MILITANCY.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 7, 1 August 1913, Page 2

MILITANCY.

Someone said that courage and combafiveness was the cause of man’s rising above the brutes in the agelong course of evolution. Doubtless there is some truth in the notion. No one knows. None of us had “ come to light” when the question cropped up, and we’ll all be dead before it is settled. There is no doubt, however, that in football and fighting, in war and in the class struggle, aggressiveness is an asset. It is equally certain that militancy in the labour movement can be developed to an unlimited extent.

The workers remain a subject class, the wage system continues, largely through lack of aggressiveness. Wherever strong, aggressive labour organisations have sprung up they have always wrung concessions from the employers. Instance: the Western Federation of Miners, U.S.A., a few years ago; forced much better conditions than had previously existed by aggressive and determined solidarity—which was due to the proportion of militants among them.

Many an apathetic slave has become a rebel by education, and in turn has made more rebels. Upon the proportion of intelligent rebels rests the strength and status of the Working Class. Make rebels and you make Revolution. Constant agitation, education and action is the method, but only militants can make militantsGet busy!