Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/69

 as the nature of things has this tendency already. Yet there is plenty of room for wholesome revolutionary agitation and action, among which we consider as very important the organization of the workmen, and of all who have the same class interest as the workmen, in order to enable them to resist at least somewhat any further economic degradation. We also believe that all phases and occurrences of public life should be utilized for the purpose of preparing the way for the great change to come. I mean, that whenever opportunity offers we should introduce measures of relief like the reduction of the hours of labor, the prohibition of child-labor, the organization of bureaus of labor statistics, the payment of equal wages for men and women, if the task and the quality of the labor be equal, etc. etc. For the purpose of accomplishing our aims and objects we recommend all expedient means that may be in the reach of those who are suffering from the effects of the evil system of these days. We make use of the legal institutions of the country we live in; we take part in elections whenever we think best to do so; we agitate in public and in private by the means of meetings, by publishing newspapers and tracts, and whomsoever we come in contact with we try to convince that we are teaching what is true and rational. And those whom we have convinced see it clearly before them that a lasting improvement of their condition can only be brought about by the total destruction of the present social system. A man who has once become a Socialist knows but one more object in life: To devote himself to the noble work of liberating the laboring people; and then comes the second part of the duty of Socialists: To show to those whom they have converted by what the old system which they endeavor to destroy, is to be replaced? They soon understand what we want—better than all the learned gentlemen who profess to possess the secret of solving the great social question. They see that our propositions are sensible and practical. To enlighten the workmen in this respect is as necessary as to make them act in common with us, in order to avoid that after the last battle of the revolution chaos should prevail; to enable them to assist in rebuilding society according to a real and rational social order, and to make any reaction in favor of the old system an im-