capitalist class in America which which America in class capitalist the is it And tries.
posed, which clamors for anti-strike laws and other other and laws anti-strike for clamors which posed,
of the old South, they are blinded by their property in- property their by blinded are they South, old the of free press and popular elections in those unhappy coun- unhappy those in elections popular and press free
Abraham Lincoln, to remark: remark: to Lincoln, Abraham propertied classes, caused the truly great American, American, great truly the caused classes, propertied terests. This property-blindness, characteristic of all all of characteristic property-blindness, This terests.
and wrong have conflicting places in our organization, organization, our in places conflicting have wrong and
which often make a man's course seem crooked, his his crooked, seem course man's a make often which conduct a riddle." riddle." a conduct
Americanism is the Americanism embodied in the De- the in embodied Americanism the is Americanism
claration of Independence. That immortal document document immortal That Independence. of claration
declares that whenever whenever that declares
comes destructive to the ends of life, liberty and the the and liberty life, of ends the to destructive comes
abolish it—nay, "it is their duty to throw off such gov- such off throw to duty their is "it it—nay, abolish
pursuit of happiness, it is the right of the people to to people the of right the is it happiness, of pursuit
security." It utters an admonition against complacently complacently against admonition an utters It security."
ernment, and to provide new guards for their future future their for guards new provide to and ernment,
suffering evil conditions because of a mistaken rever- rever- mistaken a of because conditions evil suffering shewn," it says, "that mankind are more disposed to to disposed more are mankind "that says, it shewn,"
ence for ancient ancient for ence
suffer when evils are sufferable, than to right them- right to than sufferable, are evils when suffer
selves by abolishing the forms to which they are accus- accus- are they which to forms the abolishing by selves
Declaration of Independence at a Fourth of July cele- cele- July of Fourth a at Independence of Declaration tomed." tomed."
"The love of property and a consciousness of right right of consciousness a and property of love "The
In contrast to the spurious, spread-eagle variety of of variety spread-eagle spurious, the to contrast In
When a certain judge was called upon to read the the read to upon called was judge certain a When
for?ns. for?ns.
any any
9 9
" "
form of government be- government of form . all experience bath bath experience all .
many others, revolve. revolve. others, many
as war, unemployment, civil liberty, dictatorship, and and dictatorship, liberty, civil unemployment, war, as
the social question of our age, Around it such questions questions such it Around age, our of question social the
social system under which the useful producers receive receive producers useful the which under system social
labor; the Socialists conceive as the essence of liberty a a liberty of essence the as conceive Socialists the labor;
the full social product of their toil. This is the nub of of nub the is This toil. their of product social full the
should appropriate and dispose of the product of their their of product the of dispose and appropriate should
talists regard as tyranny the proposal that the workers workers the that proposal the tyranny as regard talists
incompatible names—liberty and tyranny."' tyranny."' and names—liberty incompatible
name, liberty. And it follows that each of the things things the of each that follows it And liberty. name, is, by the respective parties, called by two different and and different two by called parties, respective the by is,
different, but incompatible things, called by the same same the by called things, incompatible but different,
and with other men's labor. Here are two, not only only not two, are Here labor. men's other with and
mean for some men to do as they please with other men men other with please they as do to men some for mean
of his labor; while with others the same word may may word same the others with while labor; his of
man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product product the and himself, with pleases he as do to man
of the oppressed, did. He said: said: He did. oppressed, the of
The Declaration of Independence does not define lib- define not does Independence of Declaration The
erty. Abraham Lincoln, the son of toil and champion champion and toil of son the Lincoln, Abraham erty.
for one class to be in economic bondage to another? another? to bondage economic in be to class one for
ter only to be compelled to seek another? Is it liberty liberty it Is another? seek to compelled be to only ter
a dead abstraction with which to cloak slavery. Rut Rut slavery. cloak to which with abstraction dead a
what is liberty? Is it liberty to be able to quit one mas- one quit to able be to liberty it Is liberty? is what
thors believed that liberty should be a living thing, not not thing, living a be should liberty that believed thors
ment!" ment!"
I didn't realize that that was such an incendiary docu- incendiary an such was that that realize didn't I
forehead when he had finished and remarked: "Phew! "Phew! remarked: and finished had he when forehead
bration in New jersey a few years ago, he mopped his his mopped he ago, years few a jersey New in bration
'Address 'Address
So it is with the Socialists and capitalists. The capi- The capitalists. and Socialists the with is it So
"With some the word liberty may mean for each each for mean may liberty word the some "With
It is not incendiary but it it but incendiary not is It
delivered at Baltimore, April 18, 1864. 1864. 18, April Baltimore, at delivered
I0 I0
is is
revolutionary. Its au- Its revolutionary.
flects property interests, is distrustful of the workers. workers. the of distrustful is interests, property flects
Its definition of democracy democracy of definition Its
munistic—negating property rights." rights." property munistic—negating
Result is mobocracy. Attitude toward property is com- is property toward Attitude mobocracy. is Result
Manual No. No. Manual
ago by the War Department but withdrawn after pro- after withdrawn but Department War the by ago
tests were made against it. It It it. against made were tests
attitude was in evidence among a few aristocrats when when aristocrats few a among evidence in was attitude
apprehensions of the property-owning class. Such an an Such class. property-owning the of apprehensions
our nation was born. They believed, and argued, that that argued, and believed, They born. was nation our
the government should be free of all pressure from the the from pressure all of free be should government the people and that it should have "unlimited power" over over power" "unlimited have should it that and people
them. Alexander Hamilton was the most distinguished distinguished most the was Hamilton Alexander them.
exponent of the idea that the "elite" should rule. For For rule. should "elite" the that idea the of exponent
God; and, however generally this maxim has been been has maxim this generally however and, God;
the judgment of the people he had supreme contempt. contempt. supreme had he people the of judgment the
stitutional Assembly, "has been said to be the voice of of voice the be to said been "has Assembly, stitutional
quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people people The fact. in true not is it believed, and quoted are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or de- de- or judge seldom they changing; and turbulent are
termine right." right." termine
Spurious Americanism, the Americanism which re- which Americanism the Americanism, Spurious
"Democracy
This was the definition definition the was This
"The voice of the people," Hamilton told the Con- the told Hamilton people," the of voice "The
He feared that a "democratic assembly" would be be would assembly" "democratic a that feared He
Harniltoni3m vs. Jeffersonism. Jeffersonism. vs. Harniltoni3m
2000-2025 published about twelve years years twelve about published 2000-2025
—
a a
government of the masses masses the of government
IL IL
I
is: is:
I I
given in Army Training Training Army in given
bespeaks bespeaks
the fears and and fears the
Library of Congress, p. 781. 781. p. Congress, of Library
vention by Robert Yates, Esq., "United States; Formation of the Union," Union," the of Formation States; "United Esq., Yates, Robert by vention
advance the specious argument that the people are in- in- are people the that argument specious the advance
peace. It is then that the most celebrated "democrats" "democrats" celebrated most the that then is It peace.
war and the overwhelming mass of workers demand demand workers of mass overwhelming the and war
conflict of class interests sharpens, and never more so so more never and sharpens, interests class of conflict
than ''hen the interests of the capitalist class demand demand class capitalist the of interests the ''hen than
principles. Hamiltonism is especially virulent as the the as virulent especially is Hamiltonism principles.
even among those who feign to embrace Jeffersonian Jeffersonian embrace to feign who those among even did not die with Hamilton. It is in evidence today today evidence in is It Hamilton. with die not did
will preserve them. They are the only sure reliance reliance sure only the are They them. preserve will
for the preservation of our liberty." liberty." our of preservation the for
letter to James Madison. "Enable them to see that it it that see to them "Enable Madison. James to letter
is their interest to preserve peace and order and they they and order and peace preserve to interest their is
them and withhold no secrets from them. "Educate "Educate them. from secrets no withhold and them
and inform the whole mass of people," he wrote in a a in wrote he people," of mass whole the inform and
primary duty of government to educate and inform inform and educate to government of duty primary
turbulent as did Hamilton, and he considered it to be a a be to it considered he and Hamilton, did as turbulent
freedom." freedom."
and not the rich, are our dependence for continued continued for dependence our are rich, the not and
not one of those who fear the people," he wrote. "They, "They, wrote. he people," the fear who those of one not
less faith in the people's sagacity and judgment. "I am am "I judgment. and sagacity people's the in faith less
"elite" was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson had bound- had Jefferson Jefferson. Thomas was "elite"
he contended, "can check the imprudence of democ- of imprudence the check "can contended, he racy."
sentatives for life. "Nothing but a permanent body," body," permanent a but "Nothing life. for sentatives
he argued for giving the "first class" (aristocracy) dis- (aristocracy) class" "first the giving for argued he proportionate power and for the election of its repre- its of election the for and power proportionate
dangerous to the interests of the wealthier citizens and and citizens wealthier the of interests the to dangerous
1
From the notes on the secret proceedings of the Constitutional Con- Constitutional the of proceedings secret the on notes the From
Hamiltonism, the theory that the elite should rule, rule, should elite the that theory the Hamiltonism,
He did not believe the people were either stupid or or stupid either were people the believe not did He
Among those who vigorously opposed rule by the the by rule opposed vigorously who those Among
2 2
I2 I2
capable of making the right decisions, and should defer defer should and decisions, right the making of capable
to those who are, allegedly, "better informed." informed." "better allegedly, are, who those to
gument is the ardent Roosevelt supporter, the Most Most the supporter, Roosevelt ardent the is gument
Augustine, Florida. In a nation-wide radio address' address' radio nation-wide a In Florida. Augustine,
Rev. Joseph Joseph Rev.
President to plunge the nation into an undeclared war war undeclared an into nation the plunge to President
urging that America emulate the Nazis and allow the the allow and Nazis the emulate America that urging
because "the constitutional prerogative of the Congress Congress the of prerogative constitutional "the because
[to declare war] is no longer the style," Bishop Hurley Hurley Bishop style," the longer no is war] declare [to
peace: peace:
posed the question of who should decide on war or or war on decide should who of question the posed
decide? decide?
tween aid to the Allies and avoidance of war, who shall shall who war, of avoidance and Allies the to aid tween
the experience, nor access to the facts, nor in many many in nor facts, the to access nor experience, the cases the understanding which are required."! required."! are which understanding the cases
said Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton. Alexander said
with Alexander Hamilton, the advocate of undisguised undisguised of advocate the Hamilton, Alexander with
oligarchy. .They differ only in this: Hamilton was was Hamilton this: in only differ .They oligarchy.
without the base alloy of hypocrisy. The politician- The hypocrisy. of alloy base the without
priest who in one breath contemptuously derides the the derides contemptuously breath one in who priest
have an abiding faith in government by the people..." people..." the by government in faith abiding an have
And he proceeds to confirm his "abiding faith" with the the with faith" "abiding his confirm to proceeds he And
judgment of the people, in another piously exclaims : "I "I : exclaims piously another in people, the of judgment
were responsible for the chaotic pre-war state of af- af- of state pre-war chaotic the for responsible were
impudent and baseless implication that "the people" people" "the that implication baseless and impudent
July 6, 1941. 1941. 6, July fairs with the words: words: the with fairs
Among those who have recently advanced this ar- this advanced recently have who those Among
lAddress delivered over the Columbia Broadcasting System network, network, System Broadcasting Columbia the over delivered lAddress
"Since. .. .we are confronted with a conflict be- conflict a with confronted are .we .. "Since.
"The people... . seldom judge or determine right," right," determine or judge seldom . people... "The
Bishop Hurley, the "democrat," is in perfect accord accord perfect in is "democrat," the Hurley, Bishop
Certainly not the people, for they have neither neither have they for people, the not Certainly
P. P.
Hurley, Roman Catholic Bishop of St. St. of Bishop Catholic Roman Hurley, 13 13 "Nor is the record of democratic peoples in the owning class whose foreign markets are imperilled by pre-war period such as would inspire much confidence." Nazi capitalist rivals. When it is understood that the issues of the great This cunning and contemptible aspersion on the vic- war now raging are not ideological, but economic, it tims of capitalist dissolution and mismanagement is not becomes perfectly clear why the ruling class cannot unlike the more direct assaults on the principles of popu- "educate and inform the whole mass of people," as lar rule which are daily being made in "authoritarian" Thomas Jefferson urged. The "mass of people," i.e., France. For in France, under the rule of the Ultra- the working class, would not fight a war for venal ends. montane absolutist, Marshal Petain, the lips of the Hence they are treated to spread-eagle oratory and ex- "sovereign people" are sealed, the "elite" rule, and all horted to defer to the decisions of the President and the the evils which have befallen the nation as a result of "elite" who surround him. capitalist chaos and decay are openly blamed on the Spurious Americanism distrusts the workers and be- people who, in the words of the Chief of State, exer- lieves "they seldom judge or determine right," i.e., cised their rights "in total irresponsibility."' "right" for the interests of the exploiting few. Bishop Hurley's speech, abounding in sophistries Genuine Americanism, of which Socialism is the and slurs upon the anti-war majority of American work- highest expression, has unswerving faith in the working ers, was promptly endorsed by nearly every war-mon- class, and in its ability, once it is informed and educated gering capitalist newspaper in America. Cabinet mem- concerning its class interests, to regenerate society, pre- bers and Administration whips in Congress commented serve the liberties wrested from tyranny in the past and on it enthusiastically. The President remained do- augment them with the freedom of freedoms—freedom quently silent. from exploitation and wage slavery. To those workers Attempts have been made, and are being made, to who, being baffled by the contradictions of decadent justify the President's usurpation of the power to make capitalism, are inclined to invest the "elite" with auto- war by citing the actions taken by Abraham Lincoln cratic powers, we recall the signal warning of Abraham against the Confederacy in the first days of his Admin- Lincoln: istration. But Abraham Lincoln was confronted with "Let them [the workingmen] beware of surrender- an armed rebellion and the Constitution clearly gave ing a political power which they already possess, and him authority to act swiftly. Neither armed rebellion which, if surrendered, will surely be used to close the nor invasion threatens America today. In edging the door of advancement against such as they, and to fix nation into an undeclared war against the demon- new disabilities and burdens upon them till all of liberty strable opposition of eighty per cent, or more, of its shall be lost." citizens, Mr. Roosevelt responds to the interests of the
'New York Herald Tribune, July 9, 1941.
14- I 5
Many a toiler will take with him to the grave scars he he scars grave the to him with take will toiler a Many
free speech and even the right to assemble in groups. groups. in assemble to right the even and speech free
law is invoked to break strikes are the workers con- workers the are strikes break to invoked is law
class struggle begins to boil. Especially when martial martial when Especially boil. to begins struggle class
stripped of all their nominal liberties the moment the the moment the liberties nominal their all of stripped
fronted with a series of "verbotens" forbidding them them forbidding "verbotens" of series a with fronted
towns, or coal mining communities, for example, to be be to example, for communities, mining coal or towns,
verse expresses expresses verse
of the deep South, and certain industrial feudal commu- feudal industrial certain and South, deep the of
nities in the North too, where Goethe's clever satirical satirical clever Goethe's where too, North the in nities
of the nation. There are communities such as the states states the as such communities are There nation. the of
haps we should add that this holds for the greater part part greater the for holds this that add should we haps
ties nominally guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Per- Rights. of Bill the by guaranteed nominally ties
mers, comparatively few attempts are made by the rul- the by made are attempts few comparatively mers,
are imperilled. In times when the class struggle sim- struggle class the when times In imperilled. are
ing class and their sycophants to infringe on the liber- the on infringe to sycophants their and class ing
workers of these liberties when his capitalist interests interests capitalist his when liberties these of workers
American." And no one is more eager to deprive deprive to eager more is one no And American."
in the abstract abstract the in
freedom of press and the right of peaceful assembly— peaceful of right the and press of freedom
It is the the is It
No one sings louder praises for freedom of speech, speech, of freedom for praises louder sings one No
Free Speech--Weapon of Truth. Truth. of Speech--Weapon Free
common experience of workers in steel steel in workers of experience common
the rule. rule. the
— than the self-styled "Ioo per cent cent per "Ioo self-styled the than —
And go on gladly thus- thus- gladly on go And
"Come say and pUblish all one knows knows one all pUblish and say "Come
BUT—let nobody blow his nose nose his blow nobody BUT—let
Unless he thinks like us!" us!" like thinks he Unless
i6 i6
—Goethe. —Goethe.
the the
sisting on the exercise of his constitutional rights. rights. constitutional his of exercise the on sisting
received from plug-uglies and minions of the law for in- for law the of minions and plug-uglies from received
ever bolder assaults are made upon those liberties which which liberties those upon made are assaults bolder ever
afford Socialism the opportunity of freely presenting to to presenting freely of opportunity the Socialism afford
the workers a program for their emancipation. As As emancipation. their for program a workers the
Karl Marx pointed out long ago : : ago long out pointed Marx Karl
perceives perceives
against feudalism [free speech, free press, etc.], turn turn etc.], press, free speech, [free feudalism against
tion, which it brought forth, rebel against its own civili- own its against rebel forth, brought it which tion,
their edges against itself; that all the means of educa- of means the all that itself; against edges their
zation; that all the gods, which it made, have fallen fallen have made, it which gods, the all that zation;
away from it. It understands that all its so-called citi- so-called its all that understands It it. from away zens' rights and progressive organs assail and menace menace and assail organs progressive and rights zens'
cal superstructure—consequently, have become 'social- become have superstructure—consequently, cal
its class rule, both in its social foundation and its politi- its and foundation social its in both rule, class its
istic.' " " istic.'
"parties," to the shameful murder of Lovejoy and the the and Lovejoy of murder shameful the to "parties,"
the era preceding the Civil War, to the mob spirit spirit mob the to War, Civil the preceding era the
voked voked
Abolitionists were attacking a form of property, property, of form a attacking were Abolitionists
persecution of the the of persecution
stitution stitution
erty and their supporters in the North, though they they though North, the in supporters their and erty
mouthed praises to the Bill of Rights, argued that there there that argued Rights, of Bill the to praises mouthed
ties through the exercise of which their "peculiar" in- "peculiar" their which of exercise the through ties was a "limit" on free speech, free press, and other liber- other and press, free speech, free on "limit" a was
stitution was attacked. The Bourbon slave-holders slave-holders Bourbon The attacked. was stitution
"loved democracy"—in the abstract, or until it was was it until or abstract, the democracy"—in "loved
used against their system. They were answered sharp- sharp- answered were They system. their against used
As capitalism feels the cold hand of death upon it, it, upon death of hand cold the feels capitalism As
"The bourgeoisie [that is, the employing class] class] employing the is, [that bourgeoisie "The
One has only to look back into American history to to history American into back look to only has One
against the Abolitionists, to the tar-and-feather tar-and-feather the to Abolitionists, the against
correctly that all the weapons, which it forged forged it which weapons, the all that correctly
of chattel slavery. The owners of that prop- that of owners The slavery. chattel of
brave William Lloyd Garrison. The The Garrison. Lloyd William brave
17 17
the in- the in- ly by the devastating logic of the brilliant Abolitionist competition of the market."' This was the theory of leader, Wendell Phillips: the Constitution. Its authors knew that many fighting faiths were proved by time and experience to be obso- "He does not really believe his opinions, who dares lete, and that if new faiths were not permitted to arise not give free scope to his opponent." and flourish society would surely retrogress. Perhaps So we say to the latter-day Bourbons,' who speci- none among the Revolutionary Fathers reflected more ously argue today that free speech is a "privilege" and profoundly upon this subject than Thomas Jefferson, should not be extended to those who oppose the pres- whose words of wisdom come echoing down the aisles ent social order and the institution of private property. of American history as a warning to our own genera- This is a far cry from the Americanism of the Found- tion. Said Jefferson: ing Fathers. To them the Bill of Rights was no set of "Truth is great and will prevail if left to herself. glittering generalities to be dragged out as tinsel for She is the proper and sufficient antagonist of error and Fourth of July orations and honored in the breach. has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless, by human They believed implicitly that "the best test of truth is interposition, disarmed of her natural weapons—free the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the argument and debate; errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them." "?The list of those who have lately argued boldly or subtly for limita- tions on the right of free speech is extensive. ft includes such column- The numerous infringements of Constitutional lib- ists as Westbrook Pegler, Dorothy Thompson and Raymond Clapper; such politicians as Mayor Hague, George U. (Rubber-Hose) Harvey and erties reported in the capitalist press, the new ordi- Governor Eugene Talmadge; and such intimates of the President as his nances intimidating aliens and workers, fingerprinting, son, Captain Elliott Roosevelt, and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. In a the invocation of discredited anti-sedition and anti-syn- radio address delivered Sunday, October 19, 1941, Mrs. Roosevelt joined the "free speech but" fraternity by citing (and misapplying) the late dicalist laws, all bear witness that the modern capitalist Justice Holmes's statement that free speech does not include the right class is shaking in its stolen boots and that, unlike the to shout 'fire?" in a crowded theater! Mrs. Roosevelt did not add that neither does it include the right (on the •part of the theater manage- founders of the republic, it fears the natural weapons ment) to suppress the fact of the fire until a are hopelessly trapped and doomed! of truth—"free argument and debate." Captain Elliott Roosevelt, less subtly, suggested to the Federal Com- Supreme Court Justice Holmes in a dissenting opinion on the case munications Commission, March 8, 1939, that "persons preaching.... ', communism [i.e., Sot-lab-sod .... are making treasonable remarks and of Abrams et al v. U.S. are therefore not subject to freedom of speech." His reference to treason recalls the following memorable statement made by Thomas Jef- ferson on this head: "Most codes extend their definition of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former, because real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The -unsuccessful struggles against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries." 19 18 reported in 23
some of the most important industrial statee.
cialist Labor Party had been prevented by illegal and
violent means from placing its ticket on the ballot in
ernment in free elections"—only a few weeks before selves the right of free speech, free religion, free as- the President thus declaimed on free elections, the So- them—the right to choose the officers of their own gov- sembly and the right which lies at the basis of all of said that "Americans are determined to retain for them-
Socialist Labor Party can speak with authority on this question, for, only a few weeks before Mr. Roosevelt
his words and the actual conditions which prevail. The
elections," but there is a conspicuous contrast between cannot also submit for the decision of the majority its proposals. Mr. Roosevelt has eloquently saluted "free
speech on the eve of the 1940 elections, "is of no use Freedom of speech is of little use if a political party
if a man has nothing to say." To this we might add:
'Illegal interference with the political activity of minority parties
The experience of the Socialist Labor Party in Il-
"Freedom of speech," said Mr. Roosevelt in a
Throttle Minorities at Your Peril !
states in 1940.
York
their exercise doesn't bother anyone.—New
Civil liberties are always safe as long as
20
Iv.
Times
editorial, January 3, 1941.
was
linois alone reveals the hollow mockery of such decla-
mations as those of the President. There members of the Party were systematically harassed and as-
saulted, and one was kidnapped, to prevent them from
circulating nominating petitions and otherwise to de-
prive them of opportunities to reach the electorate with
the Socialist message. Illegal interference with a fed-
eral election was clearly a federal offense and called for
an investigation by the Department of Justice and the apprehension and arraignment of the guilty parties. stead,
and finally dropped the matter—without even
pretense at investigating.
lum tactics are employed against the Socialist Labor
Party, by the self-styled "super-patriotic" organizations.
"free elections" are, they are less damaging to the prin- But crude and violent though these
ciples Mr. Roosevelt declaimed for than the obstacles
tures in the form of prohibitive election laws. In some states election barriers have been raised so high that
minority parties are ruled out and new parties haven't raised in the path of minority parties by state legisla-
a "Chinaman's chance" of challenging the monopoly of
the capitalist Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Repub-
lican and Democratic parties. These capitalist politi-
cians forget that monkeying with the thermometer can-
not change the social temperature.
organized if these laws had operated in the days of its
recall that the Republican party could not have been
formation, and its predecessor, the Free Soil party, would have been suppressed in 1848 for its failure to
poll for Martin
Illinois is by no means the only state where hood-
To grasp the sinister import of this, one has only to
the Department of Justice hemmed and hawed
Van
Buren a sufficient number of votes.
2I
flagrant
assaults on
a
serious
In-
noblest precepts of Americanism, and that its foe, foe, its that and Americanism, of precepts noblest
though it appears draped in the national colors, is sub- sub- is colors, national the in draped appears it though
pursuit of happiness, harmonizes with the best and and best the with harmonizes happiness, of pursuit
own independence." Finally you Finally independence." own
enduring the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the the and liberty life, of rights inalienable the enduring viction that Socialism, in its struggle to male real and and real male to struggle its in Socialism, that viction
limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the the on trample to Accustomed them. wear to limbs
bondage," warned Lincoln, "and you prepare your own own your prepare you "and Lincoln, warned bondage," rights of others, and you have lost the genius of your your of genius the lost have you and others, of rights
long its rule will ultimately throttle throttle ultimately will rule its long
liberty-throttling measure capitalism concocts to pro- to concocts capitalism measure liberty-throttling your your
You are driven to face squarely the fact that every every that fact the squarely face to driven are You
to admit that they are aggravated as the system decays. decays. system the as aggravated are they that admit to
Socialist principles, you are compelled to admit the the admit to compelled are you principles, Socialist gross evils inherent in capitalism. You are compelled compelled are You capitalism. in inherent evils gross
wrong principle or practice, the fault is ours; but this this but ours; is fault the practice, or principle wrong
discussion of the right or wrong of our principle." principle." our of wrong or right the of discussion
brings you to where you ought to have started—to a a started—to have to ought you where to you brings
wrong principle or practice. If we do repel you by any any by you repel do we If practice. or principle wrong
and remains so until you show that we repel you by any any by you repel we that show you until so remains and
Haven, Connecticut, audience March 6, 186o. "And "And 186o. 6, March audience Connecticut, Haven,
if there be fault in that, that fault is primarily yours, yours, primarily is fault that that, in fault be there if
fact of your making, and not of ours," he told a New New a told he ours," of not and making, your of fact
strength in the past is a denial of the imperative neces- imperative the of denial a is past the in strength
sity for a Socialist reconstruction of society society of reconstruction Socialist a for sity
reply in the measured words of Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln: Abraham of words measured the in reply
the past. But to, those who charge that lack of voting voting of lack that charge who those to, But past. the
Labor Party could muster only a minority support in in support minority a only muster could Party Labor
The moment you consider the right or wrong of our our of wrong or right the consider you moment The
"The fact that we get no votes in your section is a a is section your in votes no get we that fact "The
Like the Republican party in 1856, the Socialist Socialist the 1856, in party Republican the Like
rights. "Familiarize yourselves with the chains of of chains the with yourselves "Familiarize rights.
a2 a2
. .
cannot escape the con- the escape cannot
your your
liberties and and liberties
today, today,
we we
fls of the flag. With James Russell Lowell we say: say: we Lowell Russell James With flag. the of fls
et et
"Let us speak plain; there is more force in names names in force more is there plain; speak us "Let
Than most men dream of, and a lie may keep keep may lie a and of, dream men most Than
Behind the shield of some fair-seeming name." name." fair-seeming some of shield the Behind
Its throne a whole age longer if it skulk skulk it if longer age whole a throne Its
Americanism and introducing despotism in the the in despotism introducing and Americanism 23 23
Said George Mason: " . ...when once a standing army army standing a once ...when . " Mason: George Said
ty." And James Madison, who is known to his pos- pos- his to known is who Madison, James And ty."
is established in any country the people lose their liber- their lose people the country any in established is
secret sessions of the Constitutional Convention record record Convention Constitutional the of sessions secret
the strong anti-military sentiments which prevailed. prevailed. which sentiments anti-military strong the
rooted is beyond dispute. The notes and papers on the the on papers and notes The dispute. beyond is rooted
among the Founding Fathers? That it was deeply deeply was it That Fathers? Founding the among
and under its strict control. control. strict its under and
Congress create a small .army consisting of 1,283 men men 1,283 of consisting .army small a create Congress
and officers and this it jealously kept in the background background the in kept jealously it this and officers and
would not permit another to gain a foothold in this re- this in foothold a gain to another permit not would
consisted of 8o men and officers I Not until 1790 did did 1790 until Not I officers and men 8o of consisted after the defeat of the British, the United States Army Army States United the British, the of defeat the after
and the reaction against the man in uniform—whether uniform—whether in man the against reaction the and
public. This anti-militaristic sentiment was so strong, strong, so was sentiment anti-militaristic This public.
was one thing that the majority of the Founding Fathers Fathers Founding the of majority the that thing one was
military autocracy (that of King George III), they they III), George King of (that autocracy military
were agreed upon it was that, having overthrown one one overthrown having that, was it upon agreed were
royal or hireling—was so profound that for a few years years few a for that profound so hireling—was or royal
written in our Declaration of Independence. It is writ- is It Independence. of Declaration our in written
dom and tyranny, as democracy and absolutism. It is is It absolutism. and democracy as tyranny, and dom
ten all over the pages of our national history. If there there If history. national our of pages the over all ten
reconciled. They are as hostile to one another as free- as another one to hostile as are They reconciled.
Why this fear and detestation of military power power military of detestation and fear this Why
Bona fide Americanism and militarism cannot cannot militarism and Americanism fide Bona
AntiMilitariam—American Tradition. Tradition. AntiMilitariam—American
24 24
V. V.
be be
where no alarms of external danger could tame the the tame could danger external of alarms no where
tyranny at home." home." at tyranny
mitted to memory. memory. to mitted
power, as we witness the intense training given our con- con- our given training intense the witness we as power, standing military force with an overgrown executive executive overgrown an with force military standing STRUMENTS OF TYRANNY AT HOME. Among Among HOME. AT TYRANNY OF STRUMENTS
people to the domestic yoke." (Capitals ours.) ours.) (Capitals yoke." domestic the to people
power in Europe could maintain itself, in a situation situation a in itself, maintain could Europe in power constantly given to the executive magistrate [the Presi- [the magistrate executive the to given constantly
whenever a revolt is apprehended. Throughout all all Throughout apprehended. is revolt a whenever
dent]. Constant apprehension of war has has war of apprehension Constant dent].
observe the the observe way James Madison put it: it: put Madison James way
They were men of high moral and intellectual caliber, caliber, intellectual and moral high of men were They
MEANS OF DEFENSE AGAINST FOREIGN FOREIGN AGAINST DEFENSE OF MEANS
DANGER HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE IN- THE BEEN ALWAYS HAVE DANGER dency to to dency
tionable whether the best concerted concerted best the whether tionable will not long be safe companions to liberty. THE THE liberty. to companions safe be long not will Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of de- of pretext the under up kept armies the Europe,
the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite war, war, excite to maxim standing a was it Romans the men learned in history and in the philosophy of gov- of philosophy the in and history in learned men
tarism, militarism invites and feeds war. This is the the is This war. feeds and invites militarism tarism,
ernment. Their deep and exhaustive study of history history of study exhaustive and deep Their ernment.
terity as the Father of the Constitution, replied: "I "I replied: Constitution, the of Father the as terity
fending have enslaved the people. It is perhaps ques- perhaps is It people. the enslaved have fending up, that a standing army is one of the greatest mischiefs mischiefs greatest the of one is army standing a that up,
had taught them that just as war invites and feeds mili- feeds and invites war as just that them taught had
that can happen." These men were not speculating. speculating. not were men These happen." can that most cordially agree with the honorable member last last member honorable the with agree cordially most
foreign danger have always have danger foreign
Madison's words should be reread, should be com- be should reread, be should words Madison's
"In time of war, great discretionary powers are are powers discretionary great war, of time "In
render render
rise rise
the head too large for the the for large too head the
in America of a monstrous military military monstrous a of America in
It is worth reflecting on this as we we as this on reflecting worth is It
"The means of defense against against defense of means "The
25 25
- -
been the instruments of of instruments the been
system system
the same same the
of absolute absolute of
body. body.
ten- A A "mobs" and suppressing civil "disturbances." Speaking script army in the "art" of breaking strikes, handling
wards, piously observed: "Such work. ...is a typical ter describing strikebreaking maneuvers at Camp Ed-
duty of troops, and the practice is necessary as a part of the nation's preparedness program." ! for spurious Americanism, the Boston
compulsion. Known to be the very foundation of to- maintain a huge army in peacetime without employing
On May 16, 1777, Thomas Jefferson wrote to John talitarianism, conscription in time of peace has always been as repugnant to Americans as dictatorship itself.
Adams:
practicable thing that could be attempted. Our people, even under the monarchial government, had learnt to consider it as the last of all oppressions." scription. " ....what would have been more absurd,"
iel 'Webster, delivered a ringing speech against con-
he said, "than for this Constitution to have said that to secure the great blessings of liberty it gave to gov- gress had the power under the Constitution to deprive ernment an uncontrolled power of military conscrip-
tion." He held that, if it could be proved that Con-
men of their civil liberty by thrusting them into military service against their will, the same arguments or pre- text of an "emergency" could be used to prove "that
ming up his contempt for this view: Congress has power to create a dictator." Then, sum-
Militarism implies conscription, for no nation can
"[The draft] ever was the most unpopular and im-
Thirty-four years later, the celebrated orator, Dan-
"A
free government with arbitrary means to admin.
26
Daily Globe,
af-
selves against attack? We have always found means to gested tasks to render compulsory military service in time of without calling our people we are not ready to do that; we are not ready upon brief notice to put a nation in "national defense" measure. This attack on one of outbreak of the first World War, a small and powerful tered into the head of man." military conscription, is a solecism [incongruity], at said in some quarters that we are not prepared for war. minority of the American ruling class raised an impe- peace." once the most ridiculous and abominable that ever en- adequate provision for personal security is an absurd- do that, and shall find them whenever it is necessary first answering some very searching questions. It is tury it was not seriously challenged. Then, after the ity; a free government, with an uncontrolled power of peacetime conscription was the envy of military-ridden time of peace so long as we retain our present political the field, a nation of men trained in arms? Of course his second annual message to Congress, December 8, in harsh terms by President Woodrow Wilson who, in the noblest American traditions failed. It was scotched peoples throughout the world. For more than a cen- What is meant by being prepared? Is it meant that ister it is a contradiction; a free government without 1914, said: principles and institutions. rious demand in the public press for conscription as a
The American tradition against militarism and
"It [national defense] cannot be discussed without
we should be prepared for? To defend our-
27
And what is it that it is
away
and we shall never be in
from their necessary
sug-
training in time of peace, for that leads to dictatorship and ultimately to to ultimately and dictatorship to leads that for peace, of time in training
the downfall of such a government as ours, at least, to the ending of of ending the to least, at ours, as government a such of downfall the
democracy, just as surely as the sun rises in the east." east." the in rises sun the as surely as just democracy,
men" who voted against a declaration declaration a against voted who men"
more humble privates to their commands. Finally, he he Finally, commands. their to privates humble more
was being debated, on August 22, 1940, he said: said: he 1940, 22, August on debated, being was knew that militarism brings about an unhealthy alliance alliance unhealthy an about brings militarism that knew
between the military hierarchy and the war traffickers traffickers war the and hierarchy military the between that militarism means death to democracy. While the conscription bill bill conscription the While democracy. to death means militarism that
tude of ranks in which each station adulates its supe- its adulates station each which in ranks of tude
thesis of democracy, a system dependent upon a multi- a upon dependent system a democracy, of thesis
tary caste are, by nature, ambitious for power and and power for ambitious nature, by are, caste tary
and Navy represent a system which is the very anti- very the is which system a represent Navy and
conscription are repugnant and hostile to our principles principles our to hostile and repugnant are conscription
and ideals of personal liberty. As a student and teacher teacher and student a As liberty. personal of ideals and of history, Wilson knew that the officers of the Army Army the of officers the that knew Wilson history, of
mean anything else than that militarism and peacetime peacetime and militarism that than else anything mean
riors and despises those below. He knew that the mili- the that knew He below. those despises and riors
rank and that they can enhance these only by adding adding by only these enhance can they that and rank
certain and adequate indeed."' indeed."' adequate and certain
selves..... And especially when half the world is on on is world the half when especially And selves..... against the spread of the conflagration very definite and and definite very conflagration the of spread the against
unequivocal. Try as you will, you cannot twist it to to it twist cannot you will, you as Try unequivocal.
fire we shalt be careful to make our moral insurance insurance moral our make to careful be shalt we fire
military camp. camp. military standing army. . .we shall not turn America into a a into America turn not shall .we . army. standing
the best years of their lives making soldiers of them- of soldiers making lives their of years best the
ent principles and ideals we never shall have, a large large a have, shall never we ideals and principles ent
ing Fathers, Woodrow Wilson proceeded: proceeded: Wilson Woodrow Fathers, ing
"1 ant afraid of building up a society based on compulsory military military compulsory on based society a up building of afraid ant "1
'Senator George W. Norris, who was one of that group of "willful "willful of group that of one was who Norris, W. George 'Senator
Wilson's denunciation of militarism is direct and and direct is militarism of denunciation Wilson's
"We never "We
Then, in words recalling the warning of the Found- the of warning the recalling words in Then,
-
We will not ask our young men to spend spend to men young our ask not will We
have had, and while we retain our pres- our retain we while and had, have
28 28
of of
war in 1917, agrees with Wilson Wilson with agrees 1917, in war
would scuttle the anti-military tradition and duplicate in in duplicate and tradition anti-military the scuttle would
which, in the name of "Americanism" and "patriotism," "patriotism," and "Americanism" of name the in which,
our nation the monstrous instrument of force which has has which force of instrument monstrous the nation our
and munitions makers and that this, in turn, brings into into brings turn, in this, that and makers munitions and "all of them may be turned against our liberties without without liberties our against turned be may them of "all
the name of patriotism. " " patriotism. of name the
land." And again with Lincoln, Socialism holds that that holds Socialism Lincoln, with again And land."
time at all cost." cost." all at time
ments, our bristling seacoasts, the guns of our war war our of guns the seacoasts, bristling our ments,
steamers, or the strength of our gallant army. ... are are ... army. gallant our of strength the or steamers,
cursed Europe for so many centuries. With Abraham Abraham With centuries. many so for Europe cursed
table part of militarism, and are to be avoided in peace- in avoided be to are and militarism, of part table mony with this fine and noble American tradition. It It tradition. American noble and fine this with mony
Lincoln, Socialism holds that "our frowning battle- frowning "our that holds Socialism Lincoln,
a Senate Munitions Committee report, "are an inevi- an "are report, Committee Munitions Senate a
making us stronger or weaker for the struggle." struggle." the for weaker or stronger us making
not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our in tyranny of resumption a against reliance our not that capitalism decays. It cannot be uprooted unless unless uprooted be cannot It decays. capitalism that
and social scientist, Daniel De Leon, succinctly ex- succinctly Leon, De Daniel scientist, social and
raises its voice now against those propertied interests interests propertied those against now voice its raises
pressed the viewpoint of Socialism : : Socialism of viewpoint the pressed ican life, and if the immense war machine now abuilding abuilding now machine war immense the if and life, ican and until capitalism is uprooted. The American scholar scholar American The uprooted. is capitalism until and
cherish the American tradition against anti-militarism anti-militarism against tradition American the cherish of militarism. militarism. of
must learn that all their protests are futile and all their their all and futile are protests their all that learn must
is not to be "turned against our liberties," those who who those liberties," our against "turned be to not is
energy wasted wasted energy
being a self-interested political power which operates in in operates which power political self-interested a being
predatory capitalist society. It flourishes in the measure measure the in flourishes It society. capitalist predatory
Socialism, being anti-militaristic, is in complete har- complete in is anti-militaristic, being Socialism,
"The attitude of the Socialist Labor Party toward toward Party Labor Socialist the of attitude "The Yet, if if Yet,
militarism is not to become a fixture in Amer- in fixture a become to not is militarism
unless they are directed against the cause cause the against directed are they unless
Modern militarism is the product of of product the is militarism Modern
29 29
. such associations," said said associations," such .
• •
stead of a massacre to the class of labor."
ly-industrially!' Only then can the revolt against mili- tarism result_in a Waterloo to the class of sponge, in- anti-militarism is—Organize the working class integral-
3
0
of American history was written in the months which ism, the "Americanism" which reflects the interests and
and, aided and abetted by the police, the courts and the their liberty on the flimsiest of pretexts. Among them Bolshevik crusade. It brazenly incited the mob spirit, followed the Armistice of 1918. Spurious American- these the Department of Justice was compelled—re- were many members of the Socialist Labor Party, but luctantly—to release. The Socialist Labor Party could legally jailed for the very simple reason that it planted not be legally suppressed and its members could not be Department of Justice itself, it deprived hundreds of fears of the ruling class, sought victims for its anti- squarely upon the Constitution. It is not contradictory; States. character of our basic Charter it may seem contradictory itself squarely upon the Constitution of the United
olutionary document. It was the first ever adopted • it is logical: The American Constitution is, itself, a rev- ment. Its authors, being men of vision and foresight, which provided ways and means for its own amend- that a political party of revolution can plant itself believed that, as conditions changed, the Constitution
The Constitution and the Right to Revolution.
One of the darkest and most disgraceful chapters
To those who are thiacquainted with the unique
VI.
31
most celebrated of the Revolutionary Fathers. In In Fathers. Revolutionary the of celebrated most would be "sacrilegious," therefore immoral. Fortunate- immoral. therefore "sacrilegious," be would
ly, the view was explicitly repudiated by some of the the of some by repudiated explicitly was view the ly,
"sacred" and that any attempt to alter it radically radically it alter to attempt any that and "sacred"
V, spurious Americanism is making a prodigious effort effort prodigious a making is Americanism spurious V,
to implant the idea in our youth that the Constitution is is Constitution the that youth our in idea the implant to
Article V...." From the capitalist premise he is right, right, is he premise capitalist the From V...." Article
for reasons to which we have already alluded, but only only but alluded, already have we which to reasons for
ler, "the weakest link in the chain of the Constitution is is Constitution the of chain the in link weakest "the ler,
endowed Columbia University, Nicholas Murray But- Murray Nicholas University, Columbia endowed
from the the from
the aristocratic-minded president of the capitalist- the of president aristocratic-minded the
implications of the Constitution. "Undoubtedly," said said "Undoubtedly," Constitution. the of implications
economic overlords, strives to conceal the revolutionary revolutionary the conceal to strives overlords, economic
professors, priests, politicians and their masters, the the masters, their and politicians priests, professors,
to collective property and progress. progress. and property collective to
ship, with its evil brood of war and poverty, give way way give poverty, and war of brood evil its with ship,
unite their majority and demand that private owner- private that demand and majority their unite
ican workers. It gives them the Constitutional Constitutional the them gives It workers. ican
walked out a free man. Article V of the American American the of V Article man. free a out walked
Constitution is the open door to liberty for the Amer- the for liberty to door open the is Constitution
He recalled that the door was not locked, opened it and and it opened locked, not was door the that recalled He teen years. Then one day a bright thought struck him. him. struck thought bright a day one Then years. teen
tells an amusing story of a man who was in prison fif- prison in was who man a of story amusing an tells
welfare and happiness. Article V, in effect, legalizes legalizes effect, in V, Article happiness. and welfare
ciety and government which we deem essential to our our to essential deem we which government and ciety
revolution. revolution.
the means whereby to make any alteration in our so- our in alteration any make to whereby means the
afforded "We, the People," of succeeding generations generations succeeding of People," the "We, afforded
would have to be altered to fit the changed conditions. conditions. changed the fit to altered be to have would
In inserting the amendment clause (Article V), they they V), (Article clause amendment the inserting In
Because of the revolutionary implications of Article Article of implications revolutionary the of Because
Spurious Americanism, speaking through the lips of of lips the through speaking Americanism, Spurious
The celebrated American humorist, Artemus Ward, Ward, Artemus humorist, American celebrated The
capitalist premise. premise. capitalist
3
Z Z
right right
a a
to to
• •
when he said: "The basis of our political systems is the the is systems political our of basis "The said: he when
so on forever." forever." on so osophy summed up succinctly by George Washington Washington George by succinctly up summed osophy
words stand as a sharp rebuke to those who, today, today, who, those to rebuke sharp a as stand words
would deny the right of the majority to "provide new new "provide to majority the of right the deny would Guards for their future security." Jefferson expressed expressed Jefferson security." future their for Guards
tion; and oppression, rebellion, reformation, again; and and again; reformation, rebellion, oppression, and tion; by their majority...... majority... their by the philosophy upon which the nation was built, a phil- a built, was nation the which upon philosophy the
long to its present corporeal inhabitants, during their their during inhabitants, corporeal present its to long
which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society society civilized as boy, a when him fitted which
of that direction, and this declaration can only be made made be only can declaration this and direction, that of
too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of of men the to ascribe They touched. be to sacred too
We might as well require a man man a require well as might We
method of altering the Constitution was provided to to provided was Constitution the altering of method the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and sup- and human, than more wisdom a age preceding the
in the endless circle of oppression, rebellion, reforma- rebellion, oppression, of circle endless the in
the concern of themselves alone, and to declare the law law the declare to and alone, themselves of concern the
main ever under the regimen of their .... ancestors. ancestors. .... their of regimen the under ever main Thomas Jefferson made it plain beyond peradventure peradventure beyond plain it made Jefferson Thomas generation. They alone have a right to direct what is is what direct to right a have alone They generation. of sufferance, it will make itself heard through that of of that through heard itself make will it sufferance, of
that age well; well; age that
Jefferson: Jefferson:
that amendments were anticipated and that a peaceful peaceful a that and anticipated were amendments that pose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew knew I amendment. beyond be to did they what pose
reverence and deem them like the ark of the covenant, covenant, the of ark the like them deem and reverence letter to Samuel Kercheval, elated July 12, 1816, 1816, 12, July elated Kercheval, Samuel to letter
render unnecessary bloodshed and violence. Wrote Wrote violence. and bloodshed unnecessary render
....This corporeal globe, and everything upon it, be- it, upon everything and globe, corporeal ....This
force, force,
Thomas Jefferson's reasoning was sound, and his his and sound, was reasoning Jefferson's Thomas
"Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious sanctimonious with constitutions at look men "Some
and we shall go on, as other nations are doing, doing, are nations other as on, go shall we and
I I
belonged to it and labored with it... it... with labored and it to belonged
If this avenue be shut to the call call the to shut be avenue this If
33 33
to to
wear still the coat coat the still wear
to to re-
of our Constitution: Constitution: our of
osophy which finds expression in the amendment clause clause amendment the in expression finds which osophy
cipator repeated this fundamental philosophy—a phil- philosophy—a fundamental this repeated cipator
the power have the right to rise up and shake off the the off shake and up rise to right the have power the
the world." world." the spurious Americanism. In his arraignment of Presi- of arraignment his In Americanism. spurious
them better. This is a most valuable, .a most sacred sacred most .a valuable, most a is This better. them
dent Polk for that executive's unprovoked attack on on attack unprovoked executive's that for Polk dent
existing government, and form a new one that suits suits that one new a form and government, existing Mexico (January (January Mexico
right—a right which we hope and believe is to liberate liberate to is believe and hope we which right right—a
"Liberty always is attained by forces by attained is always "Liberty
likewise constitute a blistering refutation of the narrow, narrow, the of refutation blistering a constitute likewise
underneath, by the great movement of the the of movement great the by underneath,
the right of the people to throw off their oppressors oppressors their off throw to people the of right the
where liberty was handed down from above!" above!" from down handed was liberty where World War President and historian, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson. Woodrow historian, and President War World
restrictive construction put upon the Constitution by by Constitution the upon put construction restrictive
glaringly apparent that all hope of the impoverished impoverished the of hope all that apparent glaringly
you to cite me an instance in all the history of the world world the of history the all in instance an me cite to you
masses rising above their present condition of servitude servitude of condition present their above rising masses
tige of a basis in history for such a hope. hope. a such for history in basis a of tige
voluntarily relinquishing their rule. There is not a ves- a not is There rule. their relinquishing voluntarily
For surely it is fatuous to conceive of the ruling class class ruling the of conceive to fatuous is it surely For
through peaceful and civilized means would be gone? gone? be would means civilized and peaceful through
exclude fundamental changes in our society, is it not not it is society, our in changes fundamental exclude
Butlers had their way and Article V were qualified to to qualified were V Article and way their had Butlers
ernment." ernment."
right of the people to alter their constitutions of gov- of constitutions their alter to people the of right
And in his first. Inaugural Address the Great Eman- Great the Address Inaugural first. his in And
"Any people anywhere being inclined and having having and inclined being anywhere people "Any
The immortal utterances of Abraham Lincoln on on Lincoln Abraham of utterances immortal The
If the people did not possess this right, if the Dr. Dr. the if right, this possess not did people the If
12, -1848 -1848 12,
34 34
), Lincoln said: said: Lincoln ),
- -
working below, below, working
"I "I
people." people."
wrote the the wrote
challenge challenge
Their foresight, like the foresight of the Founding Founding the of foresight the like foresight, Their
of the existing government, they can exercise their Con- their exercise can they government, existing the of
when Lincoln's unequivocal words have been flung into into flung been have words unequivocal Lincoln's when
stitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary revolutionary their or it, amending of right stitutional
people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary weary grow shall they Whenever it. inhabit who people
military autocracy of George III, for the same reason reason same the for III, George of autocracy military
what measure of liberty they were capable of wresting wresting of capable were they liberty of measure what
had never spoken them? But whether Lincoln had had Lincoln whether But them? spoken never had
their teeth? How often have they wished fervently he he fervently wished they have often How teeth? their given expression to this fundamental principle of Amer- of principle fundamental this to expression given icanism, or not, the the not, or icanism,
be ours for the same reason that it was the right of the the of right the was it that reason same the for ours be that it was the right of all people at all times to wrest wrest to times all at people all of right the was it that
right to dismember or overthrow it." it." overthrow or dismember to right
acknowledge that their Americanism is spurious. spurious. is Americanism their that acknowledge
bodied in the Constitution, fortunate, indeed. that the the that indeed. fortunate, Constitution, the in bodied Revolutionary Fathers to rise up and throw off the the off throw and up rise to Fathers Revolutionary
wisdom to build this great movement on that right. right. that on movement great this build to wisdom
Party they must repudiate the Constitution, they must must they Constitution, the repudiate must they Party
peaceful Socialist reconstruction of society. The A. A. The society. of reconstruction Socialist peaceful
Fathers, provides our generation with the means for a a for means the with generation our provides Fathers, from the reluctant hands of tyranny. tyranny. of hands reluctant the from
founders of the Socialist Labor Party possessed the the possessed Party Labor Socialist the of founders
Mitchell Palmers of decadent capitalism may fret and and fret may capitalism decadent of Palmers Mitchell
fume as they please. To "get at" the Socialist Labor Labor Socialist the at" "get To please. they as fume
"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the the to belongs institutions, its with country, "This
How often have the traducers of Socialism winced winced Socialism of traducers the have often How
We are fortunate, indeed, that this right is em- is right this that indeed, fortunate, are We
right right
would still be ours. It would would It ours. be still would 35 35
sisted. It is still true that the individual worker may may worker individual the that true still is It sisted.
quit his master. But the "independence" ends there, there, ends "independence" the But master. his quit
majority. Yet the illusion of independence has per- has independence of illusion the Yet majority.
dering propertiless and dependent the overwhelming overwhelming the dependent and propertiless dering
for as soon as he quits one master he must seek another. another. seek must he master one quits he as soon as for
tempo, the wealth of this nation has concentrated, ren- concentrated, has nation this of wealth the tempo,
conduct would be cowardly and contrary to the revolu- the to contrary and cowardly be would conduct
born. born.
sight of needless misery misery needless of sight tionary, freedom-loving spirit in which this nation was was nation this which in spirit freedom-loving tionary,
of happiness, who will gainsay that Socialist aims are are aims Socialist that gainsay will who happiness, of
dependence enjoining us to throw off off throw to us enjoining dependence
the very essence of Americanism? To keep silent in the the in silent keep To Americanism? of essence very the obstructive to the ends of life, liberty and the pursuit pursuit the and liberty life, of ends the to obstructive
the plainly written injunction in the Declaration of In- of Declaration the in injunction written plainly the
tion for sale with its terrible concomitant, the interna- the concomitant, terrible its with sale for tion
gence? Their cause is clearly capitalism, ownership of of ownership capitalism, clearly is cause Their gence?
the means of production by the idle few and produc- and few idle the by production of means the
tional struggle for markets and war. In the light of of light the In war. and markets for struggle tional
amidst plenty, unemployment, war—with less intelli- less war—with unemployment, plenty, amidst
Why, then, should we treat social diseases—poverty diseases—poverty social treat we should then, Why,
munity, you would not merely treat the several cases cases several the treat merely not would you munity,
reported; you would seek the cause and eliminate it. it. eliminate and cause the seek would you reported;
Industrial Feudalism or Industrial Democracy? Democracy? Industrial or Feudalism Industrial
Should a typhoid epidemic break out in your com- your in out break epidemic typhoid a Should
Gradually in the beginning, then at a more rapid rapid more a at then beginning, the in Gradually
would would
36 36
VII. VII.
be un-American. Such Such un-American. be
any any
government government
able as if their limbs were covered with manacles. Abstract all property property all Abstract manacles. with covered were limbs their if as able
from the hands of labor and you thereby reduce labor to to labor reduce thereby you and labor of hands the from sion Against Centralization," underscores this point: point: this underscores Centralization," Against sion
could fix upon his slave." slave." his upon fix could
war— mass butchery of "surplus" workingmen and and workingmen "surplus" of butchery mass war—
slave was to his master or serf to the soli soli the to serf or master his to was slave
social scene in America. You will see, not a mass of of mass a not see, will You America. in scene social
fishermen particularly of the Northern States—is as as States—is Northern the of particularly fishermen
slaves; but the difference as to the state is imaginary imaginary is state the to as difference the but slaves;
who will reflect but for a moment knows this. They They this. knows moment a for but reflect will who
only. What matters it whether a landlord employing employing landlord a whether it matters What only. as securely to a class of capitalist owners as ever chattel chattel ever as owners capitalist of class a to securely as poor are called freemen, in others they are called called are they others in freemen, called are poor
abject as that of slavery." slavery." of that as abject of freemen or slaves; in some countries the laboring laboring the countries some in slaves; or freemen of
talism start the wheels of industry again. Everyone Everyone again. industry of wheels the start talism
them those necessities at short hand? hand? short at necessities those them
and that dependence becomes es complete a servitude as the master master the as servitude a complete es becomes dependence that and
have hung precariously on the raw edge. Only through through Only edge. raw the on precariously hung have
mass destruction of surplus commodities—could capi- commodities—could surplus of destruction mass
money as will buy them the necessaries of life or gives gives or life of necessaries the them buy will as money
trial scrapheap while their more fortunate brethren brethren fortunate more their while scrapheap trial in the Continental Congress of 1777, "whether by that that by "whether 1777, of Congress Continental the in
lions are under under are lions
thor of "Ancient Society," in a lecture delivered in 1552, entitled "Diffu- entitled 1552, in delivered lecture a in Society," "Ancient of thor tion of the laboring poor in most countries—that of the the of countries—that most in poor laboring the of tion independent workers, but but workers, independent
ten laborers on his farm gives them annually as much much as annually them gives farm his on laborers ten
people," declared the American patriot, John Adams, Adams, John patriot, American the declared people,"
more than a decade millions have rotted on the indus- the on rotted have millions decade a than more
Withdraw yourself ! Get perspective ! Then look at the the at look Then ! perspective Get ! yourself Withdraw
"Centralize property in the hands of a few," he said, "and the mil- the "and said, he few," a of hands the in property "Centralize
'The American anthropologist, Lewis Henry Morgan, celebrated au- celebrated Morgan, Henry Lewis anthropologist, American 'The
The condition of the wage slave today is bad. For For bad. is today slave wage the of condition The
"It is of no consequence by what name you call the the call you name what by consequence no of is "It
bondage bondage
of property—a bondage as absolute and deplor- and absolute as bondage property—a of
a class of wage slaves slaves wage of class a
37 37
The condi- condi- The
dependence; dependence; bound bound
TOTALITARIANISM FOR THE NATION AND AND NATION THE FOR TOTALITARIANISM
ERS I It is to avert that calamity, it is to put society society put to is it calamity, that avert to is It I ERS
shelled, machine-gunned, bombed or slain, slain, or bombed machine-gunned, shelled,
eight, or seven days instead of six.. . ." ." . six.. of instead days seven or eight,
INDUSTRIAL SERFDOM FOR THE WORK- THE FOR SERFDOM INDUSTRIAL
coal mines, or to work twelve hours a day instead of of instead day a hours twelve work to or mines, coal
no reason why other men should not be ordered into into ordered be not should men other why reason no
day or night, go wherever they are sent, perhaps to he he to perhaps sent, are they wherever go night, or day
is admitted . . admitted is
If men can he ordered to leave their jobs, their homes, homes, their jobs, their leave to ordered he can men If
their civil life, to obey commands at any hour of the the of hour any at commands obey to life, civil their
declared: declared:
his feudal lord. lord. feudal his
tocratic capitalism in America, the New York York New the America, in capitalism tocratic
nation! nation!
tatorship,' " May 24, 1940, the premier organ of plu- of organ premier the 1940, 24, May " tatorship,'
tion for total war. In an editorial on "Britain's 'Dic- "Britain's on editorial an In war. total for tion
way as the serf was bound to the soil and, thereby, to to thereby, and, soil the to bound was serf the as way
countries workers are forbidden to quit their jobs at at jobs their quit to forbidden are workers countries
Will and are bound to their employers in much the same same the much in employers their to bound are and Will
from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. In those blighted blighted those In Italy. Fascist and Germany Nazi from
ism. The "free" wage slave is rapidly disappearing disappearing rapidly is slave wage "free" The ism.
talism to drag society backward to Industrial Feudal- Industrial to backward society drag to talism
trial. serfdom which is in store for us if we permit capi- permit we if us for store in is which serfdom trial.
the toiler under capitalism is not as bad as the indus- the as bad as not is capitalism under toiler the
of a "depression" or "recession" or whatever euphemis- whatever or "recession" or "depression" a of
world trade we would still be wallowing in the trough trough the in wallowing be still would we trade world
tic name our capitalists choose to call their chronic eco- chronic their call to choose capitalists our name tic nomic crisis. crisis. nomic
know that had it not been for the violent contest for for contest violent the for been not it had that know
Aye. There is no logical stopping point short of of short point stopping logical no is There Aye.
"But once the principle of conscription for the army army the for conscription of principle the once "But
But wretched and insecure though it is, the lot of of lot the is, it though insecure and wretched But
It is a trend which is accelerated by organiza- by accelerated is which trend a is It
. .
then there is no logical stopping point. point. stopping logical no is there then
This is the trend in every capitalist capitalist every in trend the is This
38 38
(Italics ours.) ours.) (Italics
then there is is there then
Times, Times,
Socialism to demand the unconditional surrender of of surrender unconditional the demand to Socialism
cialist Labor Party urges the workers to heed this warn- this heed to workers the urges Party Labor cialist
cialist program for a reconstruction of society. society. of reconstruction a for program cialist
back upon the road to peace and progress, that the So- the that progress, and peace to road the upon back
demands" in the platform of Socialism. "Immediate "Immediate Socialism. of platform the in demands"
capitalism. The day is past for so-called "immediate "immediate so-called for past is day The capitalism. So- the with delay without themselves acquaint and ing
our generation of toilers it is all, or nothing. There can can There nothing. or all, is it toilers of generation our vain and futile effort to reform outmoded capitalism, capitalism, outmoded reform to effort futile and vain —even though it set progress back a thousand years. years. thousand a back progress set it though —even
out of place in the Declaration of Independence. For For Independence. of Declaration the in place of out
the reaction will be emboldened to destroy those rights rights those destroy to emboldened be will reaction the
use with great skill. The modern working class has has class working modern The skill. great with use the workers must unite under the political banner of of banner political the under unite must workers the
be no compromise, no half-measures. If we do not not do we If half-measures. no compromise, no be
methods of production have placed that weapon in our our in weapon that placed have production of methods
ment the political signal is given, the united working working united the given, is signal political the ment sessed and which their, mode of life had taught them to to them taught had life of mode their, which and sessed
try from top to bottom. Organized into a Socialist Socialist a into Organized bottom. to top from try
of our age possess an infinitely superior weapon, or or weapon, superior infinitely an possess age our of
immense changes and improvements wrought in the the in wrought improvements and changes immense
demands" (reforms) are as out of place in the plat- the in place of out as are (reforms) demands"
Industrial Union, prepared to act concertedly the mo- the concertedly act to prepared Union, Industrial
dare to claim our rights and perform our duties as men, men, as duties our perform and rights our claim to dare
of production and distribution, lock out the rebellious rebellious the out lock distribution, and production of
dence were backed up by arms which the colonists pos- colonists the which arms by up backed were dence
class is in a position position a in is class
tively in in tively
neither arms nor practice in their use. But the toilers toilers the But use. their in practice nor arms neither
force, with which to back up the Socialist ballot. The The ballot. Socialist the up back to which with force,
hands. Mass production has placed the workers collec- workers the placed has production Mass hands.
form of bona fide Socialism as they would have been been have would they as Socialism fide bona of form
The rights asserted in the Declaration of Indepen- of Declaration the in asserted rights The
Instead of wasting their energy and substance in a a in substance and energy their wasting of Instead
de facto facto de
control of industry. They run indus- run They industry. of control
to take possession of all the means means the all of possession take to 39 39
means to re-enact over and over again all the dreadful dreadful the all again over and over re-enact to means
tragedies capitalism has produced, each time upon upon time each produced, has capitalism tragedies capitalist dogma, to maintain the capitalist system, system, capitalist the maintain to dogma, capitalist
quate to the stormy present." To cling to hackneyed hackneyed to cling To present." stormy the to quate
structure itself." itself." structure
capitalism, and the successor of the capitalist social social capitalist the of successor the and capitalism,
more true that "the dogmas of the quiet past are inade- are past quiet the of dogmas "the that true more
Union is the Socialist Republic in operation. operation. in Republic Socialist the is Union
battering ram with which to pound down the fortress of of fortress the down pound to which with ram battering
social architect, Daniel De Leon, described the purpose purpose the described Leon, De Daniel architect, social
the making; and, the goal once reached, the Industrial Industrial the reached, once goal the and, making; the
of capitalist politicians. As the celebrated American American celebrated the As politicians. capitalist of
and aim of Socialist Industrial Unionism: Unionism: Industrial Socialist of aim and
composed of democratically elected representatives representatives elected democratically of composed
Socialist Industrial Republic. An Industrial Congress Congress Industrial An Republic. Industrial Socialist
work for the Industrial Republic of Labor to replace replace to Labor of Republic Industrial the for work
from the industries will replace the political Congress Congress political the replace will industries the from
the Socialist Industrial Unions become the units in in units the become Unions Industrial Socialist the
avert widespread distress among the Workers. Above Above Workers. the among distress widespread avert nies became the thirteen states in the United States, States, United the in states thirteen the became nies
the worn-out capitalist State. just as the thirteen colo- thirteen the as just State. capitalist worn-out the
all, the Socialist Industrial Union supplies the frame- the supplies Union Industrial Socialist the all,
can prevent chaos and civil war, maintain order and and order maintain war, civil and chaos prevent can
continue operation for the benefit of society. society. of benefit the for operation continue
the situation should -the minority of capitalists choose choose capitalists of minority -the should situation the capitalist class, if it stages a "pro-slavery rebellion," rebellion," "pro-slavery a stages it if class, capitalist
to rebel against the decision of the majority. It alone alone It majority. the of decision the against rebel to
Never, not even in Abraham Lincoln's time, was it it was time, Lincoln's Abraham in even not Never,
"Accordingly, the Industrial Union is, at once, the the once, at is, Union Industrial the "Accordingly,
"Industrial Unionism is the Socialist Republic in in Republic Socialist the is Unionism "Industrial
The Socialist Industrial Union alone can cope with with cope can alone Union Industrial Socialist The
4
0 0
and and
the the
a a
abundance for all. all. for abundance
istic barbarism; the other to the Industrial Republic of of Republic Industrial the to other the barbarism; istic
Emancipated Labor, a society of equity, harmony and and harmony equity, of society a Labor, Emancipated more stupendous scale and bringing proportionate havoc havoc proportionate bringing and scale stupendous more
Once more "we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last last the lose meanly or save nobly shall "we more Once
years ago, swept away the incubus of chattel slavery. slavery. chattel of incubus the away swept ago, years
the incubus of wage slavery as our forebears, eighty eighty forebears, our as slavery wage of incubus the
best hope of earth." We stand today where the roads roads the where today stand We earth." of hope best
been entrusted with the gigantic task of sweeping away away sweeping of task gigantic the with entrusted been
and human misery. In spite of ourselves and and ir- and and ourselves of spite In misery. human and
fork. One leads to Industrial Feudalism and imperial- and Feudalism Industrial to leads One fork.
respective of our private wishes, our generation has has generation our wishes, private our of respective 41 41 break up both, and make new ones.
go by old lines or old laws, but to
It is a quality of revolutions' not to
—ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
sentation survives today, the growth of modern industry
industrial representation, as proposed by the Socialist Labor
as the basis for democratic representation, and set up a Social-
of the baking industry, to the state. Together with other food- "Bakery No. 1" is comparable to the political ward; the Local ist Industrial Union Administration in place of the outmoded nery and leather to the village shoemaker. largely self-sufficient economically, when wheat was ground ble profits for the few, requires that society recognize industry into flour at the local mill, when hides went to the village tan- made it obsolete. It fitted a condition when communities were needs. industries. To administer this gigantic productive apparatus Washington. nity, to the political county; the National Industrial Union in order that it will benefit society, instead of yielding incredi- new "boundary lines," economic "boundary lines," between political-geographic framework, has made boundary lines be- political State. Party, are graphically contrasted. Although political repre- the illustration on page baking industry to depict the Socialist Industrial Union setup. tween counties and states meaningless. Instead, it has raised dance modern technology makes possible. people to alter their constitutions of government," said George forms a Department, and all the Departments, as shown by order where anarchy exists today ; we can have planned pro- Industrial Union comprising all the bakeries in the commu- producing industries the National Industrial Union of Bakers duction without waste to the end that all may have the abun- utive Council, which replaces the political Congress.
to conform to modern economic conditions
TWENTIETH CENTURY DEMOCRACY.
On the two following pages political representation and
Modern mass production industry, growing up within the
Under the Industrial Republic of Labor we can create
"The basis of our political systems is the right of the
The Socialist Labor Party proposes that ours be altered
For the sake of graphic presentation we have chosen the
45,
are represented at a General Exec-
43
and to human
has
sn •
NEW YORK
'x104/46'54 . -.044404 1,77N. F000 SUPPLY lUMBH
li Baking Industry ISNVi
II0c Selected As
IIVI Example. NO is * BAKING I UTCH ERIN4 2.4 7f000 MU 6 E 0 R Cr i A - OITIO MI LUNG. WARM Clulifir flu. ( 111x1NG 1111EAD All BAKING. I A! AYF N °V:ffirMAtir0,04." I E PT SziaP lid L001111 • SAMMY BAIIENV BA lef RIR 1 18th Century Line of Representation 00.1 NO.1 AWS.1•24,r Line of Representation of the Socialist Industrial Union—Twentieth Century Democracy 44 45 the states, forming ONE Industrial Body
coming what the states now are and, like
tries wherever located, the industries be-
the raising of the Industrial Republic, san-
and are Wing as a political scaffolding "or be arbitrarily geographic, der Which the dividing lines will cease to
or Nation,
out; they will he wiped out. They have
tated by the nature of the separate indus-
The state lines will have to be wiped
—DANIEL DE LEON.
and
will be dic-
The twelve trenchant editorials gathered in this pamphlet discuss many
Together they comprise a brilliant exposition of the principles of Social-
facets of the union question such as craft unionism, "intellectuals" and
ist Industrial Unionism. the union movement, industrial government, anarcho-syndicalism, etc.
sition
How "the watchdog of capitalism' interprets the Constitution in the
The startling revolutionary utterances of the Founding Fathers horrify luminous story of the founding of the bourgeois republic and an was built. pation.
interests of plutocratic private property. Its origin and record of usur-
the modern bourgeois. They should hearten the proletariat. Here is the
NEW YORK LABOR NEWS COMPANY
of the revolutionary significance of the documents on which it
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By Daniel De Leon
By Arnold Petersen
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TIT 11001Ail 11001Ail TIT of classics, De Leon contraposes the the contraposes Leon De classics, of