The Federation of Anarchist Groups of The Federation of Anarchist Groups of Spain - To everyone: Spain - To everyone:

'Who are we? We are the eternal anarchists. Those eternal foes of bourgeois or 'Who are we? We are the eternal anarchists. Those eternal foes of bourgeois or capitalist 'order', now and always. The enemies of property, wage slavery, laws, reli- capitalist 'order', now and always. The enemies of property, wage slavery, laws, reli- gions, militarism, the stupidity of men and the iniquity of society. gions, militarism, the stupidity of men and the iniquity of society. We are the ones who pop up, always unconfounded in the wake of any event, how- We are the ones who pop up, always unconfounded in the wake of any event, how- ever serious and momentous. ever serious and momentous. An effort has been made to implicate us in the vilest offences, the most repugnant An effort has been made to implicate us in the vilest offences, the most repugnant of crimes. Even so, we will not deny that some wretches have styled themselves anar- of crimes. Even so, we will not deny that some wretches have styled themselves anar- chists even in the throes of their execrable felonies. Nonetheless, the anarchist has no chists even in the throes of their execrable felonies. Nonetheless, the anarchist has no truck either with theft or with systematic murder. truck either with theft or with systematic murder. While violence is accepted as a revolutionary necessary and tyrannicide justified While violence is accepted as a revolutionary necessary and tyrannicide justified when spontaneous, as is exceptional, occasional expropriation whenever the individual when spontaneous, as is exceptional, occasional expropriation whenever the individual has exhausted all of the lawful means of existence and finds himself confronted by the has exhausted all of the lawful means of existence and finds himself confronted by the ineluctable necessity of ensuring his right to life, this does not condone theft as con- ineluctable necessity of ensuring his right to life, this does not condone theft as con- demned in contemporary society, nor violence deployed as a weapon in individual strug- demned in contemporary society, nor violence deployed as a weapon in individual strug- gle, let alone as an instrument of propaganda. gle, let alone as an instrument of propaganda. What do we want? We have spelled out a thousand times. We seek the establish- What do we want? We have spelled out a thousand times. We seek the establish- ment of a new society wherein all of its members may have their material, moral and ment of a new society wherein all of its members may have their material, moral and intellectual needs catered for in full. 'To each according to his needs, from each accord- intellectual needs catered for in full. 'To each according to his needs, from each accord- ing to his strength and capabilities.' We want that society to be without bosses, without ing to his strength and capabilities.' We want that society to be without bosses, without government, without coercion of any sort. No slaves, no victims of their fellow men. A government, without coercion of any sort. No slaves, no victims of their fellow men. A free society of free men. free society of free men. Boundless progress and infinite perfection also, with ever-increasing well-being. Boundless progress and infinite perfection also, with ever-increasing well-being. We seek the emancipation of men, women, both the sexes, all the races. We seek We seek the emancipation of men, women, both the sexes, all the races. We seek complete emancipation within the context of a fundamentally transfigured society. complete emancipation within the context of a fundamentally transfigured society. Ourselves at present: If, desiring all this, we were to await its arrival by means of Ourselves at present: If, desiring all this, we were to await its arrival by means of improved social machinery, we would be deluded. improved social machinery, we would be deluded. Daily we propagate our ideals and seek to imbue individuals and groups with them. Daily we propagate our ideals and seek to imbue individuals and groups with them. Daily we strive to be more anarchist and to conform a little more with anarchism, which Daily we strive to be more anarchist and to conform a little more with anarchism, which in turn is imperceptibly filling new horizons. in turn is imperceptibly filling new horizons. We do not want to be aloof from any events that may contribute to the advance of We do not want to be aloof from any events that may contribute to the advance of progress, but our commitment will never make us lose sight of our goal and our princi- progress, but our commitment will never make us lose sight of our goal and our princi- ples. Our contribution to forward movement is never intended to favour some at the ples. Our contribution to forward movement is never intended to favour some at the expense of others, but rather to propel society in the direction of our views. We are not expense of others, but rather to propel society in the direction of our views. We are not shy of new political and social forms that may bring us some slight easing of our oner- shy of new political and social forms that may bring us some slight easing of our oner- ous and tragic lot, but we will never abandon our views. ous and tragic lot, but we will never abandon our views. Communism, the state, politics and us: We are anti-politics and anti-Statists, and Communism, the state, politics and us: We are anti-politics and anti-Statists, and when we say anti-politics we mean that we are against all politicians whether they be when we say anti-politics we mean that we are against all politicians whether they be called Marxists, Socialists or Communists. We are against the State, whether it be aris- called Marxists, Socialists or Communists. We are against the State, whether it be aris- tocratic, bourgeois or 'proletarian'. We are against all organised violence. tocratic, bourgeois or 'proletarian'. We are against all organised violence. We are absolutely sure that states have but one mission: to watch over iniquity or We are absolutely sure that states have but one mission: to watch over iniquity or privilege. Upon abolition of both of these, what use is the State? privilege. Upon abolition of both of these, what use is the State? Orchestration? Direction? Verv well. But not from the top down, but from the bot- Orchestration? Direction? Verv well. But not from the top down, but from the bot- tom up. With the power to orchestrate, appoint and dismiss being wholly invested in tom up. With the power to orchestrate, appoint and dismiss being wholly invested in collectivities.. collectivities.. Syndicalism and us: The revolutionary syndicalism affiliated to the AIT in Berlin we Syndicalism and us: The revolutionary syndicalism affiliated to the AIT in Berlin we find attractive. As workers, we are almost all active in the ranks of the National find attractive. As workers, we are almost all active in the ranks of the National Confederation of Labour (CNT). But our mission is not wholly consumed by being Confederation of Labour (CNT). But our mission is not wholly consumed by being active in trade unionism. We are men and some are not subject to the yoke of bour- active in trade unionism. We are men and some are not subject to the yoke of bour- geois exploitation. Consequently, it is not enough to be active inside the union. Our geois exploitation. Consequently, it is not enough to be active inside the union. Our mission has a more significant complement. Outside of the unions, absolutely inde- mission has a more significant complement. Outside of the unions, absolutely inde- pendently, we disseminate our theories, form our groups, organise rallies, publish anar- pendently, we disseminate our theories, form our groups, organise rallies, publish anar- chist reading materials and sow the seed of anarchism in very direction. chist reading materials and sow the seed of anarchism in very direction. We seek the utter emancipation of all human beings without distinctions of any sort, We seek the utter emancipation of all human beings without distinctions of any sort, not even class distinctions. Our struggle is more comprehensive, more global. There not even class distinctions. Our struggle is more comprehensive, more global. There is a place among us for all who aspire to a society without government, whatever their is a place among us for all who aspire to a society without government, whatever their conception of how post revolutionary society should be organised (be it communist or conception of how post revolutionary society should be organised (be it communist or individualistic). In revolutions to come we want, if possible, to avoid what happened in individualistic). In revolutions to come we want, if possible, to avoid what happened in Russia. What always has happened. When anarchists instigate and inspire the revo- Russia. What always has happened. When anarchists instigate and inspire the revo- lution, it almost always proceeds along the proper lines; but when anarchist activity dies lution, it almost always proceeds along the proper lines; but when anarchist activity dies down, the revolution deviates from its course and anarchists - as in Russia - are the down, the revolution deviates from its course and anarchists - as in Russia - are the favourite victims of the semprieternal exploiters of revolutions. favourite victims of the semprieternal exploiters of revolutions. Conclusions: It is, then, necessary and urgent that we organise ourselves in anar- Conclusions: It is, then, necessary and urgent that we organise ourselves in anar- chist groupings in order to impregnate the anarchist revolution. chist groupings in order to impregnate the anarchist revolution. We have spoken of the approaching revolution. We harbour no doubts that the We have spoken of the approaching revolution. We harbour no doubts that the social revolution is drawing nearer by giant steps. The gangrenous old politicking is social revolution is drawing nearer by giant steps. The gangrenous old politicking is cornered, in diisarray and absolutely beaten, but not in the eyes of those who are now cornered, in diisarray and absolutely beaten, but not in the eyes of those who are now in government. We have to ensure it does not make a recovery. in government. We have to ensure it does not make a recovery. The men of 13 September, the ones who were to have cured the nation's ills with- The men of 13 September, the ones who were to have cured the nation's ills with- in 90 days, have devastated it completely. Behind the scenes, Maura and the reaction in 90 days, have devastated it completely. Behind the scenes, Maura and the reaction govern. The directory is only the fig leaf for Maurism and the most degenerate and govern. The directory is only the fig leaf for Maurism and the most degenerate and venal politicking. Out of an instinct for survival, the country must remove these folk from venal politicking. Out of an instinct for survival, the country must remove these folk from power. power. We have never imagined that the main authors of the coup d'etat are prompted by We have never imagined that the main authors of the coup d'etat are prompted by bona fides, but are, rather, swollen with ambition and presumption. But even if that bona fides, but are, rather, swollen with ambition and presumption. But even if that were the case, they can offer a solution to nothing. Less even than the politicians. were the case, they can offer a solution to nothing. Less even than the politicians. Consequently, revolution draws near. Let us anarchists strive to acquit ourselves Consequently, revolution draws near. Let us anarchists strive to acquit ourselves well in it and to propel it as far forward as we may. well in it and to propel it as far forward as we may. Salud y revolution Distributed by: Salud y revolution Distributed by: The Anarchist Liaison Committee, The Anarchist Liaison Committee, The Anarchist Liaison Committee of The Anarchist Liaison Committee of Catalonia Catalonia

Dated circa March 1927 for the founding congress of Dated circa March 1927 for the founding congress of the Federación Anarquista Iberica (Iberian Anarchist the Federación Anarquista Iberica (Iberian Anarchist Federation of Spain and Portugal). Taken from We, Federation of Spain and Portugal). Taken from We, the Anarchists! - A Study of the Iberian anarchist the Anarchists! - A Study of the Iberian anarchist Federation (FAI) 1927 - 1937 by Stuart Christie More copies can be downloaded from Federation (FAI) 1927 - 1937 by Stuart Christie More copies can be downloaded from www.zabalaza.net/zababooks www.zabalaza.net/zababooks