English
OneofthefirstthingsthatJurgishaddoneafterhegotajobwastogoandseeMarija.
Shecamedownintothebasementofthehousetomeethim,andhestoodbythedoorwithhishatinhishand,saying,“I’vegotworknow,andsoyoucanleavehere.”
ButMarijaonlyshookherhead.Therewasnothingelseforhertodo,shesaid,andnobodytoemployher.
Shecouldnotkeepherpastasecret—girlshadtriedit,andtheywerealwaysfoundout.
Therewerethousandsofmenwhocametothisplace,andsoonerorlatershewouldmeetoneofthem.
“Andbesides,”Marijaadded,“Ican’tdoanything.I’mnogood—Itakedope.Whatcouldyoudowithme?”
“Can’tyoustop?”Jurgiscried.
“No,”sheanswered,“I’llneverstop.What’stheuseoftalkingaboutit—I’llstayheretillIdie,Iguess.It’sallI’mfitfor.”
Andthatwasallthathecouldgethertosay—therewasnousetrying.
WhenhetoldherhewouldnotletElzbietatakehermoney,sheansweredindifferently:“Thenit’llbewastedhere—that’sall.”
Hereyelidslookedheavyandherfacewasredandswollen;hesawthathewasannoyingher,thatsheonlywantedhimtogoaway.Sohewent,disappointedandsad.
PoorJurgiswasnotveryhappyinhishome-life.
Elzbietawassickagooddealnow,andtheboyswerewildandunruly,andverymuchtheworsefortheirlifeuponthestreets.
Buthestuckbythefamilynevertheless,fortheyremindedhimofhisoldhappiness;andwhenthingswentwronghecouldsolacehimselfwithaplungeintotheSocialistmovement.
Sincehislifehadbeencaughtupintothecurrentofthisgreatstream,thingswhichhadbeforebeenthewholeoflifetohimcametoseemofrelativelyslightimportance;hisinterestswereelsewhere,intheworldofideas.
Hisoutwardlifewascommonplaceanduninteresting;hewasjustahotel-porter,andexpectedtoremainonewhilehelived;butmeantime,intherealmofthought,hislifewasaperpetualadventure.
Therewassomuchtoknow—somanywonderstobediscovered!
NeverinallhislifedidJurgisforgetthedaybeforeelection,whentherecameatelephonemessagefromafriendofHarryAdams,askinghimtobringJurgistoseehimthatnight;andJurgiswent,andmetoneofthemindsofthemovement.
TheinvitationwasfromamannamedFisher,aChicagomillionairewhohadgivenuphislifetosettlementwork,andhadalittlehomeintheheartofthecity’sslums.
Hedidnotbelongtotheparty,buthewasinsympathywithit;andhesaidthathewastohaveashisguestthatnighttheeditorofabigEasternmagazine,whowroteagainstSocialism,butreallydidnotknowwhatitwas.
ThemillionairesuggestedthatAdamsbringJurgisalong,andthenstartupthesubjectof“purefood,”inwhichtheeditorwasinterested.
YoungFisher’shomewasalittletwo-storybrickhouse,dingyandweather-beatenoutside,butattractivewithin.
TheroomthatJurgissawwashalflinedwithbooks,anduponthewallsweremanypictures,dimlyvisibleinthesoft,yellowlight;itwasacold,rainynight,soalogfirewascracklingintheopenhearth.
SevenoreightpeopleweregatheredaboutitwhenAdamsandhisfriendarrived,andJurgissawtohisdismaythatthreeofthemwereladies.
Hehadnevertalkedtopeopleofthissortbefore,andhefellintoanagonyofembarrassment.
Hestoodinthedoorwayclutchinghishattightlyinhishands,andmadeadeepbowtoeachofthepersonsashewasintroduced;then,whenhewasaskedtohaveaseat,hetookachairinadarkcorner,andsatdownupontheedgeofit,andwipedtheperspirationoffhisforeheadwithhissleeve.
Hewasterrifiedlesttheyshouldexpecthimtotalk.
Therewasthehosthimself,atall,athleticyoungman,cladineveningdress,asalsowastheeditor,adyspeptic-lookinggentlemannamedMaynard.
Therewastheformer’sfrailyoungwife,andalsoanelderlylady,whotaughtkindergarteninthesettlement,andayoungcollegestudent,abeautifulgirlwithanintenseandearnestface.
SheonlyspokeonceortwicewhileJurgiswasthere—therestofthetimeshesatbythetableinthecenteroftheroom,restingherchininherhandsanddrinkingintheconversation.
Thereweretwoothermen,whomyoungFisherhadintroducedtoJurgisasMr.LucasandMr.Schliemann;heheardthemaddressAdamsas“Comrade,”andsoheknewthattheywereSocialists.
TheonecalledLucaswasamildandmeek-lookinglittlegentlemanofclericalaspect;hehadbeenanitinerantevangelist,ittranspired,andhadseenthelightandbecomeaprophetofthenewdispensation.
Hetraveledalloverthecountry,livingliketheapostlesofold,uponhospitality,andpreachinguponstreet-cornerswhentherewasnohall.
TheothermanhadbeeninthemidstofadiscussionwiththeeditorwhenAdamsandJurgiscamein;andatthesuggestionofthehosttheyresumeditaftertheinterruption.
Jurgiswassoonsittingspellbound,thinkingthatherewassurelythestrangestmanthathadeverlivedintheworld.
NicholasSchliemannwasaSwede,atall,gauntperson,withhairyhandsandbristlingyellowbeard;hewasauniversityman,andhadbeenaprofessorofphilosophy—until,ashesaid,hehadfoundthathewassellinghischaracteraswellashistime.
InsteadhehadcometoAmerica,wherehelivedinagarretroominthisslumdistrict,andmadevolcanicenergytaketheplaceoffire.
Hestudiedthecompositionoffood-stuffs,andknewexactlyhowmanyproteidsandcarbohydrateshisbodyneeded;andbyscientificchewinghesaidthathetripledthevalueofallheate,sothatitcosthimelevencentsaday.
AboutthefirstofJulyhewouldleaveChicagoforhisvacation,onfoot;andwhenhestrucktheharvestfieldshewouldsettoworkfortwodollarsandahalfaday,andcomehomewhenhehadanotheryear’ssupply—ahundredandtwenty-fivedollars.
Thatwasthenearestapproachtoindependenceamancouldmake“undercapitalism,”heexplained;hewouldnevermarry,fornosanemanwouldallowhimselftofallinloveuntilaftertherevolution.
Hesatinabigarm-chair,withhislegscrossed,andhisheadsofarintheshadowthatonesawonlytwoglowinglights,reflectedfromthefireonthehearth.
Hespokesimply,andutterlywithoutemotion;withthemannerofateachersettingforthtoagroupofscholarsanaxiomingeometry,hewouldenunciatesuchpropositionsasmadethehairofanordinarypersonriseonend.
Andwhentheauditorhadassertedhisnon-comprehension,hewouldproceedtoelucidatebysomenewproposition,yetmoreappalling.
ToJurgistheHerrDr.Schliemannassumedtheproportionsofathunderstormoranearthquake.
Andyet,strangeasitmightseem,therewasasubtlebondbetweenthem,andhecouldfollowtheargumentnearlyallthetime.
Hewascarriedoverthedifficultplacesinspiteofhimself;andhewentplungingawayinmadcareer—averyMazeppa-rideuponthewildhorseSpeculation.
NicholasSchliemannwasfamiliarwithalltheuniverse,andwithmanasasmallpartofit.
Heunderstoodhumaninstitutions,andblewthemaboutlikesoapbubbles.
Itwassurprisingthatsomuchdestructivenesscouldbecontainedinonehumanmind.Wasitgovernment?
Thepurposeofgovernmentwastheguardingofproperty-rights,theperpetuationofancientforceandmodernfraud.Orwasitmarriage?
Marriageandprostitutionweretwosidesofoneshield,thepredatoryman’sexploitationofthesex-pleasure.
Thedifferencebetweenthemwasadifferenceofclass.
Ifawomanhadmoneyshemightdictateherownterms:equality,alifecontract,andthelegitimacy—thatis,theproperty-rights—ofherchildren.
Ifshehadnomoney,shewasaproletarian,andsoldherselfforanexistence.
AndthenthesubjectbecameReligion,whichwastheArchfiend’sdeadliestweapon.
Governmentoppressedthebodyofthewage-slave,butReligionoppressedhismind,andpoisonedthestreamofprogressatitssource.
Theworking-manwastofixhishopesuponafuturelife,whilehispocketswerepickedinthisone;hewasbroughtuptofrugality,humility,obedience—inshorttoallthepseudo-virtuesofcapitalism.
ThedestinyofcivilizationwouldbedecidedinonefinaldeathstrugglebetweentheRedInternationalandtheBlack,betweenSocialismandtheRomanCatholicChurch;whilehereathome,“thestygianmidnightofAmericanevangelicalism—”
Andheretheex-preacherenteredthefield,andtherewasalivelytussle.
“Comrade”Lucaswasnotwhatiscalledaneducatedman;heknewonlytheBible,butitwastheBibleinterpretedbyrealexperience.
Andwhatwastheuse,heasked,ofconfusingReligionwithmen’sperversionsofit?
Thatthechurchwasinthehandsofthemerchantsatthemomentwasobviousenough;butalreadythereweresignsofrebellion,andifComradeSchliemanncouldcomebackafewyearsfromnow—
“Ah,yes,”saidtheother,“ofcourse,IhavenodoubtthatinahundredyearstheVaticanwillbedenyingthatiteveropposedSocialism,justasatpresentitdeniesthatitevertorturedGalileo.”
“IamnotdefendingtheVatican,”exclaimedLucas,vehemently.
“IamdefendingthewordofGod—whichisonelongcryofthehumanspiritfordeliverancefromtheswayofoppression.
Takethetwenty-fourthchapteroftheBookofJob,whichIamaccustomedtoquoteinmyaddressesas‘theBibleupontheBeefTrust’;ortakethewordsofIsaiah—oroftheMasterhimself!
Nottheelegantprinceofourdebauchedandviciousart,notthejeweledidolofoursocietychurches—buttheJesusoftheawfulreality,themanofsorrowandpain,theoutcast,despisedoftheworld,whohadnowheretolayhishead—”
“IwillgrantyouJesus,”interruptedtheother.
“Well,then,”criedLucas,“andwhyshouldJesushavenothingtodowithhischurch—whyshouldhiswordsandhislifebeofnoauthorityamongthosewhoprofesstoadorehim?
Hereisamanwhowastheworld’sfirstrevolutionist,thetruefounderoftheSocialistmovement;amanwhosewholebeingwasoneflameofhatredforwealth,andallthatwealthstandsfor,—fortheprideofwealth,andtheluxuryofwealth,andthetyrannyofwealth;whowashimselfabeggarandatramp,amanofthepeople,anassociateofsaloon-keepersandwomenofthetown;whoagainandagain,inthemostexplicitlanguage,denouncedwealthandtheholdingofwealth:‘Laynotupforyourselvestreasuresonearth!’
—’Sellthatyehaveandgivealms!’
—’Blessedareyepoor,foryoursisthekingdomofHeaven!’
—’Woeuntoyouthatarerich,foryehavereceivedyourconsolation!’
—’Verily,Isayuntoyou,thatarichmanshallhardlyenterintothekingdomofHeaven!’
Whodenouncedinunmeasuredtermstheexploitersofhisowntime:‘Woeuntoyou,scribesandpharisees,hypocrites!’—’Woeuntoyoualso,youlawyers!’
—’Yeserpents,yegenerationofvipers,howcanyeescapethedamnationofhell?’
Whodroveoutthebusinessmenandbrokersfromthetemplewithawhip!
Whowascrucified—thinkofit—foranincendiaryandadisturberofthesocialorder!
Andthismantheyhavemadeintothehighpriestofpropertyandsmugrespectability,adivinesanctionofallthehorrorsandabominationsofmoderncommercialcivilization!
Jeweledimagesaremadeofhim,sensualpriestsburnincensetohim,andmodernpiratesofindustrybringtheirdollars,wrungfromthetoilofhelplesswomenandchildren,andbuildtemplestohim,andsitincushionedseatsandlistentohisteachingsexpoundedbydoctorsofdustydivinity—”
“Bravo!”criedSchliemann,laughing.
Buttheotherwasinfullcareer—hehadtalkedthissubjecteverydayforfiveyears,andhadneveryetlethimselfbestopped.“ThisJesusofNazareth!”hecried.“Thisclass-consciousworking-man!Thisunioncarpenter!
Thisagitator,law-breaker,firebrand,anarchist!
He,thesovereignlordandmasterofaworldwhichgrindsthebodiesandsoulsofhumanbeingsintodollars—ifhecouldcomeintotheworldthisdayandseethethingsthatmenhavemadeinhisname,woulditnotblasthissoulwithhorror?
Wouldhenotgomadatthesightofit,hethePrinceofMercyandLove!
ThatdreadfulnightwhenhelayintheGardenofGethsemaneandwrithedinagonyuntilhesweatblood—doyouthinkthathesawanythingworsethanhemightseetonightupontheplainsofManchuria,wheremenmarchoutwithajeweledimageofhimbeforethem,todowholesalemurderforthebenefitoffoulmonstersofsensualityandcruelty?
DoyounotknowthatifhewereinSt.Petersburgnow,hewouldtakethewhipwithwhichhedroveoutthebankersfromhistemple—”
Herethespeakerpausedaninstantforbreath.
“No,comrade,”saidtheother,dryly,“forhewasapracticalman.
Hewouldtakeprettylittleimitationlemons,suchasarenowbeingshippedintoRussia,handyforcarryinginthepockets,andstrongenoughtoblowawholetempleoutofsight.”
Lucaswaiteduntilthecompanyhadstoppedlaughingoverthis;thenhebeganagain:“Butlookatitfromthepointofviewofpracticalpolitics,comrade.
Hereisanhistoricalfigurewhomallmenreverenceandlove,whomsomeregardasdivine;andwhowasoneofus—wholivedourlife,andtaughtourdoctrine.
Andnowshallweleavehiminthehandsofhisenemies—shallweallowthemtostifleandstultifyhisexample?
Wehavehiswords,whichnoonecandeny;andshallwenotquotethemtothepeople,andprovetothemwhathewas,andwhathetaught,andwhathedid?No,no,athousandtimesno!
—weshallusehisauthoritytoturnouttheknavesandsluggardsfromhisministry,andweshallyetrousethepeopletoaction!—”
Lucashaltedagain;andtheotherstretchedouthishandtoapaperonthetable.
“Here,comrade,”hesaid,withalaugh,“hereisaplaceforyoutobegin.
Abishopwhosewifehasjustbeenrobbedoffiftythousanddollars’worthofdiamonds!
Andamostunctuousandoilyofbishops!Aneminentandscholarlybishop!
Aphilanthropistandfriendoflaborbishop—aCivicFederationdecoyduckforthechloroformingofthewage-working-man!”
Tothislittlepassageofarmstherestofthecompanysatasspectators.
ButnowMr.Maynard,theeditor,tookoccasiontoremark,somewhatnaively,thathehadalwaysunderstoodthatSocialistshadacut-and-driedprogramforthefutureofcivilization;whereashereweretwoactivemembersoftheparty,who,fromwhathecouldmakeout,wereagreedaboutnothingatall.
Wouldthetwo,forhisenlightenment,trytoascertainjustwhattheyhadincommon,andwhytheybelongedtothesameparty?
Thisresulted,aftermuchdebating,intheformulatingoftwocarefullywordedpropositions:First,thataSocialistbelievesinthecommonownershipanddemocraticmanagementofthemeansofproducingthenecessitiesoflife;and,second,thataSocialistbelievesthatthemeansbywhichthisistobebroughtaboutistheclassconsciouspoliticalorganizationofthewage-earners.
Thusfartheywereatone;butnofarther.
ToLucas,thereligiouszealot,theco-operativecommonwealthwastheNewJerusalem,thekingdomofHeaven,whichis“withinyou.”
Totheother,Socialismwassimplyanecessarysteptowardafar-distantgoal,asteptobetoleratedwithimpatience.
Schliemanncalledhimselfa“philosophicanarchist”;andheexplainedthatananarchistwasonewhobelievedthattheendofhumanexistencewasthefreedevelopmentofeverypersonality,unrestrictedbylawssavethoseofitsownbeing.
Sincethesamekindofmatchwouldlighteveryone’sfireandthesame-shapedloafofbreadwouldfilleveryone’sstomach,itwouldbeperfectlyfeasibletosubmitindustrytothecontrolofamajorityvote.
Therewasonlyoneearth,andthequantityofmaterialthingswaslimited.
Ofintellectualandmoralthings,ontheotherhand,therewasnolimit,andonecouldhavemorewithoutanother’shavingless;hence“Communisminmaterialproduction,anarchisminintellectual,”wastheformulaofmodernproletarianthought.
Assoonasthebirthagonywasover,andthewoundsofsocietyhadbeenhealed,therewouldbeestablishedasimplesystemwherebyeachmanwascreditedwithhislaboranddebitedwithhispurchases;andafterthattheprocessesofproduction,exchange,andconsumptionwouldgoonautomatically,andwithoutourbeingconsciousofthem,anymorethanamanisconsciousofthebeatingofhisheart.
Andthen,explainedSchliemann,societywouldbreakupintoindependent,self-governingcommunitiesofmutuallycongenialpersons;examplesofwhichatpresentwereclubs,churches,andpoliticalparties.
Aftertherevolution,alltheintellectual,artistic,andspiritualactivitiesofmenwouldbecaredforbysuch“freeassociations”;romanticnovelistswouldbesupportedbythosewholikedtoreadromanticnovels,andimpressionistpainterswouldbesupportedbythosewholikedtolookatimpressionistpictures—andthesamewithpreachersandscientists,editorsandactorsandmusicians.
Ifanyonewantedtoworkorpaintorpray,andcouldfindnoonetomaintainhim,hecouldsupporthimselfbyworkingpartofthetime.
Thatwasthecaseatpresent,theonlydifferencebeingthatthecompetitivewagesystemcompelledamantoworkallthetimetolive,while,aftertheabolitionofprivilegeandexploitation,anyonewouldbeabletosupporthimselfbyanhour’sworkaday.
Alsotheartist’saudienceofthepresentwasasmallminorityofpeople,alldebasedandvulgarizedbytheeffortithadcostthemtowininthecommercialbattle,oftheintellectualandartisticactivitieswhichwouldresultwhenthewholeofmankindwassetfreefromthenightmareofcompetition,wecouldatpresentformnoconceptionwhatever.
AndthentheeditorwantedtoknowuponwhatgroundDr.Schliemannassertedthatitmightbepossibleforasocietytoexistuponanhour’stoilbyeachofitsmembers.
“Justwhat,”answeredtheother,“wouldbetheproductivecapacityofsocietyifthepresentresourcesofsciencewereutilized,wehavenomeansofascertaining;butwemaybesureitwouldexceedanythingthatwouldsoundreasonabletomindsinuredtotheferociousbarbaritiesofcapitalism.
Afterthetriumphoftheinternationalproletariat,warwouldofcoursebeinconceivable;andwhocanfigurethecostofwartohumanity—notmerelythevalueofthelivesandthematerialthatitdestroys,notmerelythecostofkeepingmillionsofmeninidleness,ofarmingandequippingthemforbattleandparade,butthedrainuponthevitalenergiesofsocietybythewarattitudeandthewarterror,thebrutalityandignorance,thedrunkenness,prostitution,andcrimeitentails,theindustrialimpotenceandthemoraldeadness?
Doyouthinkthatitwouldbetoomuchtosaythattwohoursoftheworkingtimeofeveryefficientmemberofacommunitygoestofeedtheredfiendofwar?”
AndthenSchliemannwentontooutlinesomeofthewastesofcompetition:thelossesofindustrialwarfare;theceaselessworryandfriction;thevices—suchasdrink,forinstance,theuseofwhichhadnearlydoubledintwentyyears,asaconsequenceoftheintensificationoftheeconomicstruggle;theidleandunproductivemembersofthecommunity,thefrivolousrichandthepauperizedpoor;thelawandthewholemachineryofrepression;thewastesofsocialostentation,themillinersandtailors,thehairdressers,dancingmasters,chefsandlackeys.
“Youunderstand,”hesaid,“thatinasocietydominatedbythefactofcommercialcompetition,moneyisnecessarilythetestofprowess,andwastefulnessthesolecriterionofpower.
Sowehave,atthepresentmoment,asocietywith,say,thirtypercentofthepopulationoccupiedinproducinguselessarticles,andonepercentoccupiedindestroyingthem.
Andthisisnotall;fortheservantsandpandersoftheparasitesarealsoparasites,themillinersandthejewelersandthelackeyshavealsotobesupportedbytheusefulmembersofthecommunity.
Andbearinmindalsothatthismonstrousdiseaseaffectsnotmerelytheidlersandtheirmenials,itspoisonpenetratesthewholesocialbody.
Beneaththehundredthousandwomenoftheeliteareamillionmiddle-classwomen,miserablebecausetheyarenotoftheelite,andtryingtoappearofitinpublic;andbeneaththem,inturn,arefivemillionfarmers’wivesreading‘fashionpapers’andtrimmingbonnets,andshop-girlsandserving-maidssellingthemselvesintobrothelsforcheapjewelryandimitationseal-skinrobes.
Andthenconsiderthat,addedtothiscompetitionindisplay,youhave,likeoilontheflames,awholesystemofcompetitioninselling!
Youhavemanufacturerscontrivingtensofthousandsofcatchpennydevices,storekeepersdisplayingthem,andnewspapersandmagazinesfilledupwithadvertisementsofthem!”
“Anddon’tforgetthewastesoffraud,”putinyoungFisher.
“Whenonecomestotheultra-modernprofessionofadvertising,”respondedSchliemann—”thescienceofpersuadingpeopletobuywhattheydonotwant—heisintheverycenteroftheghastlycharnelhouseofcapitalistdestructiveness,andhescarcelyknowswhichofadozenhorrorstopointoutfirst.
Butconsiderthewasteintimeandenergyincidentaltomakingtenthousandvarietiesofathingforpurposesofostentationandsnobbishness,whereonevarietywoulddoforuse!
Considerallthewasteincidentaltothemanufactureofcheapqualitiesofgoods,ofgoodsmadetosellanddeceivetheignorant;considerthewastesofadulteration,—theshoddyclothing,thecottonblankets,theunstabletenements,theground-corklife-preservers,theadulteratedmilk,theanilinesodawater,thepotato-floursausages—”
“Andconsiderthemoralaspectsofthething,”putintheex-preacher.
“Precisely,”saidSchliemann;“thelowknaveryandtheferociouscrueltyincidentaltothem,theplottingandthelyingandthebribing,theblusteringandbragging,thescreamingegotism,thehurryingandworrying.
Ofcourse,imitationandadulterationaretheessenceofcompetition—theyarebutanotherformofthephrase‘tobuyinthecheapestmarketandsellinthedearest.’
Agovernmentofficialhasstatedthatthenationsuffersalossofabillionandaquarterdollarsayearthroughadulteratedfoods;whichmeans,ofcourse,notonlymaterialswastedthatmighthavebeenusefuloutsideofthehumanstomach,butdoctorsandnursesforpeoplewhowouldotherwisehavebeenwell,andundertakersforthewholehumanracetenortwentyyearsbeforethepropertime.
Thenagain,considerthewasteoftimeandenergyrequiredtosellthesethingsinadozenstores,whereonewoulddo.
Thereareamillionortwoofbusinessfirmsinthecountry,andfiveortentimesasmanyclerks;andconsiderthehandlingandrehandling,theaccountingandreaccounting,theplanningandworrying,thebalancingofpettyprofitandloss.
Considerthewholemachineryofthecivillawmadenecessarybytheseprocesses;thelibrariesofponderoustomes,thecourtsandjuriestointerpretthem,thelawyersstudyingtocircumventthem,thepettifoggingandchicanery,thehatredsandlies!
Considerthewastesincidentaltotheblindandhaphazardproductionofcommodities—thefactoriesclosed,theworkersidle,thegoodsspoilinginstorage;considertheactivitiesofthestockmanipulator,theparalyzingofwholeindustries,theoverstimulationofothers,forspeculativepurposes;theassignmentsandbankfailures,thecrisesandpanics,thedesertedtownsandthestarvingpopulations!
Considertheenergieswastedintheseekingofmarkets,thesteriletrades,suchasdrummer,solicitor,bill-poster,advertisingagent.
Considerthewastesincidentaltothecrowdingintocities,madenecessarybycompetitionandbymonopolyrailroadrates;considertheslums,thebadair,thediseaseandthewasteofvitalenergies;considertheofficebuildings,thewasteoftimeandmaterialinthepilingofstoryuponstory,andtheburrowingunderground!
Thentakethewholebusinessofinsurance,theenormousmassofadministrativeandclericallaboritinvolves,andallutterwaste—”
“Idonotfollowthat,”saidtheeditor.
“TheCooperativeCommonwealthisauniversalautomaticinsurancecompanyandsavingsbankforallitsmembers.
Capitalbeingthepropertyofall,injurytoitissharedbyallandmadeupbyall.
Thebankistheuniversalgovernmentcredit-account,theledgerinwhicheveryindividual’searningsandspendingsatebalanced.
Thereisalsoauniversalgovernmentbulletin,inwhicharelistedandpreciselydescribedeverythingwhichthecommonwealthhasforsale.
Asnoonemakesanyprofitbythesale,thereisnolongeranystimulustoextravagance,andnomisrepresentation;nocheating,noadulterationorimitation,nobriberyor‘grafting.’”
“Howisthepriceofanarticledetermined?”
“Thepriceisthelaborithascosttomakeanddeliverit,anditisdeterminedbythefirstprinciplesofarithmetic.
Themillionworkersinthenation’swheatfieldshaveworkedahundreddayseach,andthetotalproductofthelaborisabillionbushels,sothevalueofabushelofwheatisthetenthpartofafarmlabor-day.
Ifweemployanarbitrarysymbol,andpay,say,fivedollarsadayforfarmwork,thenthecostofabushelofwheatisfiftycents.”
“Yousay‘forfarmwork,’”saidMr.Maynard.“Thenlaborisnottobepaidalike?”
“Manifestlynot,sincesomeworkiseasyandsomehard,andweshouldhavemillionsofruralmailcarriers,andnocoalminers.
Ofcoursethewagesmaybeleftthesame,andthehoursvaried;oneortheotherwillhavetobevariedcontinually,accordingasagreaterorlessnumberofworkersisneededinanyparticularindustry.
Thatispreciselywhatisdoneatpresent,exceptthatthetransferoftheworkersisaccomplishedblindlyandimperfectly,byrumorsandadvertisements,insteadofinstantlyandcompletely,byauniversalgovernmentbulletin.”
“Howaboutthoseoccupationsinwhichtimeisdifficulttocalculate?Whatisthelaborcostofabook?”
“Obviouslyitisthelaborcostofthepaper,printing,andbindingofit—aboutafifthofitspresentcost.”
“Andtheauthor?”
“Ihavealreadysaidthatthestatecouldnotcontrolintellectualproduction.
Thestatemightsaythatithadtakenayeartowritethebook,andtheauthormightsayithadtakenthirty.
Goethesaidthateverybonmotofhishadcostapurseofgold.
WhatIoutlinehereisanational,orratherinternational,systemfortheprovidingofthematerialneedsofmen.
Sinceamanhasintellectualneedsalso,hewillworklonger,earnmore,andprovideforthemtohisowntasteandinhisownway.
Iliveonthesameearthasthemajority,Iwearthesamekindofshoesandsleepinthesamekindofbed;butIdonotthinkthesamekindofthoughts,andIdonotwishtopayforsuchthinkersasthemajorityselects.
Iwishsuchthingstobelefttofreeeffort,asatpresent.
Ifpeoplewanttolistentoacertainpreacher,theygettogetherandcontributewhattheyplease,andpayforachurchandsupportthepreacher,andthenlistentohim;I,whodonotwanttolistentohim,stayaway,anditcostsmenothing.
InthesamewaytherearemagazinesaboutEgyptiancoins,andCatholicsaints,andflyingmachines,andathleticrecords,andIknownothingaboutanyofthem.
Ontheotherhand,ifwageslaverywereabolished,andIcouldearnsomesparemoneywithoutpayingtributetoanexploitingcapitalist,thentherewouldbeamagazineforthepurposeofinterpretingandpopularizingthegospelofFriedrichNietzsche,theprophetofEvolution,andalsoofHoraceFletcher,theinventorofthenoblescienceofcleaneating;andincidentally,perhaps,forthediscouragingoflongskirts,andthescientificbreedingofmenandwomen,andtheestablishingofdivorcebymutualconsent.”
Dr.Schliemannpausedforamoment.“Thatwasalecture,”hesaidwithalaugh,“andyetIamonlybegun!”
“Whatelseisthere?”askedMaynard.
“Ihavepointedoutsomeofthenegativewastesofcompetition,”answeredtheother.
“Ihavehardlymentionedthepositiveeconomiesofco-operation.
Allowingfivetoafamily,therearefifteenmillionfamiliesinthiscountry;andatleasttenmillionoftheseliveseparately,thedomesticdrudgebeingeitherthewifeorawageslave.
Nowsetasidethemodernsystemofpneumatichouse-cleaning,andtheeconomiesofco-operativecooking;andconsideronesingleitem,thewashingofdishes.
Surelyitismoderatetosaythatthedishwashingforafamilyoffivetakeshalfanhouraday;withtenhoursasaday’swork,ittakes,therefore,halfamillionable-bodiedpersons—mostlywomentodothedishwashingofthecountry.
Andnotethatthisismostfilthyanddeadeningandbrutalizingwork;thatitisacauseofanemia,nervousness,ugliness,andill-temper;ofprostitution,suicide,andinsanity;ofdrunkenhusbandsanddegeneratechildren—forallofwhichthingsthecommunityhasnaturallytopay.
Andnowconsiderthatineachofmylittlefreecommunitiestherewouldbeamachinewhichwouldwashanddrythedishes,anddoit,notmerelytotheeyeandthetouch,butscientifically—sterilizingthem—anddoitatasavingofallthedrudgeryandnine-tenthsofthetime!
AllofthesethingsyoumayfindinthebooksofMrs.Gilman;andthentakeKropotkin’sFields,Factories,andWorkshops,andreadaboutthenewscienceofagriculture,whichhasbeenbuiltupinthelasttenyears;bywhich,withmadesoilsandintensiveculture,agardenercanraisetenortwelvecropsinaseason,andtwohundredtonsofvegetablesuponasingleacre;bywhichthepopulationofthewholeglobecouldbesupportedonthesoilnowcultivatedintheUnitedStatesalone!
Itisimpossibletoapplysuchmethodsnow,owingtotheignoranceandpovertyofourscatteredfarmingpopulation;butimaginetheproblemofprovidingthefoodsupplyofournationoncetakeninhandsystematicallyandrationally,byscientists!
Allthepoorandrockylandsetapartforanationaltimberreserve,inwhichourchildrenplay,andouryoungmenhunt,andourpoetsdwell!
Themostfavorableclimateandsoilforeachproductselected;theexactrequirementsofthecommunityknown,andtheacreagefiguredaccordingly;themostimprovedmachineryemployed,underthedirectionofexpertagriculturalchemists!
Iwasbroughtuponafarm,andIknowtheawfuldeadlinessoffarmwork;andIliketopictureitallasitwillbeaftertherevolution.
Topicturethegreatpotato-plantingmachine,drawnbyfourhorses,oranelectricmotor,ploughingthefurrow,cuttinganddroppingandcoveringthepotatoes,andplantingascoreofacresaday!
Topicturethegreatpotato-diggingmachine,runbyelectricity,perhaps,andmovingacrossathousand-acrefield,scoopingupearthandpotatoes,anddroppingthelatterintosacks!
Toeveryotherkindofvegetableandfruithandledinthesameway—applesandorangespickedbymachinery,cowsmilkedbyelectricity—thingswhicharealreadydone,asyoumayknow.
Topicturetheharvestfieldsofthefuture,towhichmillionsofhappymenandwomencomeforasummerholiday,broughtbyspecialtrains,theexactlyneedfulnumbertoeachplace!
Andtocontrastallthiswithourpresentagonizingsystemofindependentsmallfarming,—astunted,haggard,ignorantman,matedwithayellow,lean,andsad-eyeddrudge,andtoilingfromfouro’clockinthemorninguntilnineatnight,workingthechildrenassoonastheyareabletowalk,scratchingthesoilwithitsprimitivetools,andshutoutfromallknowledgeandhope,fromalltheirbenefitsofscienceandinvention,andallthejoysofthespirit—heldtoabareexistencebycompetitioninlabor,andboastingofhisfreedombecauseheistooblindtoseehischains!”
Dr.Schliemannpausedamoment.“Andthen,”hecontinued,“placebesidethisfactofanunlimitedfoodsupply,thenewestdiscoveryofphysiologists,thatmostoftheillsofthehumansystemareduetooverfeeding!
Andthenagain,ithasbeenproventhatmeatisunnecessaryasafood;andmeatisobviouslymoredifficulttoproducethanvegetablefood,lesspleasanttoprepareandhandle,andmorelikelytobeunclean.
Butwhatofthat,solongasitticklesthepalatemorestrongly?”
“HowwouldSocialismchangethat?”askedthegirl-student,quickly.Itwasthefirsttimeshehadspoken.
“Solongaswehavewageslavery,”answeredSchliemann,“itmattersnotintheleasthowdebasingandrepulsiveataskmaybe,itiseasytofindpeopletoperformit.
Butjustassoonaslaborissetfree,thenthepriceofsuchworkwillbegintorise.
Soonebyonetheold,dingy,andunsanitaryfactorieswillcomedown—itwillbecheapertobuildnew;andsothesteamshipswillbeprovidedwithstokingmachinery,andsothedangeroustradeswillbemadesafe,orsubstituteswillbefoundfortheirproducts.
Inexactlythesameway,asthecitizensofourIndustrialRepublicbecomerefined,yearbyyearthecostofslaughterhouseproductswillincrease;untileventuallythosewhowanttoeatmeatwillhavetodotheirownkilling—andhowlongdoyouthinkthecustomwouldsurvivethen?
—Togoontoanotheritem—oneofthenecessaryaccompanimentsofcapitalisminademocracyispoliticalcorruption;andoneoftheconsequencesofcivicadministrationbyignorantandviciouspoliticians,isthatpreventablediseaseskilloffhalfourpopulation.
Andevenifsciencewereallowedtotry,itcoulddolittle,becausethemajorityofhumanbeingsarenotyethumanbeingsatall,butsimplymachinesforthecreatingofwealthforothers.
Theyarepennedupinfilthyhousesandlefttorotandstewinmisery,andtheconditionsoftheirlifemakethemillfasterthanallthedoctorsintheworldcouldhealthem;andso,ofcourse,theyremainascentersofcontagion,poisoningthelivesofallofus,andmakinghappinessimpossibleforeventhemostselfish.
ForthisreasonIwouldseriouslymaintainthatallthemedicalandsurgicaldiscoveriesthatsciencecanmakeinthefuturewillbeoflessimportancethantheapplicationoftheknowledgewealreadypossess,whenthedisinheritedoftheearthhaveestablishedtheirrighttoahumanexistence.”
AndheretheHerrDoctorrelapsedintosilenceagain.
Jurgishadnoticedthatthebeautifulyounggirlwhosatbythecenter-tablewaslisteningwithsomethingofthesamelookthathehimselfhadworn,thetimewhenhehadfirstdiscoveredSocialism.
Jurgiswouldhavelikedtotalktoher,hefeltsurethatshewouldhaveunderstoodhim.
Lateronintheevening,whenthegroupbrokeup,heheardMrs.Fishersaytoher,inalowvoice,“IwonderifMr.MaynardwillstillwritethesamethingsaboutSocialism”;towhichsheanswered,“Idon’tknow—butifhedoesweshallknowthatheisaknave!”
Andonlyafewhoursafterthiscameelectionday—whenthelongcampaignwasover,andthewholecountryseemedtostandstillandholditsbreath,awaitingtheissue.
JurgisandtherestofthestaffofHinds’sHotelcouldhardlystoptofinishtheirdinner,beforetheyhurriedofftothebighallwhichthepartyhadhiredforthatevening.
Butalreadytherewerepeoplewaiting,andalreadythetelegraphinstrumentonthestagehadbegunclickingoffthereturns.
Whenthefinalaccountsweremadeup,theSocialistvoteprovedtobeoverfourhundredthousand—anincreaseofsomethinglikethreehundredandfiftypercentinfouryears.
Andthatwasdoingwell;butthepartywasdependentforitsearlyreturnsuponmessagesfromthelocals,andnaturallythoselocalswhichhadbeenmostsuccessfulweretheoneswhichfeltmostlikereporting;andsothatnighteveryoneinthehallbelievedthatthevotewasgoingtobesix,orseven,oreveneighthundredthousand.
JustsuchanincredibleincreasehadactuallybeenmadeinChicago,andinthestate;thevoteofthecityhadbeen6,700in1900,andnowitwas47,000;thatofIllinoishadbeen9,600,andnowitwas69,000!
So,astheeveningwaxed,andthecrowdpiledin,themeetingwasasighttobeseen.
Bulletinswouldberead,andthepeoplewouldshoutthemselveshoarse—andthensomeonewouldmakeaspeech,andtherewouldbemoreshouting;andthenabriefsilence,andmorebulletins.
Therewouldcomemessagesfromthesecretariesofneighboringstates,reportingtheirachievements;thevoteofIndianahadgonefrom2,300to12,000,ofWisconsinfrom7,000to28,000;ofOhiofrom4,800to36,000!
Thereweretelegramstothenationalofficefromenthusiasticindividualsinlittletownswhichhadmadeamazingandunprecedentedincreasesinasingleyear:Benedict,Kansas,from26to260;Henderson,Kentucky,from19to111;Holland,Michigan,from14to208;Cleo,Oklahoma,from0to104;Martin’sFerry,Ohio,from0to296—andmanymoreofthesamekind.
Therewereliterallyhundredsofsuchtowns;therewouldbereportsfromhalfadozenoftheminasinglebatchoftelegrams.
Andthemenwhoreadthedespatchesofftotheaudiencewereoldcampaigners,whohadbeentotheplacesandhelpedtomakethevote,andcouldmakeappropriatecomments:Quincy,Illinois,from189to831—thatwaswherethemayorhadarrestedaSocialistspeaker!
CrawfordCounty,Kansas,from285to1,975;thatwasthehomeofthe“AppealtoReason”!
BattleCreek,Michigan,from4,261to10,184;thatwastheansweroflabortotheCitizens’AllianceMovement!
Andthentherewereofficialreturnsfromthevariousprecinctsandwardsofthecityitself!
Whetheritwasafactorydistrictoroneofthe“silk-stocking”wardsseemedtomakenoparticulardifferenceintheincrease;butoneofthethingswhichsurprisedthepartyleadersmostwasthetremendousvotethatcamerollinginfromthestockyards.
Packingtowncomprisedthreewardsofthecity,andthevoteinthespringof1903hadbeen500,andinthefallofthesameyear,1,600.
Now,onlyoneyearlater,itwasover6,300—andtheDemocraticvoteonly8,800!
TherewereotherwardsinwhichtheDemocraticvotehadbeenactuallysurpassed,andintwodistricts,membersofthestatelegislaturehadbeenelected.
ThusChicagonowledthecountry;ithadsetanewstandardfortheparty,ithadshowntheworkingmentheway!
—Sospokeanoratorupontheplatform;andtwothousandpairsofeyeswerefixeduponhim,andtwothousandvoiceswerecheeringhiseverysentence.
Theoratorhadbeentheheadofthecity’sreliefbureauinthestockyards,untilthesightofmiseryandcorruptionhadmadehimsick.
Hewasyoung,hungry-looking,fulloffire;andasheswunghislongarmsandbeatupthecrowd,toJurgisheseemedtheveryspiritoftherevolution.“Organize!Organize!Organize!”—thatwashiscry.
Hewasafraidofthistremendousvote,whichhispartyhadnotexpected,andwhichithadnotearned.“ThesemenarenotSocialists!”hecried.
“Thiselectionwillpass,andtheexcitementwilldie,andpeoplewillforgetaboutit;andifyouforgetaboutit,too,ifyousinkbackandrestuponyouroars,weshalllosethisvotethatwehavepolledto-day,andourenemieswilllaughustoscorn!
Itrestswithyoutotakeyourresolution—now,intheflushofvictory,tofindthesemenwhohavevotedforus,andbringthemtoourmeetings,andorganizethemandbindthemtous!
Weshallnotfindallourcampaignsaseasyasthisone.
Everywhereinthecountrytonighttheoldpartypoliticiansarestudyingthisvote,andsettingtheirsailsbyit;andnowherewilltheybequickerormorecunningthanhereinourowncity.
FiftythousandSocialistvotesinChicagomeansamunicipal-ownershipDemocracyinthespring!
Andthentheywillfoolthevotersoncemore,andallthepowersofplunderandcorruptionwillbesweptintoofficeagain!
Butwhatevertheymaydowhentheygetin,thereisonethingtheywillnotdo,andthatwillbethethingforwhichtheywereelected!
Theywillnotgivethepeopleofourcitymunicipalownership—theywillnotmeantodoit,theywillnottrytodoit;allthattheywilldoisgiveourpartyinChicagothegreatestopportunitythathasevercometoSocialisminAmerica!
Weshallhavetheshamreformersself-stultifiedandself-convicted;weshallhavetheradicalDemocracyleftwithoutaliewithwhichtocoveritsnakedness!
Andthenwillbegintherushthatwillneverbechecked,thetidethatwillneverturntillithasreacheditsflood—thatwillbeirresistible,overwhelming—therallyingoftheoutragedworkingmenofChicagotoourstandard!
Andweshallorganizethem,weshalldrillthem,weshallmarshalthemforthevictory!
Weshallbeardowntheopposition,weshallsweepifbeforeus—andChicagowillbeours!Chicagowillbeours!CHICAGOWILLBEOURS!”
THEEND.
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