anarchy archives

An Online Research Center on the History and Theory of Anarchism

Home

Search

About Us

Contact Us

Other Links

Critics Corner

   
 

The Cynosure

  Michael Bakunin
  William Godwin
  Emma Goldman
  Peter Kropotkin
  Errico Malatesta
  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
  Max Stirner
  Murray Bookchin
  Noam Chomsky
  Bright but Lesser Lights
   
  Cold Off The Presses
  Pamphlets
  Periodicals
   
  Anarchist History
  Worldwide Movements
  First International
  Paris Commune
  Haymarket Massacre
  Spanish Civil War
  Bibliography
   
   
   

Life of Albert Parsons

<--Previous  Up  Next-->

p159

referred to Lemont, Ill., where defenceless and innocent citizens and their town were invaded by the militia of the State of Illinois, and without any pretext, men, women, and children were fired upon and slaughtered in cold blood. I referred to the McCormick strike on the previous day, and denounced the action of the police on that occasion as an outrage. I asked the workingmen if these were not facts, and if monopolies and corporations were not responsible for them, and if they were not driving the people into this condition of things. And then I used some words or some phrase in connection with the use of the military and the police and the Pinkerton thugs to shoot down workingmen, to drive them back into submission and starvation wages. I then referred to a Chicago paper of the day before, to which my attention has been called on Tuesday afternoon. In an editorial it asserted that Parsons and Spies incited trouble at McCormick's, and ought to be lynched and rive out of the city. I was away at Cincinnati at the time. I called attention to the fact that the newspapers were wickedly exciting the people against the workingmen. I denied the newspaper charged that we were sneaks and cowards, and defied them to run us out of the city. I pointed to the fact that the capitalistic papers were subsidized agents and organs of monopoly, and that they held stocks and bonds in corporations and railroads, and that no man could be elected an Alderman of thie city unless eh had the sanction of some of the corporations and monopolists of the city. Then I said: 'I am not here, fellow-workingmen, for the purpose of inciting anybody, but to tell the truth, and to state the facts as they actually exist, though it should cost me my life doing it.' I then referred to the Cincinnati demonstration, at which I was present the Sunday previous. I said that the organization of workingmen in that city—the trades unions and other organizations—had a grand street parade and picnic. They sent for me to go down there and address them. It was an eight-hour demonstration. I attended on that occasion and spoke to them. I referred to the fact that they turned out in thousands and that they marched with Winchester rifles, two or three companies of them. I supposed there were about two hundred men at the of the column, the Cincinnati Rifle Union. I said that at the head of the procession they bore the red flag—the red

This page has been accessed by visitors outside of Pitzer College times since September 12, 2001.

OWN YOUR OWN COPY OF ANARCHY ARCHIVES

[Home]               [Search]               [About Us]               [Contact Us]               [Other Links]               [Critics Corner]