The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in Chicago — John Shaqi
The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in ChicagoMcLean, George N.
History
The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in Chicago
McLean, George N.
Anarchists -- United States; Haymarket Square Riot, Chicago, Ill., 1886
"When was the next meeting?"--"April 26, at Greif's hall."
"Did any of the defendants speak there?"--"There were present Parsons,
Fielden, Spies. Parsons said: 'I wish you all to consider the misery
of the working classes, and the cause of all the misery is these
institutions termed government. I lived on snowballs all last winter,
but, by G--d! I won't do it this winter.'"
"What was the next meeting at which any of the defendants
attended?"--"April 30, at Market square; Parsons and Fielden. Parsons
said: 'We have assembled here to determine in which way best to
celebrate the dedication of the new Board of Trade building, and to
give the working men of Chicago a chance to state their views in the
matter'. Fielden then said: 'I want all the working men of Chicago,
the country, and the world in general to arm themselves and sweep the
capitalists off the face of the earth.' Parsons then said: 'Every
working man in Chicago must save a little of his wages every week until
he has enough to buy a Colt's revolver and a Winchester rifle, for the
only way that the working people will get their rights is by the point
of the bayonet. We want you to form in procession now, and we will
march to the Board of Trade. We will halt there, and while the band is
playing we will sing the Marseillaise.'"
"Did you march in the procession, too?"--"I did."
"Where were you in that line of march?"--"I was in the center of the
procession."
"Did any of the defendants march with you?"--"Not with me, but in the
procession Fielden, Spies, Parsons and Neebe marched."
"What was the next meeting?"--"There was something occurred the night
of May 30. I was standing at the corner of Washington street and
Fifth avenue close behind Spies. That was Decoration day, and as the
procession passed by, Spies said: 'A half-dozen dynamite bombs would
scatter them all.' A little later a gentleman who was standing near
remarked upon the fine appearance of the Illinois National Guard, who
were then passing. Spies said: 'They are only boys, and would be no use
in case of a riot. Fifty determined men would soon disarm them all.'"
"When was the next meeting?"--"The next meeting was on the Lake front,
May 31, and Fielden and Parsons was there. Fielden said: 'It is only
by strength and force that you can overthrow the government.' Parsons
also spoke, but I don't recollect what he said."
"Go on to the next meeting."--"The next meeting was June 7, at Ogden's
grove. There were present Fielden, Parsons and Spies. Fielden said:
'Every working man in Chicago ought to belong to organizations. It is
of no use to go to our masters to give us more wages or better times.
I mean for you to use force. It is of no use for the working people to
hope to gain anything by means of an ordinary weapon. Every one of you
must learn the use of dynamite, for that is the power with which we
hope to gain our rights.' Schwab also spoke at that meeting in German,
which I do not understand."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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