Inthemeantime,thesocialistsheldfirm。WhiletheGrangersexpiredinflameandblood,andorganizedlaborwasdisrupted,thesocialistsheldtheirpeaceandperfectedtheirsecretorganization。
InvaintheGrangerspleadedwithus。WerightlycontendedthatanyrevoltonourpartwasvirtuallysuicideforthewholeRevolution。TheIronHeel,atfirstdubiousaboutdealingwiththeentireproletariatatonetime,hadfoundtheworkeasierthanithadexpected,andwouldhaveaskednothingbetterthananuprisingonourpart。Butweavoidedtheissue,inspiteofthefactthatagents—provocateursswarmedinourmidst。Inthoseearlydays,theagentsoftheIronHeelwereclumsyintheirmethods。TheyhadmuchtolearnandinthemeantimeourFightingGroupsweededthemout。Itwasbitter,bloodywork,butwewerefightingforlifeandfortheRevolution,andwehadtofighttheenemywithitsownweapons。Yetwewerefair。NoagentoftheIronHeelwasexecutedwithoutatrial。
Wemayhavemademistakes,butifso,veryrarely。Thebravest,andthemostcombativeandself—sacrificingofourcomradeswentintotheFightingGroups。Once,aftertenyearshadpassed,ErnestmadeacalculationfromfiguresfurnishedbythechiefsoftheFightingGroups,andhisconclusionwasthattheaveragelifeofamanorwomanafterbecomingamemberwasfiveyears。ThecomradesoftheFightingGroupswereheroesall,andthepeculiarthingaboutitwasthattheywereopposedtothetakingoflife。Theyviolatedtheirownnatures,yettheylovedlibertyandknewofnosacrificetoogreattomakefortheCause。*
*TheseFightinggroupsweremodelledsomewhataftertheFightingOrganizationoftheRussianRevolution,and,despitetheunceasingeffortsoftheIronHeel,thesegroupspersistedthroughoutthethreecenturiesofitsexistence。Composedofmenandwomenactuatedbyloftypurposeandunafraidtodie,theFightingGroupsexercisedtremendousinfluenceandtemperedthesavagebrutalityoftherulers。NotalonewastheirworkconfinedtounseenwarfarewiththesecretagentsoftheOligarchy。TheoligarchsthemselveswerecompelledtolistentothedecreesoftheGroups,andoften,whentheydisobeyed,werepunishedbydeath—andlikewisewiththesubordinatesoftheoligarchs,withtheofficersofthearmyandtheleadersofthelaborcastes。
Sternjusticewasmetedoutbytheseorganizedavengers,butmostremarkablewastheirpassionlessandjudicialprocedure。Therewerenosnapjudgments。Whenamanwascapturedhewasgivenfairtrialandopportunityfordefence。Ofnecessity,manymenweretriedandcondemnedbyproxy,asinthecaseofGeneralLampton。Thisoccurredin2138A。D。PossiblythemostbloodthirstyandmalignantofallthemercenariesthateverservedtheIronHeel,hewasinformedbytheFightingGroupsthattheyhadtriedhim,foundhimguilty,andcondemnedhimtodeath—andthis,afterthreewarningsforhimtoceasefromhisferocioustreatmentoftheproletariat。Afterhiscondemnationhesurroundedhimselfwithamyriadprotectivedevices。
Yearspassed,andinvaintheFightingGroupsstrovetoexecutetheirdecree。Comradeaftercomrade,menandwomen,failedintheirattempts,andwerecruellyexecutedbytheOligarchy。ItwasthecaseofGeneralLamptonthatrevivedcrucifixionasalegalmethodofexecution。Butintheendthecondemnedmanfoundhisexecutionerintheformofaslendergirlofseventeen,MadelineProvence,who,toaccomplishherpurpose,servedtwoyearsinhispalaceasaseamstresstothehousehold。Shediedinsolitaryconfinementafterhorribleandprolongedtorture;butto—dayshestandsinimperishablebronzeinthePantheonofBrotherhoodinthewondercityofSerles。
We,whobypersonalexperienceknownothingofbloodshed,mustnotjudgeharshlytheheroesoftheFightingGroups。Theygaveuptheirlivesforhumanity,nosacrificewastoogreatforthemtoaccomplish,whileinexorablenecessitycompelledthemtobloodyexpressioninanageofblood。TheFightingGroupsconstitutedtheonethorninthesideoftheIronHeelthattheIronHeelcouldneverremove。
Everhardwasthefatherofthiscuriousarmy,anditsaccomplishmentsandsuccessfulpersistenceforthreehundredyearsbearwitnesstothewisdomwithwhichheorganizedandthesolidfoundationhelaidforthesucceedinggenerationstobuildupon。Insomerespects,despitehisgreateconomicandsociologicalcontributions,andhisworkasageneralleaderintheRevolution,hisorganizationoftheFightingGroupsmustberegardedashisgreatestachievement。
Thetaskwesetourselveswasthreefold。First,theweedingoutfromourcirclesofthesecretagentsoftheOligarchy。Second,theorganizingoftheFightingGroups,andoutsideofthem,ofthegeneralsecretorganizationoftheRevolution。Andthird,theintroductionofourownsecretagentsintoeverybranchoftheOligarchy—intothelaborcastesandespeciallyamongthetelegraphersandsecretariesandclerks,intothearmy,theagents—provocateurs,andtheslave—drivers。Itwasslowwork,andperilous,andoftenwereoureffortsrewardedwithcostlyfailures。
TheIronHeelhadtriumphedinopenwarfare,butweheldourowninthenewwarfare,strangeandawfulandsubterranean,thatweinstituted。Allwasunseen,muchwasunguessed;theblindfoughttheblind;andyetthroughitallwasorder,purpose,control。WepermeatedtheentireorganizationoftheIronHeelwithouragents,whileourownorganizationwaspermeatedwiththeagentsoftheIronHeel。Itwaswarfaredarkanddevious,repletewithintrigueandconspiracy,plotandcounterplot。Andbehindall,evermenacing,wasdeath,violentandterrible。Menandwomendisappeared,ournearestanddearestcomrades。Wesawthemto—day。To—morrowtheyweregone;weneversawthemagain,andweknewthattheyhaddied。
Therewasnotrust,noconfidenceanywhere。Themanwhoplottedbesideus,forallweknew,mightbeanagentoftheIronHeel。WeminedtheorganizationoftheIronHeelwithoursecretagents,andtheIronHeelcounterminedwithitssecretagentsinsideitsownorganization。Anditwasthesamewithourorganization。Anddespitetheabsenceofconfidenceandtrustwewerecompelledtobaseoureveryeffortonconfidenceandtrust。Oftenwerewebetrayed。Menwereweak。TheIronHeelcouldoffermoney,leisure,thejoysandpleasuresthatwaitedinthereposeofthewondercities。Wecouldoffernothingbutthesatisfactionofbeingfaithfultoanobleideal。Asfortherest,thewagesofthosewhowereloyalwereunceasingperil,torture,anddeath。
Menwereweak,Isay,andbecauseoftheirweaknesswewerecompelledtomaketheonlyotherrewardthatwaswithinourpower。
Itwastherewardofdeath。Outofnecessitywehadtopunishourtraitors。Foreverymanwhobetrayedus,fromonetoadozenfaithfulavengerswerelooseduponhisheels。Wemightfailtocarryoutourdecreesagainstourenemies,suchasthePococks,forinstance;buttheonethingwecouldnotaffordtofailinwasthepunishmentofourowntraitors。Comradesturnedtraitorbypermission,inordertowintothewondercitiesandthereexecuteoursentencesontherealtraitors。Infact,soterribledidwemakeourselves,thatitbecameagreaterperiltobetrayusthantoremainloyaltous。
TheRevolutiontookonlargelythecharacterofreligion。WeworshippedattheshrineoftheRevolution,whichwastheshrineofliberty。Itwasthedivineflashingthroughus。MenandwomendevotedtheirlivestotheCause,andnew—bornbabesweresealedtoitasofoldtheyhadbeensealedtotheserviceofGod。WewereloversofHumanity。
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN。
TheScarletLivery。
WITHTHEDESTRUCTIONOFTHEGrangerstates,theGrangersinCongressdisappeared。Theywerebeingtriedforhightreason,andtheirplacesweretakenbythecreaturesoftheIronHeel。Thesocialistswereinapitifulminority,andtheyknewthattheirendwasnear。
CongressandtheSenatewereemptypretences,farces。Publicquestionsweregravelydebatedandpasseduponaccordingtotheoldforms,whileinrealityallthatwasdonewastogivethestampofconstitutionalproceduretothemandatesoftheOligarchy。
Ernestwasinthethickofthefightwhentheendcame。Itwasinthedebateonthebilltoassisttheunemployed。Thehardtimesoftheprecedingyearhadthrustgreatmassesoftheproletariatbeneaththestarvationline,andthecontinuedandwide—reachingdisorderhadbutsunkthemdeeper。Millionsofpeoplewerestarving,whiletheoligarchsandtheirsupportersweresurfeitingonthesurplus*
Wecalledthesewretchedpeoplethepeopleoftheabyss,*（2）anditwastoalleviatetheirawfulsufferingthatthesocialistshadintroducedtheunemployedbill。ButthiswasnottothefancyoftheIronHeel。Initsownwayitwaspreparingtosetthesemillionstowork,butthewaywasnotourway,whereforeithadissueditsordersthatourbillshouldbevoteddown。Ernestandhisfellowsknewthattheireffortwasfutile,buttheyweretiredofthesuspense。
Theywantedsomethingtohappen。Theywereaccomplishingnothing,andthebesttheyhopedforwastheputtingofanendtothelegislativefarceinwhichtheywereunwillingplayers。Theyknewnotwhatendwouldcome,buttheyneveranticipatedamoredisastrousendthantheonethatdidcome。
*ThesameconditionsobtainedinthenineteenthcenturyA。D。
underBritishruleinIndia。Thenativesdiedofstarvationbythemillion,whiletheirrulersrobbedthemofthefruitsoftheirtoilandexpendeditonmagnificentpageantsandmumbo—jumbofooleries。
Perforce,inthisenlightenedage,wehavemuchtoblushforintheactsofourancestors。Ouronlyconsolationisphilosophic。Wemustacceptthecapitalisticstageinsocialevolutionasaboutonaparwiththeearliermonkeystage。Thehumanhadtopassthroughthosestagesinitsrisefromthemireandslimeofloworganiclife。Itwasinevitablethatmuchofthemireandslimeshouldclingandbenoteasilyshakenoff。
*（2）Thepeopleoftheabyss—thisphrasewasstruckoutbythegeniusofH。G。WellsinthelatenineteenthcenturyA。D。Wellswasasociologicalseer,saneandnormalaswellaswarmhuman。Manyfragmentsofhisworkhavecomedowntous,whiletwoofhisgreatestachievements,\'Anticipations\'and\'MankindintheMaking,\'
havecomedownintact。Beforetheoligarchs,andbeforeEverhard,Wellsspeculateduponthebuildingofthewondercities,thoughinhiswritingstheyarereferredtoas\'pleasurecities。\'
Isatinthegallerythatday。Weallknewthatsomethingterriblewasimminent。Itwasintheair,anditspresencewasmadevisiblebythearmedsoldiersdrawnupinlinesinthecorridors,andbytheofficersgroupedintheentrancestotheHouseitself。TheOligarchywasabouttostrike。Ernestwasspeaking。Hewasdescribingthesufferingsoftheunemployed,asifwiththewildideaofinsomewaytouchingtheirheartsandconsciences;buttheRepublicanandDemocraticmemberssneeredandjeeredathim,andtherewasuproarandconfusion。Ernestabruptlychangedfront。
\'IknownothingthatImaysaycaninfluenceyou,\'hesaid。\'Youhavenosoulstobeinfluenced。Youarespineless,flaccidthings。YoupompouslycallyourselvesRepublicansandDemocrats。ThereisnoRepublicanParty。ThereisnoDemocraticParty。TherearenoRepublicansnorDemocratsinthisHouse。Youarelick—spittlersandpanderers,thecreaturesofthePlutocracy。Youtalkverboselyinantiquatedterminologyofyourloveofliberty,andallthewhileyouwearthescarletliveryoftheIronHeel。\'
Heretheshoutingandthecriesof\'Order！order！\'drownedhisvoice,andhestooddisdainfullytillthedinhadsomewhatsubsided。
Hewavedhishandtoincludeallofthem,turnedtohisowncomrades,andsaid:
\'Listentothebellowingofthewell—fedbeasts。\'
Pandemoniumbrokeoutagain。TheSpeakerrappedfororderandglancedexpectantlyattheofficersinthedoorways。Therewerecriesof\'Sedition！\'andagreat,rotundNewYorkmemberbeganshouting\'Anarchist！\'atErnest。AndErnestwasnotpleasanttolookat。Everyfightingfibreofhimwasquivering,andhisfacewasthefaceofafightinganimal,withalhewascoolandcollected。
\'Remember,\'hesaid,inavoicethatmadeitselfheardabovethedin,\'thatasyoushowmercynowtotheproletariat,somedaywillthatsameproletariatshowmercytoyou。\'
Thecriesof\'Sedition！\'and\'Anarchist！\'redoubled。
\'Iknowthatyouwillnotvoteforthisbill\'Ernestwenton。\'Youhavereceivedthecommandfromyourmasterstovoteagainstit。Andyetyoucallmeanarchist。You,whohavedestroyedthegovernmentofthepeople,andwhoshamelesslyflauntyourscarletshameinpublicplaces,callmeanarchist。Idonotbelieveinhell—fireandbrimstone;butinmomentslikethisIregretmyunbelief。Nay,inmomentslikethisIalmostdobelieve。Surelytheremustbeahell,forinnolessplacecoulditbepossibleforyoutoreceivepunishmentadequatetoyourcrimes。Solongasyouexist,thereisavitalneedforhell—fireintheCosmos。\'
Therewasmovementinthedoorways。Ernest,theSpeaker,allthemembersturnedtosee。
\'Whydoyounotcallyoursoldiersin,Mr。Speaker,andbidthemdotheirwork？\'Ernestdemanded。\'Theyshouldcarryoutyourplanwithexpedition。\'
\'Thereareotherplansafoot,\'wastheretort。\'Thatiswhythesoldiersarepresent。\'
\'Ourplans,Isuppose,\'Ernestsneered。\'Assassinationorsomethingkindred。\'
Butattheword\'assassination\'theuproarbrokeoutagain。Ernestcouldnotmakehimselfheard,butheremainedonhisfeetwaitingforalull。Andthenithappened。FrommyplaceinthegalleryIsawnothingexcepttheflashoftheexplosion。TheroarofitfilledmyearsandIsawErnestreelingandfallinginaswirlofsmoke,andthesoldiersrushingupalltheaisles。Hiscomradeswereontheirfeet,wildwithanger,capableofanyviolence。ButErneststeadiedhimselfforamoment,andwavedhisarmsforsilence。
\'Itisaplot！\'hisvoicerangoutinwarningtohiscomrades。\'Donothing,oryouwillbedestroyed。\'
Thenheslowlysankdown,andthesoldiersreachedhim。ThenextmomentsoldierswereclearingthegalleriesandIsawnomore。
Thoughhewasmyhusband,Iwasnotpermittedtogettohim。WhenIannouncedwhoIwas,Iwaspromptlyplacedunderarrest。AndatthesametimewerearrestedallsocialistCongressmeninWashington,includingtheunfortunateSimpson,wholayillwithtyphoidfeverinhishotel。
Thetrialwaspromptandbrief。Themenwereforedoomed。ThewonderwasthatErnestwasnotexecuted。ThiswasablunderonthepartoftheOligarchy,andacostlyone。ButtheOligarchywastooconfidentinthosedays。Itwasdrunkwithsuccess,andlittlediditdreamthatthatsmallhandfulofheroeshadwithinthemthepowertorockittoitsfoundations。To—morrow,whentheGreatRevoltbreaksoutandalltheworldresoundswiththetramp,trampofthemillions,theOligarchy,willrealize,andtoolate,howmightilythatbandofheroeshasgrown。*
*AvisEverhardtookforgrantedthathernarrativewouldbereadinherownday,andsoomitstomentiontheoutcomeofthetrialforhightreason。ManyothersimilardisconcertingomissionswillbenoticedintheManuscript。Fifty—twosocialistCongressmenweretried,andallwerefoundguilty。Strangetorelate,notonereceivedthedeathsentence。Everhardandelevenothers,amongwhomwereTheodoreDonnelsonandMatthewKent,receivedlifeimprisonment。Theremainingfortyreceivedsentencesvaryingfromthirtytoforty—fiveyears;whileArthurSimpson,referredtointheManuscriptasbeingilloftyphoidfeveratthetimeoftheexplosion,receivedonlyfifteenyears。Itisthetraditionthathediedofstarvationinsolitaryconfinement,andthisharshtreatmentisexplainedashavingbeencausedbyhisuncompromisingstubbornnessandhisfieryandtactlesshatredforallmenthatservedthedespotism。HediedinCabanasinCuba,wherethreeofhiscomradeswerealsoconfined。
Thefifty—twosocialistCongressmenwereconfinedinmilitaryfortressesscatteredallovertheUnitedStates。Thus,DuBoisandWoodswereheldinPortoRico,whileEverhardandMerryweatherwereplacedinAlcatraz,anislandinSanFranciscoBaythathadalreadyseenlongserviceasamilitaryprison。
Asarevolutionistmyself,asoneontheinsidewhoknewthehopesandfearsandsecretplansoftherevolutionists,Iamfittedtoanswer,asveryfeware,thechargethattheywereguiltyofexplodingthebombinCongress。AndIcansayflatly,withoutqualificationordoubtofanysort,thatthesocialists,inCongressandout,hadnohandintheaffair。Whothrewthebombwedonotknow,buttheonethingweareabsolutelysureofisthatwedidnotthrowit。
Ontheotherhand,thereisevidencetoshowthattheIronHeelwasresponsiblefortheact。Ofcourse,wecannotprovethis。Ourconclusionismerelypresumptive。Butherearesuchfactsaswedoknow。IthadbeenreportedtotheSpeakeroftheHouse,bysecret—serviceagentsofthegovernment,thattheSocialistCongressmenwereabouttoresorttoterroristictactics,andthattheyhaddecideduponthedaywhentheirtacticswouldgointoeffect。Thisdaywastheverydayoftheexplosion。WhereforetheCapitolhadbeenpackedwithtroopsinanticipation。Sinceweknewnothingaboutthebomb,andsinceabombactuallywasexploded,andsincetheauthoritieshadpreparedinadvancefortheexplosion,itisonlyfairtoconcludethattheIronHeeldidknow。Furthermore,wechargethattheIronHeelwasguiltyoftheoutrage,andthattheIronHeelplannedandperpetratedtheoutrageforthepurposeoffoistingtheguiltonourshouldersandsobringingaboutourdestruction。
FromtheSpeakerthewarningleakedouttoallthecreaturesintheHousethatworethescarletlivery。Theyknew,whileErnestwasspeaking,thatsomeviolentactwastobecommitted。Andtodothemjustice,theyhonestlybelievedthattheactwastobecommittedbythesocialists。Atthetrial,andstillwithhonestbelief,severaltestifiedtohavingseenErnestpreparetothrowthebomb,andthatitexplodedprematurely。Ofcoursetheysawnothingofthesort。Inthefeveredimaginationoffeartheythoughttheysaw,thatwasall。
AsErnestsaidatthetrial:\'Doesitstandtoreason,ifIweregoingtothrowabomb,thatIshouldelecttothrowafeeblelittlesquibliketheonethatwasthrown？Therewasn\'tenoughpowderinit。Itmadealotofsmoke,buthurtnooneexceptme。Itexplodedrightatmyfeet,andyetitdidnotkillme。Believeme,whenIgettothrowingbombs,I\'lldodamage。There\'llbemorethansmokeinmypetards。\'
Inreturnitwasarguedbytheprosecutionthattheweaknessofthebombwasablunderonthepartofthesocialists,justasitsprematureexplosion,causedbyErnest\'slosinghisnerveanddroppingit,wasablunder。Andtoclinchtheargument,thereweretheseveralCongressmenwhotestifiedtohavingseenErnestfumbleanddropthebomb。
Asforourselves,notoneofusknewhowthebombwasthrown。Ernesttoldmethatthefractionofaninstantbeforeitexplodedhebothheardandsawitstrikeathisfeet。Hetestifiedtothisatthetrial,butnoonebelievedhim。Besides,thewholething,inpopularslang,was\'cookedup。\'TheIronHeelhadmadeupitsmindtodestroyus,andtherewasnowithstandingit。
Thereisasayingthattruthwillout。Ihavecometodoubtthatsaying。Nineteenyearshaveelapsed,anddespiteouruntiringefforts,wehavefailedtofindthemanwhoreallydidthrowthebomb。
UndoubtedlyhewassomeemissaryoftheIronHeel,buthehasescapeddetection。Wehavenevergottheslightestclewtohisidentity。Andnow,atthislatedate,nothingremainsbutfortheaffairtotakeitsplaceamongthemysteriesofhistory。*
*AvisEverhardwouldhavehadtoliveformanygenerationsereshecouldhaveseentheclearingupofthisparticularmystery。A
littlelessthanahundredyearsago,andalittlemorethansixhundredyearsafterthedeath,theconfessionofPervaisewasdiscoveredinthesecretarchivesoftheVatican。Itisperhapswelltotellalittlesomethingaboutthisobscuredocument,which,inthemain,isofinteresttothehistorianonly。
PervaisewasanAmerican,ofFrenchdescent,whoin1913A。D。,waslyingintheTombsPrison,NewYorkCity,awaitingtrialformurder。
Fromhisconfessionwelearnthathewasnotacriminal。Hewaswarm—blooded,passionate,emotional。Inaninsanefitofjealousyhekilledhiswife—averycommonactinthosetimes。Pervaisewasmasteredbythefearofdeath,allofwhichisrecountedatlengthinhisconfession。Toescapedeathhewouldhavedoneanything,andthepoliceagentspreparedhimbyassuringhimthathecouldnotpossiblyescapeconvictionofmurderinthefirstdegreewhenhistrialcameoff。Inthosedays,murderinthefirstdegreewasacapitaloffense。Theguiltymanorwomanwasplacedinaspeciallyconstructeddeath—chair,and,underthesupervisionofcompetentphysicians,wasdestroyedbyacurrentofelectricity。Thiswascalledelectrocution,anditwasverypopularduringthatperiod。
Anaesthesia,asamodeofcompulsorydeath,wasnotintroduceduntillater。
Thisman,goodatheartbutwithaferociousanimalismcloseatthesurfaceofhisbeing,lyinginjailandexpectantofnothinglessthandeath,wasprevaileduponbytheagentsoftheIronHeeltothrowthebombintheHouseofRepresentatives。Inhisconfessionhestatesexplicitlythathewasinformedthatthebombwastobeafeeblethingandthatnoliveswouldbelost。Thisisdirectlyinlinewiththefactthatthebombwaslightlycharged,andthatitsexplosionatEverhard\'sfeetwasnotdeadly。
Pervaisewassmuggledintooneofthegalleriesostensiblyclosedforrepairs。Hewastoselectthemomentforthethrowingofthebomb,andhenaivelyconfessesthatinhisinterestinEverhard\'stiradeandthegeneralcommotionraisedthereby,henearlyforgothismission。
Notonlywashereleasedfromprisoninrewardforhisdeed,buthewasgrantedanincomeforlife。Thishedidnotlongenjoy。In1914
A。D。,inSeptember,hewasstrickenwithrheumatismoftheheartandlivedforthreedays。ItwasthenthathesentfortheCatholicpriest,FatherPeterDurban,andtohimmadeconfession。Soimportantdiditseemtothepriest,thathehadtheconfessiontakendowninwritingandswornto。Whathappenedafterthiswecanonlysurmise。ThedocumentwascertainlyimportantenoughtofinditswaytoRome。Powerfulinfluencesmusthavebeenbroughttobear,henceitssuppression。Forcenturiesnohintofitsexistencereachedtheworld。ItwasnotuntilinthelastcenturythatLorbia,thebrilliantItalianscholar,stumbleduponitquitebychanceduringhisresearchesintheVatican。
Thereisto—daynodoubtwhateverthattheIronHeelwasresponsibleforthebombthatexplodedintheHouseofRepresentativesin1913
A。D。EventhoughthePervaiseconfessionhadnevercometolight,noreasonabledoubtcouldobtain;fortheactinquestion,thatsentfifty—twoCongressmentoprison,wasonaparwithcountlessotheractscommittedbytheoligarchs,and,beforethem,bythecapitalists。
Thereistheclassicinstanceoftheferociousandwantonjudicialmurderoftheinnocentandso—calledHaymarketAnarchistsinChicagointhepenultimatedecadeofthenineteenthcenturyA。D。Inacategorybyitselfisthedeliberateburninganddestructionofcapitalistpropertybythecapitaliststhemselves。Forsuchdestructionofpropertyinnocentmenwerefrequentlypunished—\'railroaded\'intheparlanceofthetimes。
InthelabortroublesofthefirstdecadeofthetwentiethcenturyA。D。,betweenthecapitalistsandtheWesternFederationofMiners,similarbutmorebloodytacticswereemployed。TherailroadstationatIndependencewasblownupbytheagentsofthecapitalists。Thirteenmenwerekilled,andmanymorewerewounded。Andthenthecapitalists,controllingthelegislativeandjudicialmachineryofthestateofColorado,chargedtheminerswiththecrimeandcameveryneartoconvictingthem。Romaines,oneofthetoolsinthisaffair,likePervaise,waslyinginjailinanotherstate,Kansas,awaitingtrial,whenhewasapproachedbytheagentsofthecapitalists。But,unlikePervaisetheconfessionofRomaineswasmadepublicinhisowntime。
Then,duringthissameperiod,therewasthecaseofMoyerandHaywood,twostrong,fearlessleadersoflabor。OnewaspresidentandtheotherwassecretaryoftheWesternFederationofMiners。Theex—governorofIdahohadbeenmysteriouslymurdered。Thecrime,atthetime,wasopenlychargedtothemineownersbythesocialistsandminers。Nevertheless,inviolationofthenationalandstateconstitutions,andbymeansofconspiracyonthepartsofthegovernorsofIdahoandColorado,MoyerandHaywoodwerekidnapped,thrownintojail,andchargedwiththemurder。ItwasthisinstancethatprovokedfromEugeneV。Debs,nationalleaderoftheAmericansocialistsatthetime,thefollowingwords:\'Thelaborleadersthatcannotbebribednorbullied,mustbeambushedandmurdered。TheonlycrimeofMoyerandHaywoodisthattheyhavebeenunswervinglytruetotheworkingclass。Thecapitalistshavestolenourcountry,debauchedourpolitics,defiledourjudiciary,andriddenoverusrough—shod,andnowtheyproposetomurderthosewhowillnotabjectlysurrendertotheirbrutaldominion。ThegovernorsofColoradoandIdahoarebutexecutingthemandatesoftheirmasters,thePlutocracy。
TheissueistheWorkersversusthePlutocracy。Iftheystrikethefirstviolentblow,wewillstrikethelast。\'
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN。
IntheShadowofSonoma。
OFMYSELF,DURINGTHISPERIOD,thereisnotmuchtosay。ForsixmonthsIwaskeptinprison,thoughchargedwithnocrime。Iwasasuspect—awordoffearthatallrevolutionistsweresoontocometoknow。Butourownnascentsecretservicewasbeginningtowork。Bytheendofmysecondmonthinprison,oneofthejailersmadehimselfknownasarevolutionistintouchwiththeorganization。Severalweekslater,JosephParkhurst,theprisondoctorwhohadjustbeenappointed,provedhimselftobeamemberofoneoftheFightingGroups。
Thus,throughouttheorganizationoftheOligarchy,ourownorganization,weblikeandspidery,wasinsinuatingitself。AndsoI
waskeptintouchwithallthatwashappeningintheworldwithout。
Andfurthermore,everyoneofourimprisonedleaderswasincontactwithbravecomradeswhomasqueradedintheliveryoftheIronHeel。
ThoughErnestlayinprisonthreethousandmilesaway,onthePacificCoast,Iwasinunbrokencommunicationwithhim,andourletterspassedregularlybackandforth。
Theleaders,inprisonandout,wereabletodiscussanddirectthecampaign。Itwouldhavebeenpossible,withinafewmonths,tohaveeffectedtheescapeofsomeofthem;butsinceimprisonmentprovednobartoouractivities,itwasdecidedtoavoidanythingpremature。Fifty—twoCongressmenwereinprison,andfullythreehundredmoreofourleaders。Itwasplannedthattheyshouldbedeliveredsimultaneously。Ifpartofthemescaped,thevigilanceoftheoligarchsmightbearousedsoastopreventtheescapeoftheremainder。Ontheotherhand,itwasheldthatasimultaneousjail—deliveryalloverthelandwouldhaveimmensepsychologicalinfluenceontheproletariat。Itwouldshowourstrengthandgiveconfidence。
Soitwasarranged,whenIwasreleasedattheendofsixmonths,thatIwastodisappearandprepareasecurehiding—placeforErnest。Todisappearwasinitselfnoeasything。NosoonerdidI
getmyfreedomthanmyfootstepsbegantobedoggedbythespiesoftheIronHeel。Itwasnecessarythattheyshouldbethrownoffthetrack,andthatIshouldwintoCalifornia。Itislaughable,thewaythiswasaccomplished。
Althoughthepassportsystem,modelledontheRussian,wasdeveloping。Idarednotcrossthecontinentinmyowncharacter。ItwasnecessarythatIshouldbecompletelylostifeverIwastoseeErnestagain,forbytrailingmeafterheescaped,hewouldbecaughtoncemore。Again,Icouldnotdisguisemyselfasaproletarianandtravel。ThereremainedthedisguiseofamemberoftheOligarchy。Whilethearch—oligarchswerenomorethanahandful,thereweremyriadsoflesseronesofthetype,say,ofMr。Wickson—men,worthafewmillions,whowereadherentsofthearch—oligarchs。Thewivesanddaughtersoftheselesseroligarchswerelegion,anditwasdecidedthatIshouldassumethedisguiseofsuchaone。Afewyearslaterthiswouldhavebeenimpossible,becausethepassportsystemwastobecomesoperfectthatnoman,woman,norchildinallthelandwasunregisteredandunaccountedforinhisorhermovements。