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Title: Notes [Apr, 1890] Author: Freedom Press (London) Date: April, 1890 Language: en Source: Freedom: A Journal of Anarchist Socialism, Vol. 4, No. 41, online source http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=3058, retrieved on April 14, 2020.
The Great Strike
So the coal strike has ended in a victory for the strikers. So will that
bigger strike to come, the strike that will be even more general than
this, the strike that will bear upon its banners," The mines for the
miners." Such pluck and calm resolution and broad social feeling as
these strikers have shown only needs a wider aim to become the finest
sort of revolutionary energy. Just fancy, you comfortable people who
have never gone short of a meal, what it means to be so convinced of the
righteousness of your cause as to risk a strike, when you know you can
expect no help from your Union for three weeks and then less than seven
shillings all told; and yet to be so public-spirited as to be willing to
give up your own chance of higher wages altogether if only the masters
will lower prices for the general consumer and no; merely take advantage
of the good times to fill their own pockets. Fabian comrades, don't you
see some glimmer of a moral solution of the "rent problem" in such a
spirit as this!
The Commune Celebrations.
The meeting at South Place Chapel, 19th March, to commemorate the 19th
anniversary of the Paris Commune, was characterized by an intense
earnestness far more significant than noisy enthusiasm, although that
too was not lacking at due intervals. The resolution that-The struggle
so nobly sustained by the Communards in 1871 should never cease until
Labor bad been freed from class domination-was carried unanimously.
Stirring speeches were made by C. W. Mowbray (in the chair), D. J.
Nicoll, H. H. Sparling, Win. Morrs, Mrs. Marx-Aveling, P. Kropotkine,
and J. Turner. -Morris expressed the opinion that the Socialists' great
opportunity would come through the labor war now being waged, but bade
them remember that we must be prepared to see the workers confronted by
the red coats as our masters would not give up their position at the
blast of a horn. He concluded with the admonition, "Workers of all
countries unite to win your freedom." Feigenbaum, who spoke in German,
reminded his bearers that the special reason the Commune fell was that
there was not harmony within it and that we should not ask a man if he
were Communist, Anarchist, or Socialist, but an enemy or a friend. And
every man that was wronged should be a friend. Kropotkin mocked at the
stupid objections to Communism, and the doubts as to the abilities of
the workers for self-organization. In his opinion every step of progress
has come from the masses of the great unknown and not from the writers
of books. He thanked the London workers for their protest in Hyde Park
against the brutalities of the Russian Government and said that the news
of the demonstration had already created something like a panic in the
Court at St. Petersburg. Space forbids reference to the other equally
interesting speeches.
A meeting which was large and enthusiastic from beginning to end was
held at St. Andrews Hall, Newman Street, Oxford Street, on Monday March
17, under the auspices of the S.D.F., to celebrate the 19th anniversary
of the Paris Commune. Some very vigorous speeches were made, recent
events seeming to have inspired most of the speakers with fresh hope.
The most advanced and revolutionary sentiments were received with the
greatest approval by the audience. Letters and telegrams expressive of
sympathy with the Commune were read. The atrocities of the Russian
Government were denounced amid the execrations of the audience. The
impression of all must have been that the world is at last awakening to
the necessity of a great social change. Our comrade P. Kropotkin was
among the speakers,
"A guilty conscience doth make cowards of us all."
A Russian exile had a parcel of English books sent to him, among them
Shakespeare, which was detained by the Governor. Mr. ----- called at the
Governor's office to ask why. This book, he explained to the great man's
secretary, contains the works of a world-famous poet who died nearly
three centuries ago; it is hardly possible that it should be considered
a serious danger to his Majesty's Government. I am well aware of it,
replied the secretary, but his Excellency knows nothing of English
literature and the title of this book appears to him dangerously
suggestive; Shakespeare sounds much like con-spire-conspiracy. Oh, said
Mr. ------ gravely, tell his Excellency that "Shaks" is English for
"Against"; it is a work directed against conspiracy I Ten minutes later
his Shakespeare was sent to him. We have the story from Mr. ------
himself.