高中英语阅读素材英语名著WaroftheClasses阶级斗争

WaroftheClassesJackLondonPREFACEWhenIwasayoungsterIwaslookeduponasaweirdsortofcreature,because,forsooth,Iwasasocialist.Reportersfromlocalpapersinterviewedme,andtheinterviews,whenpublished,werepathologicalstudiesofastrangeandabnormalspecimenofman.Atthattime(nineortenyearsago),becauseImadeastandinmynativetownformunicipalownershipofpublicutilities,Iwasbrandeda"red-shirt,"a"dynamiter,"andan"anarchist";andreallydecentfellows,wholikedmeverywell,drewthelineatmyappearinginpublicwiththeirsisters.Butthetimeschanged.TherecameadaywhenIheard,inmynativetown,aRepublicanmayorpubliclyproclaimthat"municipalownershipwasafixedAmericanpolicy."AndinthatdayIfoundmyselfpickingupintheworld.Nolongerdidthepathologiststudyme,whilethereallydecentfellowsdidnotmindintheleastthepropinquityofmyselfandtheirsistersinthepubliceye.Mypoliticalandsociologicalideaswereascribedtothevagariesofyouth,andgood-naturedelderlymenpatronizedmeandtoldmethatIwouldgrowupsomedayandbecomeanunusuallyintelligentmemberofthecommunity.Alsotheytoldmethatmyviewswerebiassedbymyemptypockets,andthatsomeday,whenIhadgatheredtomeafewdollars,myviewswouldbewhollydifferent,—inshort,thatmyviewswouldbetheirviews.Andthencamethedaywhenmysocialismgrewrespectable,—stillavagaryofyouth,itwasheld,butromanticallyrespectable.Romance,tothebourgeoismind,wasrespectablebecauseitwasnotdangerous.Asa"red-shirt,"withbombsinallhispockets,Iwasdangerous.Asayouthwithnothingmoremenacingthanafewphilosophicalideas,Germanicintheirorigin,Iwasaninterestingandpleasingpersonality.ThroughallthisexperienceInotedonething.ItwasnotIthatchanged,butthecommunity.Infact,mysocialisticviewsgrewsoliderandmorepronounced.Irepeat,itwasthecommunitythatchanged,andtomychagrinIdiscoveredthatthecommunitychangedtosuchpurposethatitwasnotabovestealingmythunder.Thecommunitybrandedmea"redshirt"becauseIstoodformunicipalownership;alittlelateritapplaudeditsmayorwhenheproclaimedmunicipalownershiptobeafixedAmericanpolicy.Hestolemythunder,andthecommunityapplaudedthetheft.Andtodaythecommunityisabletocomearoundandgivemepointsonmunicipalownership.WhathappenedtomehasbeeninnowisedifferentfromwhathashappenedtothesocialistmovementasawholeintheUnitedStates.Inthebourgeoismindsocialismhaschangedfromaterriblediseasetoayouthfulvagary,andlateronhaditsthunderstolenbythetwooldparties,—socialism,likeameekandthriftyworkingman,beingexploitedbecamerespectable.Onlydangerousthingsareabhorrent.Thethingthatisnotdangerousisalwaysrespectable.AndsowithsocialismintheUnitedStates.Forseveralyearsithasbeenveryrespectable,—asweetandbeautifulUtopiandream,inthebourgeoismind,yetadream,onlyadream.Duringthisperiod,whichhasjustended,socialismwastoleratedbecauseitwasimpossibleandnon-menacing.Muchofitsthunderhadbeenstolen,andtheworkingmenhadbeenmadehappywithfulldinner-pails.Therewasnothingtofear.Thekindoldworldspunon,couponswereclipped,andlargerprofitsthaneverwereextractedfromthetoilers.Coupon-clippingandprofit-extractingwouldcontinuetotheendoftime.Thesewerefunctionsdivineinoriginandheldbydivineright.Thenewspapers,thepreachers,andthecollegepresidentssaidso,andwhattheysay,ofcourse,isso—tothebourgeoismind.Thencamethepresidentialelectionof1904.Likeaboltoutofaclearskywasthesocialistvoteof435,000,—anincreaseofnearly400percentinfouryears,thelargestthird-partyvote,withoneexception,sincetheCivilWar.Socialismhadshownthatitwasaveryliveandgrowingrevolutionaryforce,andallitsoldmenacerevived.IamafraidthatneitheritnorIareanylongerrespectable.Thecapitalistpressofthecountryconfirmsmeinmyopinion,andherewithIgiveafewpost-electionutterancesofthecapitalistpress:-"TheDemocraticpartyoftheconstitutionisdead.TheSocial-DemocraticpartyofcontinentalEurope,preachingdiscontentandclasshatred,assailinglaw,property,andpersonalrights,andinsinuatingconfiscationandplunder,ishere."—ChicagoChronicle."ThatoverfortythousandvotesshouldhavebeencastinthiscitytomakesuchapersonasEugeneV.DebsthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesisabouttheworstkindofadvertisingthatChicagocouldreceive."—ChicagoInter-Ocean."Wecannotblinkthefactthatsocialismismakingrapidgrowthinthiscountry,where,ofallothers,therewouldseemtobelessinspirationforit."-BrooklynDailyEagle."UponthehandsoftheRepublicanpartyanawfulresponsibilitywasplacedlastTuesday...Itknowsthatreforms—great,far-sweepingreforms--arenecessary,andithasthepowertomakethem.Godhelpourcivilizationifitdoesnot!...Itmustrepressthetrustsorstandbeforetheworldresponsibleforoursystemofgovernmentbeingchangedintoasocialrepublic.Thearbitrarycuttingdownofwagesmustcease,orsocialismwillseizeanotherlevertoliftitselfintopower."—TheChicagoNewWorld."Scarcelyanyphaseoftheelectionismoresinisterlyinterestingthantheincreaseinthesocialistvote.Beforeelectionwesaidthatwecouldnotaffordtogiveaidandcomforttothesocialistsinanymanner...It(socialism)mustbefoughtinallitsphases,initseverymanifestation."—SanFranciscoArgonaut.Andfarbeitfrommetodenythatsocialismisamenace.Itisitspurposetowipeout,rootandbranch,allcapitalisticinstitutionsofpresent-daysociety.Itisdistinctlyrevolutionary,andinscopeanddepthisvastlymoretremendousthananyrevolutionthathaseveroccurredinthehistoryoftheworld.Itpresentsanewspectacletotheastonishedworld,—thatofanORGANIZED,INTERNATIONAL,REVOLUTIONARYMOVEMENT.Inthebourgeoismindaclassstruggleisaterribleandhatefulthing,andyetthatispreciselywhatsocialismis,—aworld-wideclassstrugglebetweenthepropertylessworkersandthepropertiedmastersofworkers.Itistheprimepreachmentofsocialismthatthestruggleisaclassstruggle.Theworkingclass,intheprocessofsocialevolution,(intheverynatureofthings),isboundtorevoltfromtheswayofthecapitalistclassandtooverthrowthecapitalistclass.Thisisthemenaceofsocialism,andinaffirmingitandintallyingmyselfanadherentofit,Iacceptmyownconsequentunrespectability.Asyet,totheaveragebourgeoismind,socialismismerelyamenace,vagueandformless.Theaveragememberofthecapitalistclass,whenhediscussessocialism,iscondemnedanignoramusoutofhisownmouth.Hedoesnotknowtheliteratureofsocialism,itsphilosophy,noritspolitics.Hewagshisheadsagelyandrattlesthedrybonesofdeadandburiedideas.Hislipsmumblemouldyphrases,suchas,"Menarenotbomequalandnevercanbe;""ItisUtopianandimpossible;""Abstinenceshouldberewarded;""Manwillfirsthavetobebornagain;""Cooperativecolonieshavealwaysfailed;"and"Whatifwedodivideup?intenyearstherewouldberichandpoormensuchastherearetoday."Itsurelyistimethatthecapitalistsknewsomethingaboutthissocialismthattheyfeelmenacesthem.Anditisthehopeofthewriterthatthesocialisticstudiesinthisvolumemayinsomeslightdegreeenlightenafewcapitalisticminds.Thecapitalistmustlearn,firstandforalways,thatsocialismisbased,notupontheequality,butupontheinequality,ofmen.Next,hemustlearnthatnonewbirthintospiritualpurityisnecessarybeforesocialismbecomespossible.Hemustlearnthatsocialismdealswithwhatis,notwithwhatoughttobe;andthatthematerialwithwhichitdealsisthe"clayofthecommonroad,"thewarmhuman,fallibleandfrail,sordidandpetty,absurdandcontradictory,evengrotesque,andyet,withal,shotthroughwithflashesandglimmeringsofsomethingfinerandGodlike,withhereandtheresweetnessesofserviceandunselfishness,desiresforgoodness,forrenunciationandsacrifice,andwithconscience,sternandawful,attimesblazinglyimperious,demandingtheright,—theright,nothingmorenorlessthantheright.JACKLONDON.OAKLAND,CALIFORNIA.January12,1905.THECLASSSTRUGGLEUnfortunatelyorotherwise,peoplearepronetobelieveintherealityofthethingstheythinkoughttobeso.Thiscomesofthecheeryoptimismwhichisinnatewithlifeitself;and,whileitmaysometimesbedeplored,itmustneverbecensured,for,asarule,itisproductiveofmoregoodthanharm,andofaboutalltheachievementthereisintheworld.Therearecaseswherethisoptimismhasbeendisastrous,aswiththepeoplewholivedinPompeiiduringitslastquiveringdays;orwiththearistocratsofthetimeofLouisXVI,whoconfidentlyexpectedtheDelugetooverwhelmtheirchildren,ortheirchildren'schildren,butneverthemselves.Butthereissmalllikelihoodthatthecaseofperverseoptimismheretobeconsideredwillendinsuchdisaster,whilethereiseveryreasontobelievethatthegreatchangenowmanifestingitselfinsocietywillbeaspeacefulandorderlyinitsculminationasitisinitspresentdevelopment.Outoftheirconstitutionaloptimism,andbecauseaclassstruggleisanabhorredanddangerousthing,thegreatAmericanpeopleareunanimousinassertingthatthereisnoclassstruggle.Andby"Americanpeople"ismeanttherecognizedandauthoritativemouth-piecesoftheAmericanpeople,whicharethepress,thepulpit,andtheuniversity.Thejournalists,thepreachers,andtheprofessorsarepracticallyofonevoiceindeclaringthatthereisnosuchthingasaclassstrugglenowgoingon,muchlessthataclassstrugglewillevergoon,intheUnitedStates.Andthisdeclarationtheycontinuallymakeinthefaceofamultitudeoffactswhichimpeach,notsomuchtheirsincerity,asaffirm,rather,theiroptimism.Therearetwowaysofapproachingthesubjectoftheclassstruggle.Theexistenceofthisstrugglecanbeshowntheoretically,anditcanbeshownactually.Foraclassstruggletoexistinsocietytheremustbe,first,aclassinequality,asuperiorclassandaninferiorclass(asmeasuredbypower);and,second,theoutletsmustbeclosedwherebythestrengthandfermentoftheinferiorclasshavebeenpermittedtoescape.ThatthereareevenclassesintheUnitedStatesisvigorouslydeniedbymany;butitisincontrovertible,whenagroupofindividualsisformed,whereinthemembersareboundtogetherbycommoninterestswhicharepeculiarlytheirinterestsandnottheinterestsofindividualsoutsidethegroup,thatsuchagroupisaclass.Theownersofcapital,withtheirdependents,formaclassofthisnatureintheUnitedStates;theworkingpeopleformasimilarclass.Theinterestofthecapitalistclass,say,inthematterofincometax,isquitecontrarytotheinterestofthelaboringclass;and,VICEVERSA,inthematterofpoll-tax.Ifbetweenthesetwoclassestherebeaclearandvitalconflictofinterest,allthefactorsarepresentwhichmakeaclassstruggle;butthisstrugglewillliedormantifthestrongandcapablemembersoftheinferiorclassbepermittedtoleavethatclassandjointheranksofthesuperiorclass.ThecapitalistclassandtheworkingclasshaveexistedsidebysideandforalongtimeintheUnitedStates;buthithertoallthestrong,energeticmembersoftheworkingclasshavebeenabletoriseoutoftheirclassandbecomeownersofcapital.Theywereenabledtodothisbecauseanundevelopedcountrywithanexpandingfrontiergaveequalityofopportunitytoall.Inthealmostlottery-likescramblefortheownershipofvastunownednaturalresources,andintheexploitationofwhichtherewaslittleornocompetitionofcapital,(thecapitalitselfrisingoutoftheexploitation),thecapable,intelligentmemberoftheworkingclassfoundafieldinwhichtousehisbrainstohisownadvancement.Insteadofbeingdiscontentedindirectratiowithhisintelligenceandambitions,andofradiatingamongsthisfellowsaspiritofrevoltascapableashewascapable,heleftthemtotheirfateandcarvedhisownwaytoaplaceinthesuperiorclass.Butthedayofanexpandingfrontier,ofalottery-likescramblefortheownershipofnaturalresources,andoftheupbuildingofnewindustries,ispast.FarthestWesthasbeenreached,andanimmensevolumeofsurpluscapitalroamsforinvestmentandnipsinthebudthepatienteffortsoftheembryocapitalisttorisethroughslowincrementfromsmallbeginnings.Thegatewayofopportunityafteropportunityhasbeenclosed,andclosedforalltime.Rockefellerhasshutthedooronoil,theAmericanTobaccoCompanyontobacco,andCarnegieonsteel.AfterCarnegiecameMorgan,whotriple-lockedthedoor.Thesedoorswillnotopenagain,andbeforethempausethousandsofambitiousyoungmentoreadtheplacard:NOTHOROUGH-FARE.Anddaybydaymoredoorsareshut,whiletheambitiousyoungmencontinuetobeborn.Itisthey,deniedtheopportunitytorisefromtheworkingclass,whopreachrevolttotheworkingclass.Hadhebeenbornfiftyyearslater,AndrewCarnegie,thepoorScotchboy,mighthaverisentobepresidentofhisunion,orofafederationofunions;butthathewouldneverhavebecomethebuilderofHomesteadandthefounderofmultitudinouslibraries,isascertainasitiscertainthatsomeothermanwouldhavedevelopedthesteelindustryhadAndrewCarnegieneverbeenborn.Theoretically,then,thereexistintheUnitedStatesallthefactorswhichgotomakeaclassstruggle.Therearethecapitalistsandworkingclasses,theinterestsofwhichconflict,whiletheworkingclassisnolongerbeingemasculatedtotheextentitwasinthepastbyhavingdrawnofffromititsbestbloodandbrains.Itsmorecapablemembersarenolongerabletoriseoutofitandleavethegreatmassleaderlessandhelpless.Theyremaintobeitsleaders.ButtheoptimisticmouthpiecesofthegreatAmericanpeople,whoarethemselvesdefttheoreticians,arenottobeconvincedbymeretheoretics.Soitremainstodemonstratetheexistenceoftheclassstrugglebyamarshallingofthefacts.Whennearlytwomillionsofmen,findingthemselvesknittogetherbycertaininterestspeculiarlytheirown,bandtogetherinastrongorganizationfortheaggressivepursuitofthoseinterests,itisevidentthatsocietyhaswithinitahostileandwarringclass.Butwhentheinterestswhichthisclassaggressivelypursuesconflictsharplyandvitallywiththeinterestsofanotherclass,classantagonismarisesandaclassstruggleistheinevitableresult.Onegreatorganizationoflaboralonehasamembershipof1,700,000intheUnitedStates.ThisistheAmericanFederationofLabor,andoutsideofitaremanyotherlargeorganizations.Allthesemenarebandedtogetherforthefrankpurposeofbetteringtheircondition,regardlessoftheharmworkedtherebyuponallotherclasses.Theyareinopenantagonismwiththecapitalistclass,whilethemanifestosoftheirleadersstatethatthestruggleisonewhichcanneverenduntilthecapitalistclassisexterminated.Theirleaderswilllargelydenythislaststatement,butanexaminationoftheirutterances,theiractions,andthesituationwillforestallsuchdenial.Inthefirstplace,theconflictbetweenlaborandcapitalisoverthedivisionofthejoinproduct.Capitalandlaborapplythemselvestorawmaterialandmakeitintoafinishedproduct.Thedifferencebetweenthevalueoftherawmaterialandthevalueofthefinishedproductisthevaluetheyhaveaddedtoitbytheirjointeffort.Thisaddedvalueis,therefore,theirjointproduct,anditisoverthedivisionofthisjointproductthatthestrugglebetweenlaborandcapitaltakesplace.Labortakesitsshareinwages;capitaltakesitsshareinprofits.Itispatent,ifcapitaltookinprofitsthewholejointproduct,thatlaborwouldperish.Anditisequallypatent,iflabortookinwagesthewholejointproduct,thatcapitalwouldperish.Yetthislastistheverythinglaboraspirestodo,andthatitwillneverbecontentwithanythinglessthanthewholejointproductisevidencedbythewordsofitsleaders.Mr.SamuelGompers,presidentoftheAmericanFederationofLabor,hassaid:"Theworkerswantmorewages;moreofthecomfortsoflife;moreleisure;morechanceforself-improvementasmen,astrade-unionists,ascitizens.THESEWERETHEWANTSOFYESTERDAY;THEYARETHEWANTSOFTODAY;THEYWILLBETHEWANTSOFTOMORROW,ANDOFTOMORROW'SMORROW.Thestrugglemayassumenewforms,buttheissueistheimmemorialone,—aneffortoftheproducerstoobtainanincreasingmeasureofthewealththatflowsfromtheirproduction."Mr.HenryWhite,secretaryoftheUnitedGarmentWorkersofAmericaandamemberoftheIndustrialCommitteeoftheNationalCivicFederation,speakingoftheNationalCivicFederationsoonafteritsinception,said:"Tofallintooneanother'sarms,toavowfriendship,toexpressregretattheinjurywhichhasbeendone,wouldnotalterthefactsofthesituation.Workingmenwillcontinuetodemandmorepay,andtheemployerwillnaturallyopposethem.Thereadinessandabilityoftheworkmentofightwill,asusual,largelydeterminetheamountoftheirwagesortheirshareintheproduct...Butwhenitcomestodividingtheproceeds,thereistherub.Wecanalsoagreethatthelargertheproductthroughtheemploymentoflabor-savingmethodsthebetter,astherewillbemoretobedivided,butagainthequestionofthedivision....AConciliationCommittee,havingtheconfidenceofthecommunity,andcomposedofmenpossessingpracticalknowledgeofindustrialaffairs,canthereforeaidinmitigatingthisantagonism,inpreventingavoidableconflicts,inbringingaboutaTRUCE;Iusetheword'truce'becauseunderstandingscanonlybetemporary."Hereisamanwhomighthaveownedcattleonathousandhills,beenalumberbaronorarailroadking,hadhebeenbornafewyearssooner.Asitis,heremainsinhisclass,issecretaryoftheUnitedGarmentWorkersofAmerica,andissothoroughlysaturatedwiththeclassstrugglethathespeaksofthedisputebetweencapitalandlaborintermsofwar,—workmenFIGHTwithemployers;itispossibletoavoidsomeCONFLICTS;incertaincasesTRUCESmaybe,forthetimebeing,effected.Manbeingmanandagreatdealshortoftheangels,thequarreloverthedivisionofthejointproductisirreconcilable.ForthelasttwentyyearsintheUnitedStates,therehasbeenanaverageofoverathousandstrikesperyear;andyearbyyearthesestrikesincreaseinmagnitude,andthefrontofthelaborarmygrowsmoreimposing.Anditisaclassstruggle,pureandsimple.Laborasaclassisfightingwithcapitalasaclass.Workingmenwillcontinuetodemandmorepay,andemployerswillcontinuetoopposethem.Thisisthekey-notetoLAISSEZFAIRE,—everybodyforhimselfanddeviltakethehindmost.Itisuponthisthattherampantindividualistbaseshisindividualism.Itisthelet-alonepolicy,thestruggleforexistence,whichstrengthensthestrong,destroystheweak,andmakesafinerandmorecapablebreedofmen.Buttheindividualhaspassedawayandthegrouphascome,forbetterorworse,andthestrugglehasbecome,notastrugglebetweenindividuals,butastrugglebetweengroups.Sothequeryrises:Hastheindividualistneverspeculateduponthelaborgroupbecomingstrongenoughtodestroythecapitalistgroup,andtaketoitselfandrunforitselfthemachineryofindustry?And,further,hastheindividualistneverspeculateduponthisbeingstillatriumphantexpressionofindividualism,—ofgroupindividualism,—iftheconfusionoftermsmaybepermitted?Butthefactsoftheclassstrugglearedeeperandmoresignificantthanhavesofarbeenpresented.Amillionorsoofworkmenmayorganizeforthepursuitofinterestswhichengenderclassantagonismandstrife,andatthesametimebeunconsciousofwhatisengendered.Butwhenamillionorsoofworkmenshowunmistakablesignsofbeingconsciousoftheirclass,—ofbeing,inshort,classconscious,—thenthesituationgrowsserious.Theuncompromisingandterriblehatredofthetrade-unionistforascabisthehatredofaclassforatraitortothatclass,—whilethehatredofatradeunionistforthemilitiaisthehatredofaclassforaweaponwieldedbytheclasswithwhichitisfighting.Noworkmancanbetruetohisclassandatthesametimebeamemberofthemilitia:thisisthedictumofthelaborleaders.Inthetownofthewriter,thegoodcitizens,whentheygetupaFourthofJulyparadeandinvitethelaborunionstoparticipate,areinformedbytheunionsthattheywillnotmarchintheparadeifthemilitiamarches.Article8oftheconstitutionofthePainters'andDecorators'UnionofSchenectadyprovidesthatamembermustnotbea"militiaman,specialpoliceofficer,ordeputymarshalintheemployofcorporationsorindividualsduringstrikes,lockouts,orotherlabordifficulties,andanymemberoccupyinganyoftheabovepositionswillbedebarredfrommembership."Mr.WilliamPotterwasamemberofthisunionandamemberoftheNationalGuard.Asaresult,becauseheobeyedtheorderoftheGovernorwhenhiscompanywasorderedouttosuppressrioting,hewasexpelledfromhisunion.Alsohisuniondemandedhisemployers,Shafer&Barry,todischargehimfromtheirservice.Thistheycompliedwith,ratherthanfacethethreatenedstrike.Mr.RobertL.Walker,firstlieutenantoftheLightGuards,aNewHavenmilitiacompany,recentlyresigned.Hisreasonwas,thathewasamemberoftheCarBuilders'Union,andthatthetwoorganizationswereantagonistictoeachother.DuringaNewOrleansstreet-carstrikenotlongago,awholecompanyofmilitia,calledouttoprotectnon-unionmen,resignedinabody.Mr.JohnMulholland,presidentoftheInternationalAssociationofAlliedMetalMechanics,hasstatedthathedoesnotwantthememberstojointhemilitia.TheLocalTrades'AssemblyofSyracuse,NewYork,haspassedaresolution,byunanimousvote,requiringunionmenwhoaremembersoftheNationalGuardtoresign,underpainofexpulsion,fromtheunions.TheAmalgamatedSheetMetalWorkers'Associationhasincorporatedinitsconstitutionanamendmentexcludingfrommembershipinitsorganization"anypersonamemberoftheregulararmy,oroftheStatemilitiaornavalreserve."TheIllinoisStateFederationofLabor,atarecentconvention,passedwithoutadissentingvotearesolutiondeclaringthatmembershipinmilitaryorganizationsisaviolationoflaborunionobligations,andrequestingallunionmentowithdrawfromthemilitia.ThepresidentoftheFederation,Mr.AlbertYoung,declaredthatthemilitiawasamenacenotonlytounions,buttoallworkersthroughoutthecountry.Theseinstancesmaybemultipliedathousandfold.Theunionworkmenarebecomingconsciousoftheirclass,andofthestruggletheirclassiswagingwiththecapitalistclass.Tobeamemberofthemilitiaistobeatraitortotheunion,forthemilitiaisaweaponwieldedbytheemployerstocrushtheworkersinthestrugglebetweenthewarringgroups.Anotherinteresting,andevenmorepregnant,phaseoftheclassstruggleisthepoliticalaspectofitasdisplayedbythesocialists.Fivemen,standingtogether,mayperformprodigies;500men,marchingasmarchedthehistoricFiveHundredofMarseilles,maysackapalaceanddestroyaking;while500,000men,passionatelypreachingthepropagandaofaclassstruggle,wagingaclassstrugglealongpoliticallines,andbackedbythemoralandintellectualsupportof10,000,000moremenoflikeconvictionsthroughouttheworld,maycomeprettyclosetorealizingaclassstruggleintheseUnitedStatesofours.In1900thesemencast150,000votes;twoyearslater,in1902,theycast300,000votes;andin1904theycast450,000.Theyhavebehindthemamostimposingphilosophicandscientificliterature;theyownillustratedmagazinesandreviews,highinquality,dignity,andrestraint;theypossesscountlessdailyandweeklypaperswhichcirculatethroughouttheland,andsinglepaperswhichhavesubscribersbythehundredsofthousands;andtheyliterallyswamptheworkingclassesinavastseaoftractsandpamphlets.NopoliticalpartyintheUnitedStates,nochurchorganizationnormissioneffort,hasasindefatigableworkersashasthesocialistparty.Theymultiplythemselves,knowofnoeffortnorsacrificetoogreattomakefortheCause;and"Cause,"withthem,isspelledoutincapitals.Theyworkforitwithareligiouszeal,andwoulddieforitwithawillingnesssimilartothatoftheChristianmartyrs.Thesemenarepreachinganuncompromisinganddeadlyclassstruggle.Infact,theyareorganizeduponthebasisofaclassstruggle."Thehistoryofsociety,"theysay,"isahistoryofclassstruggles.PatricianstruggledwithplebeianinearlyRome;thekingandtheburghers,withthenoblesintheMiddleAges;lateron,thekingandthenobleswiththebourgeoisie;andtodaythestruggleisonbetweenthetriumphantbourgeoisieandtherisingproletariat.By'proletariat'ismeanttheclassofpeoplewithoutcapitalwhichsellsitslaborforaliving."Thattheproletariatshallconquer,"(markthenoteoffatalism),"isascertainastherisingsun.Justasthebourgeoisieoftheeighteenthcenturywanteddemocracyappliedtopolitics,sotheproletariatofthetwentiethcenturywantsdemocracyappliedtoindustry.Asthebourgeoisiecomplainedagainstthegovernmentbeingrunbyandforthenobles,sotheproletariatcomplainsagainstthegovernmentandindustrybeingrunbyandforthebourgeoisie;andso,followinginthefootstepsofitspredecessor,theproletariatwillpossessitselfofthegovernment,applydemocracytoindustry,abolishwages,whicharemerelylegalizedrobbery,andrunthebusinessofthecountryinitsowninterest.""Theiraim,"theysay,"istoorganizetheworkingclass,andthoseinsympathywithit,intoapoliticalparty,withtheobjectofconqueringthepowersofgovernmentandofusingthemforthepurposeoftransformingthepresentsystemofprivateownershipofthemeansofproductionanddistributionintocolle