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Title: Good Advice Author: Jules Méline Date: November 21, 1907 Language: en Topics: insurrectionary anarchy Source: Retrieved on 24th September 2020 from https://www.marxists.org/subject/anarchism/meline/good-advice.htm Notes: Originally published in l’anarchie no. 137. Translated by Mitchell Abidor.
A strident siren’s call, followed by an almost imperceptible rumbling
that didn’t take long to become clear made me turn my head, and in a
plume of dust I made out a “sixty horsepower” hurrying by at a fantastic
speed, a modern monster given birth to by man’s imagination.
I instinctively stepped aside and put myself under the protection of a
giant poplar. I thought of the ever-increasing danger of death to which
we are exposed.
Wasn’t “voluntary” interment in disgusting hovels and unhealthy
workshops enough? Wasn’t the slow death that is barely delayed by an
insufficient salary of the exploited whose body and soul belongs to he
who pays and commands that an insufficient salary barely manages to put
off enough? Wasn’t it enough for the raggedy vagabond to die of hunger
and cold? Wasn’t all this enough without progress itself, which should
be a source of happiness for all, adding one more danger to our very
lives?
Once joys were relatively evenly shared, and if the rich savored
sumptuous repasts, the hobo, in compensation, was able to enjoy nature
by peacefully strolling along the road. His empty purse served as his
guarantee, while the overflowing moneybags of the well-dressed monsieur
enflamed the envies of the poor. There was thus a danger for the haves
in strolling along the highways, and this was after all quite logical.
At present the roles have been changed and the bearded brigand has
metamorphosed into an elegant chauffeur, the automobile has substituted
itself for the dagger and the fur-clad victim has been replaced by the
beggar with his bowl.
Carters, bicyclists and pedestrians only go onto the highways with
trepidation, the devastating automobile having proved itself, as is
related every day in the newspapers.
What measures will the wretched take in the face of such a danger? They
no longer want to be the victims of these brutes who have no concern for
the lives of others and who, in order to satisfy their bestial passion,
don’t hesitate to spread horror and misfortune among those who are less
fortunate.
It appears that an investigating judge advised a journalist to not
hesitate in shooting down any apache who would attack him.
Automobilism, developing in an extraordinary fashion, has become a
permanent death threat for those who are forced to use pedestrian and
equestrian means of locomotion.
The automobilist is thus no more or less dangerous that the apache.
The judge’s advice is good; can we follow it?