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！
（in the very nature of things）； is bound to revolt from the sway of
the 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 rattles
the dry bones of dead and buried ideas。 His lips mumble mouldy
phrases； such as； 〃Men are not born equal and never can be；〃 〃It is
Utopian and impossible；〃 〃Abstinence should be rewarded；〃 〃Man will
first have to be born again；〃 〃Cooperative colonies have always
failed；〃 and 〃What if we do divide up？ in ten years there would be
rich and poor men such as there are today。〃
It surely is time that the capitalists knew something about this
socialism that they feel menaces them。 And it is the hope of the
writer that the socialistic studies in this volume may in some
slight degree enlighten a few capitalistic minds。 The capitalist
must learn； first and for always； that socialism is based； not upon
the equality； but upon the inequality； of men。 Next； he must learn
that no new birth into spiritual purity is necessary before
socialism becomes possible。 He must learn that socialism deals with
what is； not with what ought to be； and that the material with which
it deals is the 〃clay of the common road；〃 the warm human； fallible
and frail； sordid and petty； absurd and contradictory； even
grotesque； and yet； withal； shot through with flashes and
glimmerings of something finer and God…like； with here and there
sweetnesses of service and unselfishness； desires for goodness； for
renunciation and sacrifice； and with conscience； stern and awful； at
times blazingly imperious； demanding the right；the right； nothing
more nor less than the right。
JACK LONDON。
OAKLAND； CALIFORNIA。
January 12； 1905。
THE CLASS STRUGGLE
Unfortunately or otherwise； people are prone to believe in the
reality of the things they think ought to be so。 This comes of the
cheery optimism which is innate with life itself； and； while it may
sometimes be deplored； it must never be censured； for； as a rule； it
is productive of more good than harm； and of about all the
achievement there is in the world。 There are cases where this
optimism has been disastrous； as with the people who lived in
Pompeii during its last quivering days； or with the aristocrats of
the time of Louis XVI； who confidently expected the Deluge to
overwhelm their children； or their children's children； but never
themselves。 But there is small likelihood that the case of perverse
optimism here to be considered will end in such disaster； while
there is every reason to believe that the great change now
manifesting itself in society will be as peaceful and orderly in its
culmination as it is in its present development。
Out of their constitutional optimism； and because a class struggle
is an abhorred and dangerous thing； the great American people are
unanimous in asserting that there is no class struggle。 And by
〃American people〃 is meant the recognized and authoritative mouth…
pieces of the American people； which are the press； the pulpit； and
the university。 The journalists； the preachers； and the professors
are practically of one voice in declaring that there is no such
thing as a class struggle now going on； much less that a class
struggle will ever go on； in the United States。 And this
declaration they continually make in the face of a multitude of
facts which impeach； not so much their sincerity； as affirm； rather；
their optimism。
There are two ways of approaching the subject of the class struggle。
The existence of this struggle can be shown theoretically； and it
can be shown actually。 For a class struggle to exist in society
there must be； first； a class inequality； a superior class and an
inferior class （as measured by power）； and； second； the outlets must
be closed whereby the strength and ferment of the inferior class
have been permitted to escape。
That there are even classes in the United States is vigorously
denied by many； but it is incontrovertible； when a group of
individuals is formed； wherein the members are bound together by
common interests which are peculiarly their interests and not the
interests of individuals outside the group； that such a group is a
class。 The owners of capital； with their dependents； form a class
of this nature in the United States； the working people form a
similar class。 The interest of the capitalist class； say； in the
matter of income tax； is quite contrary to the interest of the
laboring class； and； VICE VERSA； in the matter of poll…tax。
If between these two classes there be a clear and vital conflict of
interest； all the factors are present which make a class struggle；
but this struggle will lie dormant if the strong and capable members
of the inferior class be permitted to leave that class and join the
ranks of the superior class。 The capitalist class and the working
class have existed side by side and for a long time in the United
States； but hitherto all the strong； energetic members of the
working class have been able to rise out of their class and become
owners of capital。 They were enabled to do this because an
undeveloped country with an expanding frontier gave equality of
opportunity to all。 In the almost lottery…like scramble for the
ownership of vast unowned natural resources； and in the exploitation
of which there was little or no competition of capital； （the capital
itself rising out of the exploitation）； the capable； intelligent
member of the working class found a field in which to use his brains
to his own advancement。 Instead of being discontented in direct
ratio with his intelligence and ambitions； and of radiating amongst
his fellows a spirit of revolt as capable as he was capable； he left
them to their fate and carved his own way to a place in the superior
class。
But the day of an expanding frontier； of a lottery…like scramble for
the ownership of natural resources； and of the upbuilding of new
industries； is past。 Farthest West has been reached； and an immense
volume of surplus capital roams for investment and nips in the bud
the patient efforts of the embryo capitalist to rise through slow
increment from small beginnings。 The gateway of opportunity after
opportunity has been closed； and closed for all time。 Rockefeller
has shut the door on oil； the American Tobacco Company on tobacco；
and Carnegie on steel。 After Carnegie came Morgan； who triple…
locked the door。 These doors will not open again； and before them
pause thousands of ambitious young men to read the plac