Description:

This collection of anarchist works was compiled by Albert Parsons and published by Lucy Parsons. ---- To trace the origin and growth of the Wage-Labor system, known as modern Capitalism, to delineate the Philosophy and Scientific Basis of the modern Labor movement, known as Anarchism, is the purport of this little book. The first part of this work gives a historical outline of the period prior to the Revolution of 1776 up to the present time in the United States; it also traces the origin and development of the wage system in Europe from the fourteenth century, and contains copious extracts from Karl Marx's "Capital" on the economic law of wages. The second pat is devoted to extracts from the speeches of the eight condemned Anarchists: Samuel Fielden, August Spies, Oscar Neebe, Adolph Fischer, Louis Lingg, George Engle, A. R. Parsons and Michel Schwab on the subject of "Anarchy," which were delivered before the court in reply to the question why sentence should not be pronounced; also articles defining Anarchy, by Peter Krapotkin, Elisee Reclus, C. L. James and other well-known Anarchists. This book has been written and compiled in response to the public demand for information upon the subjects treated of. The circumstances under which the work has been performed, in my dungeon, beneath the shadow of the gallows, should, if aught could, lend additional interest and importance to the matters presented therein. If the public is furnished information, or assisted in reaching a clearer understanding of the great question of Capital and Labor by a perusal of these pages, I shall deem that a sufficient reward for my humble effort to supply it. THE AUTHOR, Cell 29 Cook Co. Jail Chicago, Illinois, Oct 27th, 1887