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Title: Legal Means Author: Freedom Press (London) Date: October, 1887 Language: en Source: Freedom: A Journal of Anarchist Socialism, Vol. 2, No. 13, online source http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=3034, retrieved on April 12, 2020.
Mr. Champion--whose lecture in Regent's Park on September 3rd, was
delivered in a tone of conviction and earnestness which must have
impressed 0a very large audience--said there were two legal means fitted
to advance Socialism in this country--namely, boycotting and the ballot.
For boycotting he instanced a combination of London workmen to atop
payment of rents. The idea is good as far as it goes, but is it
practicable' Mr. Champion did not trouble to show this,, nor do I wish
to prove the contrary. At the same time I much doubt whether the boycott
can be considered as legal, or if it can be sustained by other than
illegal means. At any rate its presumed legality may be lost at a
moment's notice; and this shows the extreme incongruity of ruling our
action by the plane of our enemy.
About the ballot Mr. Champion was more effusive. But he put forward no
illustration of the usefulness of the ballot to Socialism (the remark
that had the Socialists had a voice in Mr. Matthews' constituency Pole
would have been released, being beside the purpose, as,, even admitting
the supposition, no inference can be drawn from the treatment of a
personal case to larger matters), but actually produced evidence
contradictory to his assertion ! Did he not, in fact, affirm that Irish
and Welsh people only succeeded in drawing official attention to their
respective sufferings by riot after riot? Is not the moral of one
historical demonstration of the unemployed in Trafalgar Square known?
After ate., what will Irishmen get through their 85 representatives at
Westminster more than a sham political liberty? how, then, can it be
hoped that the English people will by the same means obtain deliverance
from the hands both of landlords and capitalists? Can we hope to return
more than 300 incorruptible people to Parliament meet, and what could
they do there against the constitution and the laws of tee country, the
influence of the court, the influence of wealth, and the stubborn
resistance of judges, military, bureaucrats and plutocrats to any
encroachment on their vested privileges? Mr. Champion hinted that after
all the phrase "legal means" could be only a make-believe. But " they
will Dot believe it if you don't do it," one could answer. As for me, I
think that, without calling the people to very extraordinary action,
there is great necessity to lay before their eyes the whole helplessness
and gravity of the situation and tell them to prepare. Especially in
this country, we want to throw off the "legality" bias; and the sooner
the better.
-F. S. M.