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War of the Classes
War of the Classes
Jack London
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War of the Classes
PREFACE
When I was a youngster I was looked upon as a weird sort of creature；
because； forsooth； I was a socialist。 Reporters from local papers
interviewed me； and the interviews； when published； were pathological
studies of a strange and abnormal specimen of man。 At that time （nine or
ten years ago）； because I made a stand in my native town for municipal
ownership of public utilities； I was branded a 〃red…shirt；〃 a 〃dynamiter；〃
and an 〃anarchist〃； and really decent fellows； who liked me very well；
drew the line at my appearing in public with their sisters。
But the times changed。 There came a day when I heard； in my native
town； a Republican mayor publicly proclaim that 〃municipal ownership
was a fixed American policy。〃 And in that day I found myself picking up
in the world。 No longer did the pathologist study me； while the really
decent fellows did not mind in the least the propinquity of myself and their
sisters in the public eye。 My political and sociological ideas were ascribed
to the vagaries of youth； and good…natured elderly men patronized me and
told me that I would grow up some day and become an unusually
intelligent member of the community。 Also they told me that my views
were biassed by my empty pockets； and that some day； when I had
gathered to me a few dollars； my views would be wholly different；in
short； that my views would be their views。
And then came the day when my socialism grew respectable；still a
vagary of youth； it was held； but romantically respectable。 Romance； to
the bourgeois mind； was respectable because it was not dangerous。 As a
〃red…shirt；〃 with bombs in all his pockets； I was dangerous。 As a youth
with nothing more menacing than a few philosophical ideas； Germanic in
their origin； I was an interesting and pleasing personality。
Through all this experience I noted one thing。 It was not I that changed；
but the community。 In fact； my socialistic views grew solider and more
pronounced。 I repeat； it was the community that changed； and to my
chagrin I discovered that the community changed to such purpose that it
was not above stealing my thunder。 The community branded me a 〃red…
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shirt〃 because I stood for municipal ownership； a little later it applauded
its mayor when he proclaimed municipal ownership to be a fixed
American policy。 He stole my thunder； and the community applauded the
theft。 And today the community is able to come around and give me points
on municipal ownership。
What happened to me has been in no wise different from what has
happened to the socialist movement as a whole in the United States。 In the
bourgeois mind socialism has changed from a terrible disease to a youthful
vagary； and later on had its thunder stolen by the two old parties；
socialism； like a meek and thrifty workingman； being exploited became
respectable。
Only dangerous things are abhorrent。 The thing that is not dangerous is
always respectable。 And so with socialism in the United States。 For several
years it has been very respectable；a sweet and beautiful Utopian dream；
in the bourgeois mind； yet a dream； only a dream。 During this period；
which has just ended； socialism was tolerated because it was impossible
and non…menacing。 Much of its thunder had been stolen； and the
workingmen had been made happy with full dinner…pails。 There was
nothing to fear。 The kind old world spun on； coupons were clipped； and
larger profits than ever were extracted from the toilers。 Coupon…clipping
and profit…extracting would continue to the end of time。 These were
functions divine in origin and held by divine right。 The newspapers； the
preachers； and the college presidents said so； and what they say； of course；
is soto the bourgeois mind。
Then came the presidential election of 1904。 Like a bolt out of a clear
sky was the socialist vote of 435；000；an increase of nearly 400 per cent
in four years； the largest third…party vote； with one exception； since the
Civil War。 Socialism had shown that it was a very live and growing
revolutionary force； and all its old menace revived。 I am afraid that neither
it nor I are any longer respectable。 The capitalist press of the country
confirms me in my opinion； and herewith I give a few post…election
utterances of the capitalist press：…
〃The Democratic party of the constitution is dead。 The Social…
Democratic party of continental Europe； preaching discontent and class
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hatred； assailing law； property； and personal rights； and insinuating
confiscation and plunder； is here。〃Chicago Chronicle。
〃That over forty thousand votes should have been cast in this city to
make such a person as Eugene V。 Debs the President of the United States
is about the worst kind of advertising that Chicago could receive。〃
Chicago Inter…Ocean。
〃We cannot blink the fact that socialism is making rapid growth in this
country； where； of all others； there would seem to be less inspiration for
it。〃Brooklyn Daily Eagle。
〃Upon the hands of the Republican party an awful responsibility was
placed last Tuesday。 。 。 It knows that reformsgreat； far…sweeping reforms…
…are necessary； and it has the power to make them。 God help our
civilization if it does not！ 。 。 。 It must repress the trusts or stand before the
world responsible for our system of government being changed into a
social republic。 The arbitrary cutting down of wages must cease； or
socialism will seize another lever to lift itself into power。〃The Chicago
New World。
〃Scarcely any phase of the election is more sinisterly interesting than
the increase in the socialist vote。 Before election we said that we could not
afford to give aid and comfort to the socialists in any manner。 。 。 It
（socialism） must be fought in all its phases； in its every manifestation。〃
San Francisco Argonaut。
And far be it from me to deny that socialism is a menace。 It is its
purpose to wipe out； root and branch； all capitalistic institutions of
present…day society。 It is distinctly revolutionary； and in scope and depth is
vastly more tremendous than any revolution that has ever occurred in the
history of the world。 It presents a new spectacle to the astonished world；
that of an ORGANIZED； INTERNATIONAL； REVOLUTIONARY
MOVEMENT。 In the bourgeois mind a class struggle is a terrible and
hateful thing； and yet that is precisely what socialism is；a world…wide
class struggle between the propertyless workers and the propertied masters
of workers。 It is the prime preachment of socialism that the struggle is a
class struggle。 The working class； in the process of social evolution； （in
the very nature of things）； is bound to revolt from the sway of the
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War of the Classes
capitalist class and to overthrow the capitalist class。 This is the menace of
socialism； and in affirming it and in tallying myself an adherent of it； I
accept my own consequent unrespectability。
As yet； to the average bourgeois mind； socialism is merely a menace；
vague and formless。 The average member of the capitalist class； when he
discusses socialism； is condemned an ignoramus out of his own mouth。 He
does not know the literature of socialism； its philosophy； nor its politics。
He wags his head sagely and rat