SCIENCE AND REVOLUTION 



It had clung steadfastly to its one god, ever since 

 Abraham emigrated from Chaldea to avoid idola- 

 try. It had withstood exile, war, and persecu- 

 tion. The Jewish god had but to be dressed up 

 in a garb acceptable to all nationalities that now 

 mingled in the Roman provinces and in Rome 

 itself. And he needed but an international force 

 that would raise him to the position of its chosen 

 patron. This force was ready at hand. It was 

 the proletariat, composed of freed slaves and im- 

 poverished freemen. An international language 

 also existed. It was a mongrel Latin, with which 

 everybody was more or less familiar. 



There was a very good reason why this pro- 

 letariat should rally to the support of some inter- 

 national religion. At various times, and at wide- 

 ly separated places, attempts had been made to 

 overthrow the ruling classes by force of arms. 

 These attempts met with the same fate that has 

 since befallen all similar revolts which were un- 

 dertaken before the conditions for their success 

 had matured. They were drowned in seas of 

 blood. And the most Draconic laws forbade any 

 organization which was not officered by the over- 

 seers of the ruling classes. Political action was 

 likewise out of the question, for the same rea- 

 sons. 



