按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 70…
War of the Classes
WANTED： A NEW LAW OF
DEVELOPMENT
Evolution is no longer a mere tentative hypothesis。 One by one； step
by step； each division and subdivision of science has contributed its
evidence； until now the case is complete and the verdict rendered。 While
there is still discussion as to the method of evolution； none the less； as a
process sufficient to explain all biological phenomena； all differentiations
of life into widely diverse species； families； and even kingdoms； evolution
is flatly accepted。 Likewise has been accepted its law of development：
THAT； IN THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE； THE STRONG AND
FIT AND THE PROGENY OF THE STRONG AND FIT HAVE A
BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR SURVIVAL THAN THE WEAK AND
LESS FIT AND THE PROGENY OF THE WEAK AND LESS FIT。
It is in the struggle of the species with other species and against all
other hostile forces in the environment； that this law operates； also in the
struggle between the individuals of the same species。 In this struggle；
which is for food and shelter； the weak individuals must obviously win
less food and shelter than the strong。 Because of this； their hold on life
relaxes and they are eliminated。 And for the same reason that they may not
win for themselves adequate food and shelter； the weak cannot give to
their progeny the chance for survival that the strong give。 And thus； since
the weak are prone to beget weakness； the species is constantly purged of
its inefficient members。
Because of this； a premium is placed upon strength； and so long as the
struggle for food and shelter obtains； just so long will the average strength
of each generation increase。 On the other hand； should conditions so
change that all； and the progeny of all； the weak as well as the strong； have
an equal chance for survival； then； at once； the average strength of each
generation will begin to diminish。 Never yet； however； in animal life； has
there been such a state of affairs。 Natural selection has always obtained。
The strong and their progeny； at the expense of the weak； have always
70
… Page 71…
War of the Classes
survived。 This law of development has operated down all the past upon all
life； it so operates today； and it is not rash to say that it will continue to
operate in the futureat least upon all life existing in a state of nature。
Man； preeminent though he is in the animal kingdom； capable of
reacting upon and making suitable an unsuitable environment；
nevertheless remains the creature of this same law of development。 The
social selection to which he is subject is merely another form of natural
selection。 True； within certain narrow limits he modifies the struggle for
existence and renders less precarious the tenure of life for the weak。 The
extremely weak； diseased； and inefficient are housed in hospitals and
asylums。 The strength of the viciously strong； when inimical to society； is
tempered by penal institutions and by the gallows。 The short…sighted are
provided with spectacles； and the sickly （when they can pay for it） with
sanitariums。 Pestilential marshes are drained； plagues are checked； and
disasters averted。 Yet； for all that； the strong and the progeny of the strong
survive； and the weak are crushed out。 The men strong of brain are masters
as of yore。 They dominate society and gather to themselves the wealth of
society。 With this wealth they maintain themselves and equip their
progeny for the struggle。 They build their homes in healthful places；
purchase the best fruits； meats； and vegetables the market affords； and buy
themselves the ministrations of the most brilliant and learned of the
professional classes。 The weak man； as of yore； is the servant； the doer of
things at the master's call。 The weaker and less efficient he is； the poorer is
his reward。 The weakest work for a living wage； （when they can get work）；
live in unsanitary slums； on vile and insufficient food； at the lowest depths
of human degradation。 Their grasp on life is indeed precarious； their
mortality excessive； their infant death…rate appalling。
That some should be born to preferment and others to ignominy in
order that the race may progress； is cruel and sad； but none the less they
are so born。 The weeding out of human souls； some for fatness and smiles；
some for leanness and tears； is surely a heartless selective processas
heartless as it is natural。 And the human family； for all its wonderful
record of adventure and achievement； has not yet succeeded in avoiding
this process。 That it is incapable of doing this is not to be hazarded。 Not
71
… Page 72…
War of the Classes
only is it capable； but the whole trend of society is in that direction。 All the
social forces are driving man on to a time when the old selective law will
be annulled。 There is no escaping it； save by the intervention of
catastrophes and cataclysms quite unthinkable。 It is inexorable。 It is
inexorable because the common man demands it。 The twentieth century；
the common man says； is his day； the common man's day； or； rather； the
dawning of the common man's day。
Nor can it be denied。 The evidence is with him。 The previous centuries；
and more notably the nineteenth； have marked the rise of the common man。
From chattel slavery to serfdom； and from serfdom to what he bitterly
terms 〃wage slavery；〃 he has risen。 Never was he so strong as he is today；
and never so menacing。 He does the work of the world； and he is
beginning to know it。 The world cannot get along without him； and this
also he is beginning to know。 All the human knowledge of the past； all the
scientific discovery； governmental experiment； and invention of
machinery； have tended to his advancement。 His standard of living is
higher。 His common school education would shame princes ten centuries
past。 His civil and religious liberty makes him a free man； and his ballot
the peer of his betters。 And all this has tended to make him conscious；
conscious of himself； conscious of his class。 He looks about him and
questions that ancient law of development。 It is cruel and wrong； he is
beginning to declare。 It is an anachronism。 Let it be abolished。 Why
should there be one empty belly in all the world； when the work of ten
men can feed a hundred？ What if my brother be not so strong as I？ He has
not sinned。 Wherefore should he hunger… …he and his sinless little ones？
Away with the old law。 There is food and shelter for all； therefore let all
receive food and shelter。
As fast as labor has become conscious it has organized。 The ambition
of these class…conscious men is that the movement shall become general；
that all labor shall become conscious of itself and its class interests。 And
the day that witnesses the solidarity of labor； they triumphantly affirm；
will be a day when labor dominates the world。 This growing
consciousness has led to the organization of two movements； both separate
and distinct； but both converging toward a common goalone； the labor
72
… Page 73…
War of the Classes
movement； known as Trade Unionism； the other； the political movement；
known as Socialism。 Both are grim and silent forces； unheralded and
virtually unknown to the general public save in moments of stress。 The
sleeping labor giant receives little notice from the capitalistic press； and
when he stirs uneasily； a column of surprise； indignation； and horror
suffices。
It is only now and then； after long periods of silence； that the labor
m