war of the classes-µÚ2²¿·Ö
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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¡¡placard£º¡¡¡¡NO
THOROUGH¡FARE¡£
And¡¡day¡¡by¡¡day¡¡more¡¡doors¡¡are¡¡shut£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡ambitious¡¡young¡¡men
continue¡¡to¡¡be¡¡born¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡they£»¡¡denied¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡rise
from¡¡the¡¡working¡¡class£»¡¡who¡¡preach¡¡revolt¡¡to¡¡the¡¡working¡¡class¡£¡¡¡¡Had
he¡¡been¡¡born¡¡fifty¡¡years¡¡later£»¡¡Andrew¡¡Carnegie£»¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡Scotch
boy£»¡¡might¡¡have¡¡risen¡¡to¡¡be¡¡president¡¡of¡¡his¡¡union£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡a
federation¡¡of¡¡unions£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡become¡¡the
builder¡¡of¡¡Homestead¡¡and¡¡the¡¡founder¡¡of¡¡multitudinous¡¡libraries£»¡¡is
as¡¡certain¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡some¡¡other¡¡man¡¡would¡¡have¡¡developed
the¡¡steel¡¡industry¡¡had¡¡Andrew¡¡Carnegie¡¡never¡¡been¡¡born¡£
Theoretically£»¡¡then£»¡¡there¡¡exist¡¡in¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡all¡¡the
factors¡¡which¡¡go¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡class¡¡struggle¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡the
capitalists¡¡and¡¡working¡¡classes£»¡¡the¡¡interests¡¡of¡¡which¡¡conflict£»
while¡¡the¡¡working¡¡class¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡being¡¡emasculated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡extent
it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡¡by¡¡having¡¡drawn¡¡off¡¡from¡¡it¡¡its¡¡best¡¡blood¡¡and
brains¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡more¡¡capable¡¡members¡¡are¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡able¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡out¡¡of
it¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡great¡¡mass¡¡leaderless¡¡and¡¡helpless¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡remain¡¡to
be¡¡its¡¡leaders¡£
But¡¡the¡¡optimistic¡¡mouthpieces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡American¡¡people£»¡¡who¡¡are
themselves¡¡deft¡¡theoreticians£»¡¡are¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡convinced¡¡by¡¡mere
theoretics¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡it¡¡remains¡¡to¡¡demonstrate¡¡the¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡class
struggle¡¡by¡¡a¡¡marshalling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡facts¡£
When¡¡nearly¡¡two¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡finding¡¡themselves¡¡knit¡¡together¡¡by
certain¡¡interests¡¡peculiarly¡¡their¡¡own£»¡¡band¡¡together¡¡in¡¡a¡¡strong
organization¡¡for¡¡the¡¡aggressive¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡those¡¡interests£»¡¡it¡¡is
evident¡¡that¡¡society¡¡has¡¡within¡¡it¡¡a¡¡hostile¡¡and¡¡warring¡¡class¡£¡¡¡¡But
when¡¡the¡¡interests¡¡which¡¡this¡¡class¡¡aggressively¡¡pursues¡¡conflict
sharply¡¡and¡¡vitally¡¡with¡¡the¡¡interests¡¡of¡¡another¡¡class£»¡¡class
antagonism¡¡arises¡¡and¡¡a¡¡class¡¡struggle¡¡is¡¡the¡¡inevitable¡¡result¡£
One¡¡great¡¡organization¡¡of¡¡labor¡¡alone¡¡has¡¡a¡¡membership¡¡of¡¡1£»700£»000
in¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡American¡¡Federation¡¡of¡¡Labor£»¡¡and
outside¡¡of¡¡it¡¡are¡¡many¡¡other¡¡large¡¡organizations¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡these¡¡men¡¡are
banded¡¡together¡¡for¡¡the¡¡frank¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡bettering¡¡their¡¡condition£»
regardless¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harm¡¡worked¡¡thereby¡¡upon¡¡all¡¡other¡¡classes¡£¡¡¡¡They
are¡¡in¡¡open¡¡antagonism¡¡with¡¡the¡¡capitalist¡¡class£»¡¡while¡¡the
manifestos¡¡of¡¡their¡¡leaders¡¡state¡¡that¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡is¡¡one¡¡which¡¡can
never¡¡end¡¡until¡¡the¡¡capitalist¡¡class¡¡is¡¡exterminated¡£
Their¡¡leaders¡¡will¡¡largely¡¡deny¡¡this¡¡last¡¡statement£»¡¡but¡¡an
examination¡¡of¡¡their¡¡utterances£»¡¡their¡¡actions£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡situation
will¡¡forestall¡¡such¡¡denial¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡the¡¡conflict
between¡¡labor¡¡and¡¡capital¡¡is¡¡over¡¡the¡¡division¡¡of¡¡the¡¡join¡¡product¡£
Capital¡¡and¡¡labor¡¡apply¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡raw¡¡material¡¡and¡¡make¡¡it¡¡into
a¡¡finished¡¡product¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡difference¡¡between¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡raw
material¡¡and¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡finished¡¡product¡¡is¡¡the¡¡value¡¡they
have¡¡added¡¡to¡¡it¡¡by¡¡their¡¡joint¡¡effort¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡added¡¡value¡¡is£»
therefore£»¡¡their¡¡joint¡¡product£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡over¡¡the¡¡division¡¡of¡¡this
joint¡¡product¡¡that¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡between¡¡labor¡¡and¡¡capital¡¡takes
place¡£¡¡¡¡Labor¡¡takes¡¡its¡¡share¡¡in¡¡wages£»¡¡capital¡¡takes¡¡its¡¡share¡¡in
profits¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡patent£»¡¡if¡¡capital¡¡took¡¡in¡¡profits¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡joint
product£»¡¡that¡¡labor¡¡would¡¡perish¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡it¡¡is¡¡equally¡¡patent£»¡¡if
labor¡¡took¡¡in¡¡wages¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡joint¡¡product£»¡¡that¡¡capital¡¡would
perish¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡this¡¡last¡¡is¡¡the¡¡very¡¡thing¡¡labor¡¡aspires¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and
that¡¡it¡¡will¡¡never¡¡be¡¡content¡¡with¡¡anything¡¡less¡¡than¡¡the¡¡whole
joint¡¡product¡¡is¡¡evidenced¡¡by¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡its¡¡leaders¡£
Mr¡£¡¡Samuel¡¡Gompers£»¡¡president¡¡of¡¡the¡¡American¡¡Federation¡¡of¡¡Labor£»
has¡¡said£º¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡workers¡¡want¡¡more¡¡wages£»¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the¡¡comforts¡¡of
life£»¡¡more¡¡leisure£»¡¡more¡¡chance¡¡for¡¡self¡improvement¡¡as¡¡men£»¡¡as
trade¡unionists£»¡¡as¡¡citizens¡£¡¡¡¡THESE¡¡WERE¡¡THE¡¡WANTS¡¡OF¡¡YESTERDAY£»
THEY¡¡ARE¡¡THE¡¡WANTS¡¡OF¡¡TODAY£»¡¡THEY¡¡WILL¡¡BE¡¡THE¡¡WANTS¡¡OF¡¡TOMORROW£»¡¡AND
OF¡¡TOMORROW'S¡¡MORROW¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡struggle¡¡may¡¡assume¡¡new¡¡forms£»¡¡but¡¡the
issue¡¡is¡¡the¡¡immemorial¡¡one£»an¡¡effort¡¡of¡¡the¡¡producers¡¡to¡¡obtain
an¡¡increasing¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡