Syndicalism—a World Power.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 57, 12 April 1912, Page 3

Syndicalism—a World Power.

The Views of the Eminent Publicist, Max Nordau (Author of " Conventional Lies of our Civilisation.")

Wo are now witnessing a great event from which later on will bo dated, perhaps, the beginning of & n <>w historic opocii. How many are there among us wJio are conscious or ©yon have tlio vaguest presentiment of the historical importance of the present moment. France has recently lived through a week of tragical d;iys of a gne-at movcmerit. On two of her most importantrailroad system.? all animation remained 'suspended, white, others were in danger of a similar fate. In those days when tlio nri'se has reaehod such a stage of feverish activity, it was quite natural that considerable space was given in tlio columns of tho nowspapors to these events. Itttt too much wpaco waa givon to anecdotes and unimportant details, while little or nothing was said about the profound importance of tho whole movement. By these great revolutionary attempts in Franco, the young labor orgauisatiotiis havo given evidence of tlieir strength, ami these asoeiatiVins are the work of the general union of laborers. This latter m, in my opinion, nothing but a typi'-il-incarnation, ropre.sen<ting the movement of bodies, which, according to the theories of Kant and Laplace, produces new world formations outside the confusion of chaotic matter. Syndicalism and Socialism. Superficial observants will continue confounding •'syndicalism ,, with iSoeialisni, and .Socialistic writers and orators favor this confusion, which is tho restflt of siipivrfioial oHservation and lade of judgment, because it tends to consolidate the idea thai t'hn power of Socialism is decreasing \ni\ passing into tlio hands of syndicalism. Hut in reality, these two movements have only o.ne fact in common: they both sprang from the proletariat. Oα w.'jy ot.hrr point syndicalism differs from Socialism and very often is opposed to it. The, educational work of tho Socialistic propaganda, which awakens in tho masses the. consciousness of their strength, and which has taught them to manifest their wants and claims in n.n imperative form, may have given the impulse, to trade- unions and accelerated their evolution, but it is by no means certain that Socialism or trade unionism is the father of sypdicalUm. In trade unionism you often 'see a faint resemblance to tho old guilds; that is to say, in spite- of all revolutionary rodomontades, a historical continuity, a .-strange traditionalism. But, no matter what may be the origin of syndicalism, it lias received its first training from Socialism. Now, however, it stands on its own feet, and.scorns tho very idea of tutorship It is rapidly g«ting away from Socialism, which makes vain efforts to follow it and jiot Ito trot out of touch with it.

crate. You may talk to them of country, of duty, of law and order, and they will only shrug their shoulders at these words which, have no moaning to thorn. It is as if you h«d given Gh&ngis Khan the sealed charters of tho cities to protect thorn against Ins violence. But, among themselves, they maintain strict discipline. They despise tho worker ivho will not join hnnde with thorn, and conHd-cr it a mortal offence if a \vorkii!'£-i':Mi-opposes a strike and takes sides •■• li his employer against the syndic i-s. Even Force Won't Stop It. Socialism is the intellectual work of learned men transplanted into the bosom of the masses. It is of artificial origin, and this alone makes its success doubtful. Syndicalism, on the other v sido, is born among the masses. It is a neural- product, and therefore has far better chances of holding out and becoming a success. It would be foolish to expect to see this movement stop or disappear. Even with force, yon can do nothing against it. The workers ha-vo learned statistics. They count themselves. They count themselves and see that tlioy are in the majority. They have learm-d to und.orst.md tho. machinery of the State. They see that a few people issue orders, which the nxuiy obey Wauso of their respect for old traditions Hut those who obey nO people of their own chiss, and if ibe.v ceased to obey, the Stilt* would be only a .small group of ministers and councillors without any more power than m.«rioi.i;tUvs whom ovoiyot.ay wouM laugh at.. It is for this reason, thoy n;-p trying to make tlio.se who obey st.'v tliiit there is no reason why they slio ik. continue to rlo so, and they know I hi- . if r.liov .-.ucceed in this, lib' ooinio.-. ■ ■-. ■of the Stale, tho army, the in •■* and government would be mere i-.. ; iy words, with no more power 11i.: , .' 'lie throats and commands of Xwxi'.i <»vi r the wavi»3 of Hellespont. The conservative adversi ies of vndiciilism imagine that tJiey may find consolation and confitloii.ee in ltistory. (100, .lack Cade, and Masanicllo wore the Patauds and Griffuelhos of their time, and how did they end? Quite tamely. But the demagogic movements of tho past were only the crusades of children, of big children, without plans, without methods, without any goal, nothing but an impulsivo unordorly rush, the results of the confused ideas of a few enthusiasts. To-day they arc methodical campaigns, with a strategical plan and a complete general staff and all resources. Syndicalism is a power which, when it is once realised, will envelop the world in its shadow. And, since the strike of the postal and railroad employees in France, we may say projnnstically, as did Goethe nt "the bivouac on the eve of the battle of Valrny: "From here and from this day a now era in human, history begins, and you will some day bo able to say that you witnessed it."