26 An Appeal to the Young. 



bullet in the chest of that ruffianly official who dared 

 to outrag-e a socialist prisoner in her cell. And I am 

 confident that 3'our heart beats faster when 3'ou 

 read how the women of the people in Paris gathered 

 under a rain of shells to encourage "their men" to 

 heroic action. 



Every one of 5'ou, then, honest young folks, men 

 and women, peasants, laborers, artisans and soldiers, 

 you will understand what are your rights and you 

 will come along with us; you will come in order to 

 work with your brethren in the preparation of that 

 revolution which, sweeping away every vestige of 

 slavery, tearing the fetters asunder, breaking with 

 the old worn-out traditions and opening to all man- 

 kind a new and wider scope of J03-0US existence, shall 

 at length establish true liberty, real equality, un- 

 grudging fraternity throughout human society; work 

 with all, work for all — the full enjoyment of the 

 fruits of their labor, the complete development of all 

 their faculties ; a rational, human and happy life ! 



Don't let anyone tell us that we — but a vsmall 

 band — are too weak to attain unto the magnificent 

 end at which we aim. 



Count and see how many of us there are who 

 suffer this injustice. 



We peasants who work for others and who mumble 

 the straw while our master eats the wheat, we by our- 

 selves are millions of men. 



We workers who weave silks and velvets in order 

 that we may be clothed in rags, we, too, are a great 

 multitude ; and when the clang of the factories per- 

 mits us a moment's repose, we overflow the streets 

 and squares like the sea in a spring tide. 



We soldiers who are driven along to the word of 

 command, or by blows; we who receive the bullets 

 for which our officers get crosses and pensions ; we, 

 too, poor fools who have hitherto known no l)etter 

 than to shoot our brothers — why, we have only to 

 make a right-about-face toward these plumed and 



