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〃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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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。
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War of the Classes
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
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War of the Classes
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