第1章 
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  BiographicSketchPrefaceAnarchism:WhatItReallyStandsForMinoritiesVersusMajoritiesThePsychologyofPoliticalViolencePrisons:ASocialCrimeandFailurePatriotism:AMenacetoLibertyFranciscoFerrerandTheModernSchoolTheHypocrisyofPuritanismTheTrafficinWomenWomanSuffrageTheTragedyofWoman’sEmancipationMarriageandLoveTheDrama:APowerfulDisseminatorofRadicalThoughtEMMAGOLDMAN

  Propagandismisnot,assomesuppose,a\"trade,\"becausenobodywillfollowa\"trade\"atwhichyoumayworkwiththeindustryofaslaveanddiewiththereputationofamendicant。Themotivesofanypersonstopursuesuchaprofessionmustbedifferentfromthoseoftrade,deeperthanpride,andstrongerthaninterest。

  GEORGEJACOBHOLYOAKE。

  AmongthemenandwomenprominentinthepubliclifeofAmericatherearebutfewwhosenamesarementionedasoftenasthatofEmmaGoldman。YettherealEmmaGoldmanisalmostquiteunknown。Thesensationalpresshassurroundedhernamewithsomuchmisrepresentationandslander,itwouldseemalmostamiraclethat,inspiteofthiswebofcalumny,thetruthbreaksthroughandabetterappreciationofthismuchmalignedidealistbeginstomanifestitself。Thereisbutlittleconsolationinthefactthatalmosteveryrepresentativeofanewideahashadtostruggleandsufferundersimilardifficulties。IsitofanyavailthataformerpresidentofarepublicpayshomageatOsawatomietothememoryofJohnBrown?OrthatthepresidentofanotherrepublicparticipatesintheunveilingofastatueinhonorofPierreProudhon,andholdsuphislifetotheFrenchnationasamodelworthyofenthusiasticemulation?Ofwhatavailisallthiswhen,atthesametime,theLIVINGJohnBrownsandProudhonsarebeingcrucified?ThehonorandgloryofaMaryWollstonecraftorofaLouiseMichelarenotenhancedbytheCityFathersofLondonorParisnamingastreetafterthem——thelivinggenerationshouldbeconcernedwithdoingjusticetotheLIVINGMaryWollstonecraftsandLouiseMichels。PosterityassignstomenlikeWendelPhillipsandLloydGarrisonthepropernicheofhonorinthetempleofhumanemancipation;butitisthedutyoftheircontemporariestobringthemduerecognitionandappreciationwhiletheylive。

  Thepathofthepropagandistofsocialjusticeisstrewnwiththorns。

  Thepowersofdarknessandinjusticeexertalltheirmightlestarayofsunshineenterhischeerlesslife。Nay,evenhiscomradesinthestruggle——indeed,toooftenhismostintimatefriends——showbutlittleunderstandingforthepersonalityofthepioneer。Envy,sometimesgrowingtohatred,vanityandjealousy,obstructhiswayandfillhisheartwithsadness。Itrequiresaninflexiblewillandtremendousenthusiasmnottolose,undersuchconditions,allfaithintheCause。Therepresentativeofarevolutionizingideastandsbetweentwofires:ontheonehand,thepersecutionoftheexistingpowerswhichholdhimresponsibleforallactsresultingfromsocialconditions;and,ontheother,thelackofunderstandingonthepartofhisownfollowerswhooftenjudgeallhisactivityfromanarrowstandpoint。Thusithappensthattheagitatorstandsquitealoneinthemidstofthemultitudesurroundinghim。Evenhismostintimatefriendsrarelyunderstandhowsolitaryanddesertedhefeels。Thatisthetragedyofthepersonprominentinthepubliceye。

  ThemistinwhichthenameofEmmaGoldmanhassolongbeenenvelopedisgraduallybeginningtodissipate。HerenergyinthefurtheranceofsuchanunpopularideaasAnarchism,herdeepearnestness,hercourageandabilities,findgrowingunderstandingandadmiration。

  ThedebtAmericanintellectualgrowthowestotherevolutionaryexileshasneverbeenfullyappreciated。Theseeddisseminatedbythem,thoughsolittleunderstoodatthetime,hasbroughtarichharvest。Theyhaveatalltimesheldaloftthebannerofliberty,thusimpregnatingthesocialvitalityoftheNation。ButveryfewhavesucceedinginpreservingtheirEuropeaneducationandculturewhileatthesametimeassimilatingthemselveswithAmericanlife。

  Itisdifficultfortheaveragemantoformanadequateconceptionwhatstrength,energy,andperseverancearenecessarytoabsorbtheunfamiliarlanguage,habits,andcustomsofanewcountry,withoutthelossofone’sownpersonality。

  EmmaGoldmanisoneofthefewwho,whilethoroughlypreservingtheirindividuality,havebecomeanimportantfactorinthesocialandintellectualatmosphereofAmerica。Thelifesheleadsisrichincolor,fullofchangeandvariety。Shehasrisentothetopmostheights,andshehasalsotastedthebitterdregsoflife。

  EmmaGoldmanwasbornofJewishparentageonthe27thdayofJune,1869,intheRussianprovinceofKovno。Surelytheseparentsneverdreamedwhatuniquepositiontheirchildwouldsomedayoccupy。Likeallconservativeparentsthey,too,werequiteconvincedthattheirdaughterwouldmarryarespectablecitizen,bearhimchildren,androundoutherallottedyearssurroundedbyaflockofgrandchildren,agood,religiouswoman。Asmostparents,theyhadnoinklingwhatastrange,impassionedspiritwouldtakeholdofthesouloftheirchild,andcarryittotheheightswhichseparategenerationsineternalstruggle。Theylivedinalandandatatimewhenantagonismbetweenparentandoffspringwasfatedtofinditsmostacuteexpression,irreconcilablehostility。Inthistremendousstrugglebetweenfathersandsons——andespeciallybetweenparentsanddaughters——therewasnocompromise,noweakyielding,notruce。Thespiritofliberty,ofprogress——anidealismwhichknewnoconsiderationsandrecognizednoobstacles——drovetheyounggenerationoutoftheparentalhouseandawayfromthehearthofthehome。Justasthissamespiritoncedroveouttherevolutionarybreederofdiscontent,Jesus,andalienatedhimfromhisnativetraditions。

  WhatroletheJewishrace——notwithstandingallanti-semiticcalumniestheraceoftranscendentalidealism——playedinthestruggleoftheOldandtheNewwillprobablyneverbeappreciatedwithcompleteimpartialityandclarity。OnlynowarewebeginningtoperceivethetremendousdebtweowetoJewishidealistsintherealmofscience,art,andliterature。ButverylittleisstillknownoftheimportantpartthesonsanddaughtersofIsraelhaveplayedintherevolutionarymovementand,especially,inthatofmoderntimes。

  ThefirstyearsofherchildhoodEmmaGoldmanpassedinasmall,idyllicplaceintheGerman-RussianprovinceofKurland,whereherfatherhadchargeofthegovernmentstage。AtthetimeKurlandwasthoroughlyGerman;eventheRussianbureaucracyofthatBalticprovincewasrecruitedmostlyfromGermanJUNKERS。Germanfairytalesandstories,richinthemiraculousdeedsoftheheroicknightsofKurland,wovetheirspellovertheyouthfulmind。Butthebeautifulidylwasofshortduration。Soonthesoulofthegrowingchildwasovercastbythedarkshadowsoflife。AlreadyinhertenderestyouththeseedsofrebellionandunrelentinghatredofoppressionweretobeplantedintheheartofEmmaGoldman。EarlyshelearnedtoknowthebeautyoftheState:shesawherfatherharassedbytheChristianCHINOVNIKSanddoublypersecutedaspettyofficialandhatedJew。Thebrutalityofforcedconscriptioneverstoodbeforehereyes:shebeheldtheyoungmen,oftenthesolesupporterofalargefamily,brutallydraggedtothebarrackstoleadthemiserablelifeofasoldier。Sheheardtheweepingofthepoorpeasantwomen,andwitnessedtheshamefulscenesofofficialvenalitywhichrelievedtherichfrommilitaryserviceattheexpenseofthepoor。Shewasoutragedbytheterribletreatmenttowhichthefemaleservantsweresubjected:maltreatedandexploitedbytheirBARINYAS,theyfelltothetendermerciesoftheregimentalofficers,whoregardedthemastheirnaturalsexualprey。Thegirls,madepregnantbyrespectablegentlemenanddrivenoutbytheirmistresses,oftenfoundrefugeintheGoldmanhome。Andthelittlegirl,herheartpalpitatingwithsympathy,wouldabstractcoinsfromtheparentaldrawertoclandestinelypressthemoneyintothehandsoftheunfortunatewomen。ThusEmmaGoldman’smoststrikingcharacteristic,hersympathywiththeunderdog,alreadybecamemanifestintheseearlyyears。

  AttheageofsevenlittleEmmawassentbyherparentstohergrandmotheratKonigsberg,thecityofEmanuelKant,inEasternPrussia。Saveforoccasionalinterruptions,sheremainedtheretillher13thbirthday。Thefirstyearsinthesesurroundingsdonotexactlybelongtoherhappiestrecollections。Thegrandmother,indeed,wasveryamiable,butthenumerousauntsofthehouseholdwereconcernedmorewiththespiritofpracticalratherthanpurereason,andthecategoricimperativewasappliedalltoofrequently。ThesituationwaschangedwhenherparentsmigratedtoKonigsberg,andlittleEmmawasrelievedfromherroleofCinderella。Shenowregularlyattendedpublicschoolandalsoenjoyedtheadvantagesofprivateinstruction,customaryinmiddleclasslife;Frenchandmusiclessonsplayedanimportantpartinthecurriculum。ThefutureinterpreterofIbsenandShawwasthenalittleGermanGretchen,quiteathomeintheGermanatmosphere。HerspecialpredilectionsinliteraturewerethesentimentalromancesofMarlitt;shewasagreatadmirerofthegoodQueenLouise,whomthebadNapoleonBuonapartetreatedwithsomarkedalackofknightlychivalry。Whatmighthavebeenherfuturedevelopmenthadsheremainedinthismilieu?Fate——orwasiteconomicnecessity?——willeditotherwise。HerparentsdecidedtosettleinSt。Petersburg,thecapitaloftheAlmightyTsar,andtheretoembarkinbusiness。Itwasherethatagreatchangetookplaceinthelifeoftheyoungdreamer。

  Itwasaneventfulperiod——theyearof1882——inwhichEmmaGoldman,theninher13thyear,arrivedinSt。Petersburg。AstruggleforlifeanddeathbetweentheautocracyandtheRussianintellectualssweptthecountry。AlexanderIIhadfallenthepreviousyear。

  SophiaPerovskaia,Zheliabov,Grinevitzky,Rissakov,Kibalchitch,Michailov,theheroicexecutorsofthedeathsentenceuponthetyrant,hadthenenteredtheWalhallaofimmortality。JessieHelfman,theonlyregicidewhoselifethegovernmenthadreluctantlysparedbecauseofpregnancy,followedtheunnumberedRussianmartyrstotheetapesofSiberia。Itwasthemostheroicperiodinthegreatbattleofemancipation,abattleforfreedomsuchastheworldhadneverwitnessedbefore。ThenamesoftheNihilistmartyrswereonalllips,andthousandswereenthusiastictofollowtheirexample。

  ThewholeINTELLIGENZIAofRussiawasfilledwiththeILLEGAL

  spirit:revolutionarysentimentspenetratedintoeveryhome,frommansiontohovel,impregnatingthemilitary,theCHINOVNIKS,factoryworkers,andpeasants。Theatmospherepiercedtheverycasematesoftheroyalpalace。Newideasgerminatedintheyouth。Thedifferenceofsexwasforgotten。Shouldertoshoulderfoughtthemenandthewomen。TheRussianwoman!Whoshalleverdojusticeoradequatelyportrayherheroismandself-sacrifice,herloyaltyanddevotion?

  Holy,Turgenievcallsherinhisgreatprosepoem,ONTHETHRESHOLD。

  ItwasinevitablethattheyoungdreamerfromKonigsbergshouldbedrawnintothemaelstrom。Toremainoutsideofthecircleoffreeideasmeantalifeofvegetation,ofdeath。Oneneednotwonderattheyouthfulage。Youngenthusiastswerenotthen——and,fortunately,arenotnow——ararephenomenoninRussia。ThestudyoftheRussianlanguagesoonbroughtyoungEmmaGoldmanintouchwithrevolutionarystudentsandnewideas。TheplaceofMarlittwastakenbyNekrassovandTchernishevsky。ThequondamadmirerofthegoodQueenLouisebecameaglowingenthusiastofliberty,resolving,likethousandsofothers,todevoteherlifetotheemancipationofthepeople。

  ThestruggleofgenerationsnowtookplaceintheGoldmanfamily。

  Theparentscouldnotcomprehendwhatinteresttheirdaughtercouldfindinthenewideas,whichtheythemselvesconsideredfantasticutopias。Theystrovetopersuadetheyounggirloutofthesechimeras,anddailyrepetitionofsoul-rackingdisputeswastheresult。Onlyinonememberofthefamilydidtheyoungidealistfindunderstanding——inhereldersister,Helene,withwhomshelateremigratedtoAmerica,andwhoseloveandsympathyhaveneverfailedher。EveninthedarkesthoursoflaterpersecutionEmmaGoldmanalwaysfoundahavenofrefugeinthehomeofthisloyalsister。

  EmmaGoldmanfinallyresolvedtoachieveherindependence。ShesawhundredsofmenandwomensacrificingbrilliantcareerstogoV

  NAROD,tothepeople。Shefollowedtheirexample。Shebecameafactoryworker;atfirstemployedasacorsetmaker,andlaterinthemanufactureofgloves。Shewasnow17yearsofageandproudtoearnherownliving。HadsheremainedinRussia,shewouldhaveprobablysoonerorlatersharedthefateofthousandsburiedinthesnowsofSiberia。Butanewchapteroflifewastobeginforher。SisterHelenedecidedtoemigratetoAmerica,whereanothersisterhadalreadymadeherhome。EmmaprevaileduponHelenetobeallowedtojoinher,andtogethertheydepartedforAmerica,filledwiththejoyoushopeofagreat,freeland,thegloriousRepublic。

  America!Whatmagicword。Theyearningoftheenslaved,thepromisedlandoftheoppressed,thegoalofalllongingforprogress。

  Hereman’sidealshadfoundtheirfulfillment:noTsar,noCossack,noCHINOVNIK。TheRepublic!Glorioussynonymofequality,freedom,brotherhood。

  Thusthoughtthetwogirlsastheytravelled,intheyear1886,fromNewYorktoRochester。Soon,alltoosoon,disillusionmentawaitedthem。TheidealconceptionofAmericawaspuncturedalreadyatCastleGarden,andsoonburstlikeasoapbubble。HereEmmaGoldmanwitnessedsightswhichremindedheroftheterriblescenesofherchildhoodinKurland。ThebrutalityandhumiliationthefuturecitizensofthegreatRepublicweresubjectedtoonboardship,wererepeatedatCastleGardenbytheofficialsofthedemocracyinamoresavageandaggravatingmanner。Andwhatbitterdisappointmentfollowedastheyoungidealistbegantofamiliarizeherselfwiththeconditionsinthenewland!InsteadofoneTsar,shefoundscoresofthem;theCossackwasreplacedbythepolicemanwiththeheavyclub,andinsteadoftheRussianCHINOVNIKtherewasthefarmoreinhumanslave-driverofthefactory。

  EmmaGoldmansoonobtainedworkintheclothingestablishmentoftheGarsonCo。Thewagesamountedtotwoandahalfdollarsaweek。Atthattimethefactorieswerenotprovidedwithmotorpower,andthepoorsewinggirlshadtodrivethewheelsbyfoot,fromearlymorningtilllateatnight。Aterriblyexhaustingtoilitwas,withoutarayoflight,thedrudgeryofthelongdaypassedincompletesilence——theRussiancustomoffriendlyconversationatworkwasnotpermissibleinthefreecountry。Buttheexploitationofthegirlswasnotonlyeconomic;thepoorwageworkerswerelookeduponbytheirforemenandbossesassexualcommodities。Ifagirlresentedtheadvancesofher\"superiors\",shewouldspeedilyfindherselfonthestreetasanundesirableelementinthefactory。Therewasneveralackofwillingvictims:thesupplyalwaysexceededthedemand。

  ThehorribleconditionsweremadestillmoreunbearablebythefearfuldrearinessoflifeinthesmallAmericancity。ThePuritanspiritsuppressestheslightestmanifestationofjoy;adeadlydullnessbecloudsthesoul;nointellectualinspiration,nothoughtexchangebetweencongenialspiritsispossible。EmmaGoldmanalmostsuffocatedinthisatmosphere。She,aboveallothers,longedforidealsurroundings,forfriendshipandunderstanding,forthecompanionshipofkindredminds。MentallyshestilllivedinRussia。

  Unfamiliarwiththelanguageandlifeofthecountry,shedweltmoreinthepastthaninthepresent。ItwasatthisperiodthatshemetayoungmanwhospokeRussian。Withgreatjoytheacquaintancewascultivated。Atlastapersonwithwhomshecouldconverse,onewhocouldhelpherbridgethedullnessofthenarrowexistence。Thefriendshipgraduallyripenedandfinallyculminatedinmarriage。

  EmmaGoldman,too,hadtowalkthesorrowfulroadofmarriedlife;

  she,too,hadtolearnfrombitterexperiencethatlegalstatutessignifydependenceandself-effacement,especiallyforthewoman。

  ThemarriagewasnoliberationfromthePuritandrearinessofAmericanlife;indeed,itwasratheraggravatedbythelossofself-ownership。Thecharactersoftheyoungpeopledifferedtoowidely。Aseparationsoonfollowed,andEmmaGoldmanwenttoNewHaven,Conn。Thereshefoundemploymentinafactory,andherhusbanddisappearedfromherhorizon。TwodecadeslatershewasfatedtobeunexpectedlyremindedofhimbytheFederalauthorities。

  TherevolutionistswhowereactiveintheRussianmovementofthe80’swerebutlittlefamiliarwiththesocialideasthenagitatingWesternEuropeandAmerica。Theirsoleactivityconsistedineducatingthepeople,theirfinalgoalthedestructionoftheautocracy。SocialismandAnarchismweretermshardlyknownevenbyname。EmmaGoldman,too,wasentirelyunfamiliarwiththesignificanceofthoseideals。

  ShearrivedinAmerica,asfouryearspreviouslyinRussia,ataperiodofgreatsocialandpoliticalunrest。Theworkingpeoplewereinrevoltagainsttheterriblelaborconditions;theeight-hourmovementoftheKnightsofLaborwasatitsheight,andthroughoutthecountryechoedthedinofsanguinestrifebetweenstrikersandpolice。ThestruggleculminatedinthegreatstrikeagainsttheHarvesterCompanyofChicago,themassacreofthestrikers,andthejudicialmurderofthelaborleaders,whichfolloweduponthehistoricHaymarketbombexplosion。TheAnarchistsstoodthemartyrtestofbloodbaptism。TheapologistsofcapitalismvainlyseektojustifythekillingofParsons,Spies,Lingg,Fischer,andEngel。

  SincethepublicationofGovernorAltgeld’sreasonforhisliberationofthethreeincarceratedHaymarketAnarchists,nodoubtisleftthatafivefoldlegalmurderhadbeencommittedinChicago,in1887。

  VeryfewhavegraspedthesignificanceoftheChicagomartyrdom;

  leastofalltherulingclasses。Bythedestructionofanumberoflaborleaderstheythoughttostemthetideofaworld-inspiringidea。Theyfailedtoconsiderthatfromthebloodofthemartyrsgrowsthenewseed,andthatthefrightfulinjusticewillwinnewconvertstotheCause。

  ThetwomostprominentrepresentativesoftheAnarchistideainAmerica,VoltairinedeCleyreandEmmaGoldman——theoneanativeAmerican,theotheraRussian——havebeenconverted,likenumerousothers,totheideasofAnarchismbythejudicialmurder。Twowomenwhohadnotknowneachotherbefore,andwhohadreceivedawidelydifferenteducation,werethroughthatmurderunitedinoneidea。

  LikemostworkingmenandwomenofAmerica,EmmaGoldmanfollowedtheChicagotrialwithgreatanxietyandexcitement。She,too,couldnotbelievethattheleadersoftheproletariatwouldbekilled。the11thofNovember,1887,taughtherdifferently。Sherealizedthatnomercycouldbeexpectedfromtherulingclass,thatbetweentheTsarismofRussiaandtheplutocracyofAmericatherewasnodifferencesaveinname。Herwholebeingrebelledagainstthecrime,andshevowedtoherselfasolemnvowtojointheranksoftherevolutionaryproletariatandtodevoteallherenergyandstrengthtotheiremancipationfromwageslavery。Withtheglowingenthusiasmsocharacteristicofhernature,shenowbegantofamiliarizeherselfwiththeliteratureofSocialismandAnarchism。Sheattendedpublicmeetingsandbecameacquaintedwithsocialisticallyandanarchisticallyinclinedworkingmen。JohannaGreie,thewell-knownGermanlecturer,wasthefirstSocialistspeakerheardbyEmmaGoldman。InNewHaven,Conn。,whereshewasemployedinacorsetfactory,shemetAnarchistsactivelyparticipatinginthemovement。

  HereshereadtheFREIHEIT,editedbyJohnMost。TheHaymarkettragedydevelopedherinherentAnarchisttendencies:thereadingoftheFREIHEITmadeheraconsciousAnarchist。SubsequentlyshewastolearnthattheideaofAnarchismfounditshighestexpressionthroughthebestintellectsofAmerica:theoreticallybyJosiahWarren,StephenPearlAndrews,LysanderSpooner;philosophicallybyEmerson,Thoreau,andWaltWhitman。

  Madeillbytheexcessivestrainoffactorywork,EmmaGoldmanreturnedtoRochesterwheresheremainedtillAugust,1889,atwhichtimesheremovedtoNewYork,thesceneofthemostimportantphaseofherlife。Shewasnowtwentyyearsold。Featurespallidwithsuffering,eyeslargeandfullofcompassion,greetoneinherpicturedlikenessofthosedays。Herhairis,ascustomarywithRussianstudentgirls,wornshort,givingfreeplaytothestrongforehead。

  ItistheheroicepochofmilitantAnarchism。Byleapsandboundsthemovementhadgrownineverycountry。Inspiteofthemostseveregovernmentalpersecutionnewconvertsswelltheranks。Thepropagandaisalmostexclusivelyofasecretcharacter。Therepressivemeasuresofthegovernmentdrivethedisciplesofthenewphilosophytoconspirativemethods。Thousandsofvictimsfallintothehandsoftheauthoritiesandlanguishinprisons。Butnothingcanstemtherisingtideofenthusiasm,ofself-sacrificeanddevotiontotheCause。TheeffortsofteacherslikePeterKropotkin,LouiseMichel,EliseeReclus,andothers,inspirethedevoteeswithevergreaterenergy。

  DisruptionisimminentwiththeSocialists,whohavesacrificedtheideaoflibertyandembracedtheStateandpolitics。Thestruggleisbitter,thefactionsirreconcilable。ThisstruggleisnotmerelybetweenAnarchistsandSocialists;italsofindsitsechowithintheAnarchistgroups。Theoreticdifferencesandpersonalcontroversiesleadtostrifeandacrimoniousenmities。Theanti-SocialistlegislationofGermanyandAustriahaddriventhousandsofSocialistsandAnarchistsacrosstheseastoseekrefugeinAmerica。JohnMost,havinglosthisseatintheReichstag,finallyhadtofleehisnativeland,andwenttoLondon。There,havingadvancedtowardAnarchism,heentirelywithdrewfromtheSocialDemocraticParty。Later,comingtoAmerica,hecontinuedthepublicationoftheFREIHEITinNewYork,anddevelopedgreatactivityamongtheGermanworkingmen。

  WhenEmmaGoldmanarrivedinNewYorkin1889,sheexperiencedlittledifficultyinassociatingherselfwithactiveAnarchists。Anarchistmeetingswereanalmostdailyoccurrence。ThefirstlecturersheheardontheAnarchistplatformwasDr。A。Solotaroff。OfgreatimportancetoherfuturedevelopmentwasheracquaintancewithJohnMost,whoexertedatremendousinfluenceovertheyoungerelements。

  Hisimpassionedeloquence,untiringenergy,andthepersecutionhehadenduredfortheCause,allcombinedtoenthusethecomrades。ItwasalsoatthisperiodthatshemetAlexanderBerkman,whosefriendshipplayedanimportantpartthroughoutherlife。Hertalentsasaspeakercouldnotlongremaininobscurity。Thefireofenthusiasmswepthertowardthepublicplatform。Encouragedbyherfriends,shebegantoparticipateasaGermanandYiddishspeakeratAnarchistmeetings。SoonfollowedabrieftourofagitationtakingherasfarasCleveland。WiththewholestrengthandearnestnessofhersoulshenowthrewherselfintothepropagandaofAnarchistideas。Thepassionateperiodofherlifehadbegun。Throughconstantlytoilinginsweatshops,thefieryyoungoratorwasatthesametimeveryactiveasanagitatorandparticipatedinvariouslaborstruggles,notablyinthegreatcloakmakers’strike,in1889,ledbyProfessorGarsydeandJosephBarondess。

  AyearlaterEmmaGoldmanwasadelegatetoanAnarchistconferenceinNewYork。ShewaselectedtotheExecutiveCommittee,butlaterwithdrewbecauseofdifferencesofopinionregardingtacticalmatters。TheideasoftheGerman-speakingAnarchistshadatthattimenotyetbecomeclarified。Somestillbelievedinparliamentarymethods,thegreatmajoritybeingadherentsofstrongcentralism。

  Thesedifferencesofopinioninregardtotacticsledin1891toabreachwithJohnMost。EmmaGoldman,AlexanderBerkman,andothercomradesjoinedthegroupAUTONOMY,inwhichJosephPeukert,OttoRinke,andClausTimmermannplayedanactivepart。ThebittercontroversieswhichfollowedthissecessionterminatedonlywiththedeathofMost,in1906。

  AgreatsourceofinspirationtoEmmaGoldmanprovedtheRussianrevolutionistswhowereassociatedinthegroupZNAMYA。Goldenberg,Solotaroff,Zametkin,Miller,Cahan,thepoetEdelstadt,IvanvonSchewitsch,husbandofHelenevonRacowitzaandeditoroftheVOLKSZEITUNG,andnumerousotherRussianexiles,someofwhomarestillliving,weremembersofthisgroup。ItwasalsoatthistimethatEmmaGoldmanmetRobertReitzel,theGerman-AmericanHeine,whoexertedagreatinfluenceonherdevelopment。Throughhimshebecameacquaintedwiththebestwritersofmodernliterature,andthefriendshipthusbegunlastedtillReitzel’sdeath,in1898。

  ThelabormovementofAmericahadnotbeendrownedintheChicagomassacre;themurderoftheAnarchistshadfailedtobringpeacetotheprofit-greedycapitalist。Thestrugglefortheeight-hourdaycontinued。In1892brokeoutthegreatstrikeinPittsburg。TheHomesteadfight,thedefeatofthePinkertons,theappearanceofthemilitia,thesuppressionofthestrikers,andthecompletetriumphofthereactionaremattersofcomparativelyrecenthistory。Stirredtotheverydepthsbytheterribleeventsattheseatofwar,AlexanderBerkmanresolvedtosacrificehislifetotheCauseandthusgiveanobjectlessontothewageslavesofAmericaofactiveAnarchistsolidaritywithlabor。HisattackuponFrick,theGesslerofPittsburg,failed,andthetwenty-two-year-oldyouthwasdoomedtoalivingdeathoftwenty-twoyearsinthepenitentiary。Thebourgeoisie,whichfordecadeshadexaltedandeulogizedtyrannicide,nowwasfilledwithterriblerage。ThecapitalistpressorganizedasystematiccampaignofcalumnyandmisrepresentationagainstAnarchists。ThepoliceexertedeveryefforttoinvolveEmmaGoldmanintheactofAlexanderBerkman。Thefearedagitatorwastobesilencedbyallmeans。ItwasonlyduetothecircumstanceofherpresenceinNewYorkthatsheescapedtheclutchesofthelaw。Itwasasimilarcircumstancewhich,nineyearslater,duringtheMcKinleyincident,wasinstrumentalinpreservingherliberty。Itisalmostincrediblewithwhatamountofstupidity,baseness,andvilenessthejournalistsoftheperiodsoughttooverwhelmtheAnarchist。Onemustperusethenewspaperfilestorealizetheenormityofincriminationandslander。ItwouldbedifficulttoportraytheagonyofsoulEmmaGoldmanexperiencedinthosedays。

  ThepersecutionsofthecapitalistpressweretobebornebyanAnarchistwithcomparativeequanimity;buttheattacksfromone’sownrankswerefarmorepainfulandunbearable。TheactofBerkmanwasseverelycriticizedbyMostandsomeofhisfollowersamongtheGermanandJewishAnarchists。Bitteraccusationsandrecriminationsatpublicmeetingsandprivategatheringsfollowed。Persecutedonallsides,bothbecauseshechampionedBerkmanandhisact,andonaccountofherrevolutionaryactivity,EmmaGoldmanwasharassedeventotheextentofinabilitytosecureshelter。Tooproudtoseeksafetyinthedenialofheridentity,shechosetopassthenightsinthepublicparksratherthanexposeherfriendstodangerorvexationbyhervisits。ThealreadybittercupwasfilledtooverflowingbytheattemptedsuicideofayoungcomradewhohadsharedlivingquarterswithEmmaGoldman,AlexanderBerkman,andamutualartistfriend。

  Manychangeshavesincetakenplace。AlexanderBerkmanhassurvivedthePennsylvaniaInferno,andisbackagainintheranksofthemilitantAnarchists,hisspiritunbroken,hissoulfullofenthusiasmfortheidealsofhisyouth。Theartistcomradeisnowamongthewell-knownillustratorsofNewYork。ThesuicidecandidateleftAmericashortlyafterhisunfortunateattempttodie,andwassubsequentlyarrestedandcondemnedtoeightyearsofhardlaborforsmugglingAnarchistliteratureintoGermany。He,too,haswithstoodtheterrorsofprisonlife,andhasreturnedtotherevolutionarymovement,sinceearningthewelldeservedreputationofatalentedwriterinGermany。

  ToavoidindefinitecampingintheparksEmmaGoldmanfinallywasforcedtomoveintoahouseonThirdStreet,occupiedexclusivelybyprostitutes。There,amongtheoutcastsofourgoodChristiansociety,shecouldatleastrentabitofaroom,andfindrestandworkathersewingmachine。ThewomenofthestreetshowedmorerefinementoffeelingandsinceresympathythanthepriestsoftheChurch。Buthumanendurancehadbeenexhaustedbyovermuchsufferingandprivation。Therewasacompletephysicalbreakdown,andtherenownedagitatorwasremovedtothe\"BohemianRepublic\"——alargetenementhousewhichderiveditseuphoniousappellationfromthefactthatitsoccupantsweremostlyBohemianAnarchists。HereEmmaGoldmanfoundfriendsreadytoaidher。JustusSchwab,oneofthefinestrepresentativesoftheGermanrevolutionaryperiodofthattime,andDr。Solotaroffwereindefatigableinthecareofthepatient。Here,too,shemetEdwardBrady,thenewfriendshipsubsequentlyripeningintocloseintimacy。BradyhadbeenanactiveparticipantintherevolutionarymovementofAustriaandhad,atthetimeofhisacquaintancewithEmmaGoldman,latelybeenreleasedfromanAustrianprisonafteranincarcerationoftenyears。

  Physiciansdiagnosedtheillnessasconsumption,andthepatientwasadvisedtoleaveNewYork。ShewenttoRochester,inthehopethatthehomecirclewouldhelprestorehertohealth。HerparentshadseveralyearspreviouslyemigratedtoAmerica,settlinginthatcity。

  AmongtheleadingtraitsoftheJewishraceisthestrongattachmentbetweenthemembersofthefamily,and,especially,betweenparentsandchildren。ThoughherconservativeparentscouldnotsympathizewiththeidealistaspirationsofEmmaGoldmananddidnotapproveofhermodeoflife,theynowreceivedtheirsickdaughterwithopenarms。Therestandcareenjoyedintheparentalhome,andthecheeringpresenceofthebelovedsisterHelene,provedsobeneficialthatwithinashorttimeshewassufficientlyrestoredtoresumeherenergeticactivity。

  ThereisnorestinthelifeofEmmaGoldman。Ceaselesseffortandcontinuousstrivingtowardtheconceivedgoalaretheessentialsofhernature。Toomuchprecioustimehadalreadybeenwasted。Itwasimperativetoresumeherlaborsimmediately。Thecountrywasinthethroesofacrisis,andthousandsofunemployedcrowdedthestreetsofthelargeindustrialcenters。Coldandhungrytheytrampedthroughthelandinthevainsearchforworkandbread。TheAnarchistsdevelopedastrenuouspropagandaamongtheunemployedandthestrikers。AmonsterdemonstrationofstrikingcloakmakersandoftheunemployedtookplaceatUnionSquare,NewYork。EmmaGoldmanwasoneoftheinvitedspeakers。Shedeliveredanimpassionedspeech,picturinginfierywordsthemiseryofthewageslave’slife,andquotedthefamousmaximofCardinalManning:\"Necessityknowsnolaw,andthestarvingmanhasanaturalrighttoashareofhisneighbor’sbread。\"Sheconcludedherexhortationwiththewords:

  \"Askforwork。Iftheydonotgiveyouwork,askforbread。Iftheydonotgiveyouworkorbread,thentakebread。\"

  ThefollowingdaysheleftforPhiladelphia,whereshewastoaddressapublicmeeting。Thecapitalistpressagainraisedthealarm。IfSocialistsandAnarchistsweretobepermittedtocontinueagitating,therewasimminentdangerthattheworkingmenwouldsoonlearntounderstandthemannerinwhichtheyarerobbedofthejoyandhappinessoflife。Suchapossibilitywastobepreventedatallcost。TheChiefofPoliceofNewYork,Byrnes,procuredacourtorderforthearrestofEmmaGoldman。ShewasdetainedbythePhiladelphiaauthoritiesandincarceratedforseveraldaysintheMoyamensingprison,awaitingtheextraditionpaperswhichByrnesintrustedtoDetectiveJacobs。ThismanJacobswhomEmmaGoldmanagainmetseveralyearslaterunderveryunpleasantcircumstances

  proposedtoher,whileshewasreturningaprisonertoNewYork,tobetraythecauseoflabor。Inthenameofhissuperior,ChiefByrnes,heofferedlucrativereward。Howstupidmensometimesare!

  WhatpovertyofpsychologicobservationtoimaginethepossibilityofbetrayalonthepartofayoungRussianidealist,whohadwillinglysacrificedallpersonalconsiderationstohelpinlabor’semancipation。

  InOctober,1893,EmmaGoldmanwastriedinthecriminalcourtsofNewYorkonthechargeofincitingtoriot。The\"intelligent\"juryignoredthetestimonyofthetwelvewitnessesforthedefenseinfavoroftheevidencegivenbyonesingleman——DetectiveJacobs。ShewasfoundguiltyandsentencedtoserveoneyearinthepenitentiaryatBlackwell’sIsland。SincethefoundationoftheRepublicshewasthefirstwoman——Mrs。Surrattexcepted——tobeimprisonedforapoliticaloffense。RespectablesocietyhadlongbeforestampeduponhertheScarletLetter。

  EmmaGoldmanpassedhertimeinthepenitentiaryinthecapacityofnurseintheprisonhospital。Hereshefoundopportunitytoshedsomeraysofkindnessintothedarklivesoftheunfortunateswhosesistersofthestreetdidnotdisdaintwoyearspreviouslytosharewithherthesamehouse。ShealsofoundinprisonopportunitytostudyEnglishanditsliterature,andtofamiliarizeherselfwiththegreatAmericanwriters。InBretHarte,MarkTwain,WaltWhitman,Thoreau,andEmersonshefoundgreattreasures。

  SheleftBlackwell’sIslandinthemonthofAugust,1894,awomanoftwenty-five,developedandmatured,andintellectuallytransformed。

  Backintothearena,richerinexperience,purifiedbysuffering。

  Shedidnotfeelherselfdesertedandaloneanymore。Manyhandswerestretchedouttowelcomeher。TherewereatthetimenumerousintellectualoasesinNewYork。ThesaloonofJustusSchwab,atNumberFifty,FirstStreet,wasthecenterwheregatheredAnarchists,litterateurs,andbohemians。AmongothersshealsometatthistimeanumberofAmericanAnarchists,andformedthefriendshipofVoltairinedeCleyre,Wm。C。Owen,MissVanEtton,andDyerD。Lum,formereditoroftheALARMandexecutorofthelastwishesoftheChicagomartyrs。InJohnSwinton,thenobleoldfighterforliberty,shefoundoneofherstaunchestfriends。Otherintellectualcenterstherewere:SOLIDARITY,publishedbyJohnEdelman;LIBERTY,bytheIndividualistAnarchist,BenjaminR。Tucker;theREBEL,byHarryKelly;DERSTURMVOGEL,aGermanAnarchistpublication,editedbyClausTimmermann;DERARMETEUFEL,whosepresidinggeniuswastheinimitableRobertReitzel。ThroughArthurBrisbane,nowchieflieutenantofWilliamRandolphHearst,shebecameacquaintedwiththewritingsofFourier。Brisbanethenwasnotyetsubmergedintheswampofpoliticalcorruption。HesentEmmaGoldmananamiablelettertoBlackwell’sIsland,togetherwiththebiographyofhisfather,theenthusiasticAmericandiscipleofFourier。

  EmmaGoldmanbecame,uponherreleasefromthepenitentiary,afactorinthepubliclifeofNewYork。Shewasappreciatedinradicalranksforherdevotion,heridealism,andearnestness。Variouspersonssoughtherfriendship,andsometriedtopersuadehertoaidinthefurtheranceoftheirspecialsideissues。ThusRev。Parkhurst,duringtheLexowinvestigation,didhisutmosttoinducehertojointheVigilanceCommitteeinordertofightTammanyHall。MariaLouise,themovingspiritofasocialcenter,actedasParkhurst’sgo-between。ItishardlynecessarytomentionwhatreplythelatterreceivedfromEmmaGoldman。Incidentally,MariaLouisesubsequentlybecameaMahatma。Duringthefreesilvercampaign,ex-BurgessMcLuckie,oneofthemostgenuinepersonalitiesintheHomesteadstrike,visitedNewYorkinanendeavortoenthusethelocalradicalsforfreesilver。HealsoattemptedtointerestEmmaGoldman,butwithnogreatersuccessthanMahatmaMariaLouiseofParkhurst-Lexowfame。

  In1894thestruggleoftheAnarchistsinFrancereacheditshighestexpression。ThewhiteterroronthepartoftheRepublicanupstartswasansweredbytheredterrorofourFrenchcomrades。WithfeverishanxietytheAnarchiststhroughouttheworldfollowedthissocialstruggle。Propagandabydeedfounditsreverberatingechoinalmostallcountries。Inordertobetterfamiliarizeherselfwithconditionsintheoldworld,EmmaGoldmanleftforEurope,intheyear1895。AfteralecturetourinEnglandandScotland,shewenttoViennawheresheenteredtheALLGEMEINEKRANKENHAUStoprepareherselfasmidwifeandnurse,andwhereatthesametimeshestudiedsocialconditions。ShealsofoundopportunitytoacquaintherselfwiththenewestliteratureofEurope:Hauptmann,Nietzsche,Ibsen,Zola,ThomasHardy,andotherartistrebelswerereadwithgreatenthusiasm。

  Intheautumnof1896shereturnedtoNewYorkbywayofZurichandParis。TheprojectofAlexanderBerkman’sliberationwasonhand。

  Thebarbaricsentenceoftwenty-twoyearshadrousedtremendousindignationamongtheradicalelements。ItwasknownthatthePardonBoardofPennsylvaniawouldlooktoCarnegieandFrickforadviceinthecaseofAlexanderBerkman。ItwasthereforesuggestedthattheseSultansofPennsylvaniabeapproached——notwithaviewofobtainingtheirgrace,butwiththerequestthattheydonotattempttoinfluencetheBoard。ErnestCrosbyofferedtoseeCarnegie,onconditionthatAlexanderBerkmanrepudiatehisact。That,however,wasabsolutelyoutofthequestion。Hewouldneverbeguiltyofsuchforswearingofhisownpersonalityandself-respect。TheseeffortsledtofriendlyrelationsbetweenEmmaGoldmanandthecircleofErnestCrosby,BoltonHall,andLeonardAbbott。Intheyear1897sheundertookherfirstgreatlecturetour,whichextendedasfarasCalifornia。Thistourpopularizedhernameastherepresentativeoftheoppressed,hereloquenceringingfromcoasttocoast。InCaliforniaEmmaGoldmanbecamefriendlywiththemembersoftheIsaakfamily,andlearnedtoappreciatetheireffortsfortheCause。UndertremendousobstaclestheIsaaksfirstpublishedtheFIREBRANDand,uponitssuppressionbythePostalDepartment,theFREESOCIETY。ItwasalsoduringthistourthatEmmaGoldmanmetthatgrandoldrebelofsexualfreedom,MosesHarman。

  DuringtheSpanish-Americanwarthespiritofchauvinismwasatitshighesttide。Tocheckthisdangeroussituation,andatthesametimecollectfundsfortherevolutionaryCubans,EmmaGoldmanbecameaffiliatedwiththeLatincomrades,amongotherswithGori,Esteve,Palaviccini,Merlino,Petruccini,andFerrara。Intheyear1899

  followedanotherprotractedtourofagitation,terminatingonthePacificCoast。Repeatedarrestsandaccusations,thoughwithoutultimatebadresults,markedeverypropagandatour。

  InNovemberofthesameyeartheuntiringagitatorwentonasecondlecturetourtoEnglandandScotland,closingherjourneywiththefirstInternationalAnarchistCongressatParis。ItwasatthetimeoftheBoerwar,andagainjingoismwasatitsheight,astwoyearspreviouslyithadcelebrateditsorgiesduringtheSpanish-Americanwar。Variousmeetings,bothinEnglandandScotland,weredisturbedandbrokenupbypatrioticmobs。EmmaGoldmanfoundonthisoccasiontheopportunityofagainmeetingvariousEnglishcomradesandinterestingpersonalitieslikeTomMannandthesistersRossetti,thegifteddaughtersofDanteGabrielRossetti,thenpublishersoftheAnarchistreview,theTORCH。Oneofherlife-longhopesfoundhereitsfulfillment:shecameincloseandfriendlytouchwithPeterKropotkin,EnricoMalatesta,NicholasTchaikovsky,W。Tcherkessov,andLouiseMichel。Oldwarriorsinthecauseofhumanity,whosedeedshaveenthusedthousandsoffollowersthroughouttheworld,andwhoselifeandworkhaveinspiredotherthousandswithnobleidealismandself-sacrifice。Oldwarriorsthey,yeteveryoungwiththecourageofearlierdays,unbrokeninspiritandfilledwiththefirmhopeofthefinaltriumphofAnarchy。

  Thechasmintherevolutionarylabormovement,whichresultedfromthedisruptionoftheINTERNATIONALE,couldnotbebridgedanymore。

  Twosocialphilosophieswereengagedinbittercombat。TheInternationalCongressin1889,atParis;in1892,atZurich,andin1896,atLondon,producedirreconcilabledifferences。ThemajorityofSocialDemocrats,forswearingtheirlibertarianpastandbecomingpoliticians,succeededinexcludingtherevolutionaryandAnarchistdelegates。Thelatterdecidedthenceforthtoholdseparatecongresses。Theirfirstcongresswastotakeplacein1900,atParis。TheSocialistrenegade,Millerand,whohadclimbedintotheMinistryoftheInterior,hereplayedaJudasrole。Thecongressoftherevolutionistswassuppressed,andthedelegatesdispersedtwodayspriortotheirscheduledopening。ButMillerandhadnoobjectionsagainsttheSocialDemocraticCongress,whichwasafterwardsopenedwithallthetrumpetsoftheadvertiser’sart。

  However,therenegadedidnotaccomplishhisobject。AnumberofdelegatessucceededinholdingasecretconferenceinthehouseofacomradeoutsideofParis,wherevariouspointsoftheoryandtacticswerediscussed。EmmaGoldmantookconsiderablepartintheseproceedings,andonthatoccasioncameincontactwithnumerousrepresentativesoftheAnarchistmovementofEurope。

  Owingtothesuppressionofthecongress,thedelegateswereindangerofbeingexpelledfromFrance。AtthistimealsocamethebadnewsfromAmericaregardinganotherunsuccessfulattempttoliberateAlexanderBerkman,provingagreatshocktoEmmaGoldman。InNovember,1900,shereturnedtoAmericatodevoteherselftoherprofessionofnurse,atthesametimetakinganactivepartintheAmericanpropaganda。AmongotheractivitiessheorganizedmonstermeetingsofprotestagainsttheterribleoutragesoftheSpanishgovernment,perpetrateduponthepoliticalprisonerstorturedinMontjuich。

  InhervocationasnurseEmmaGoldmanenjoyedmanyopportunitiesofmeetingthemostunusualandpeculiarcharacters。Fewwouldhaveidentifiedthe\"notoriousAnarchist\"inthesmallblondewoman,simplyattiredintheuniformofanurse。SoonafterherreturnfromEuropeshebecameacquaintedwithapatientbythenameofMrs。

  Stander,amorphinefiend,sufferingexcruciatingagonies。Sherequiredcarefulattentiontoenablehertosuperviseaveryimportantbusinesssheconducted,——thatofMrs。Warren。InThirdStreet,nearThirdAvenue,wassituatedherprivateresidence,andnearit,connectedbyaseparateentrance,washerplaceofbusiness。

  Oneevening,thenurse,uponenteringtheroomofherpatient,suddenlycamefacetofacewithamalevisitor,bull-neckedandofbrutalappearance。ThemanwasnootherthanMr。Jacobs,thedetectivewhosevenyearspreviouslyhadbroughtEmmaGoldmanaprisonerfromPhiladelphiaandwhohadattemptedtopersuadeher,ontheirwaytoNewYork,tobetraythecauseoftheworkingmen。ItwouldbedifficulttodescribetheexpressionofbewildermentonthecountenanceofthemanashesounexpectedlyfacedEmmaGoldman,thenurseofhismistress。Thebrutewassuddenlytransformedintoagentleman,exertinghimselftoexcusehisshamefulbehavioronthepreviousoccasion。Jacobswasthe\"protector\"ofMrs。Stander,andgo-betweenforthehouseandthepolice。Severalyearslater,asoneofthedetectivestaffofDistrictAttorneyJerome,hecommittedperjury,wasconvicted,andsenttoSingSingforayear。Heisnowprobablyemployedbysomeprivatedetectiveagency,adesirablepillarofrespectablesociety。

  In1901PeterKropotkinwasinvitedbytheLowellInstituteofMassachusettstodeliveraseriesoflecturesonRussianliterature。

  ItwashissecondAmericantour,andnaturallythecomradeswereanxioustousehispresenceforthebenefitofthemovement。EmmaGoldmanenteredintocorrespondencewithKropotkinandsucceededinsecuringhisconsenttoarrangeforhimaseriesoflectures。ShealsodevotedherenergiestoorganizingthetoursofotherwellknownAnarchists,principallythoseofCharlesW。MowbrayandJohnTurner。

  Similarlyshealwaystookpartinalltheactivitiesofthemovement,everreadytogivehertime,ability,andenergytotheCause。

  OnthesixthofSeptember,1901,PresidentMcKinleywasshotbyLeonCzolgoszatBuffalo。ImmediatelyanunprecedentedcampaignofpersecutionwassetinmotionagainstEmmaGoldmanasthebestknownAnarchistinthecountry。Althoughtherewasabsolutelynofoundationfortheaccusation,she,togetherwithotherprominentAnarchists,wasarrestedinChicago,keptinconfinementforseveralweeks,andsubjectedtoseverestcross-examination。Neverbeforeinthehistoryofthecountryhadsuchaterribleman-hunttakenplaceagainstapersoninpubliclife。ButtheeffortsofpoliceandpresstoconnectEmmaGoldmanwithCzolgoszprovedfutile。Yettheepisodeleftherwoundedtotheheart。Thephysicalsuffering,thehumiliationandbrutalityatthehandsofthepoliceshecouldbear。

  Thedepressionofsoulwasfarworse。Shewasoverwhelmedbyrealizationofthestupidity,lackofunderstanding,andvilenesswhichcharacterizedtheeventsofthoseterribledays。TheattitudeofmisunderstandingonthepartofthemajorityofherowncomradestowardCzolgoszalmostdrovehertodesperation。Stirredtotheveryinmostofhersoul,shepublishedanarticleonCzolgoszinwhichshetriedtoexplainthedeedinitssocialandindividualaspects。Asoncebefore,afterBerkman’sact,shenowalsowasunabletofindquarters;likeaveritablewildanimalshewasdrivenfromplacetoplace。Thisterriblepersecutionand,especially,theattitudeofhercomradesmadeitimpossibleforhertocontinuepropaganda。Thesorenessofbodyandsoulhadfirsttoheal。During1901-1903shedidnotresumetheplatform。As\"MissSmith\"shelivedaquietlife,practicingherprofessionanddevotingherleisuretothestudyofliteratureand,particularly,tothemoderndrama,whichsheconsidersoneofthegreatestdisseminatorsofradicalideasandenlightenedfeeling。

  YetonethingthepersecutionofEmmaGoldmanaccomplished。Hernamewasbroughtbeforethepublicwithgreaterfrequencyandemphasisthaneverbefore,themaliciousharassingofthemuchmalignedagitatorarousingstrongsympathyinmanycircles。Personsinvariouswalksoflifebegantogetinterestedinherstruggleandherideas。Abetterunderstandingandappreciationwerenowbeginningtomanifestthemselves。

  ThearrivalinAmericaoftheEnglishAnarchist,JohnTurner,inducedEmmaGoldmantoleaveherretirement。Againshethrewherselfintoherpublicactivities,organizinganenergeticmovementforthedefenseofTurner,whomtheImmigrationauthoritiescondemnedtodeportationonaccountoftheAnarchistexclusionlaw,passedafterthedeathofMcKinley。

  WhenPaulOrleneffandMme。NazimovaarrivedinNewYorktoacquainttheAmericanpublicwithRussiandramaticart,EmmaGoldmanbecamethemanageroftheundertaking。BymuchpatienceandperseveranceshesucceededinraisingthenecessaryfundstointroducetheRussianartiststothetheater-goersofNewYorkandChicago。Thoughfinanciallynotasuccess,theventureprovedofgreatartisticvalue。AsmanageroftheRussiantheaterEmmaGoldmanenjoyedsomeuniqueexperiences。M。OrleneffcouldconverseonlyinRussian,and\"MissSmith\"wasforcedtoactashisinterpreteratvariouspolitefunctions。MostofthearistocraticladiesofFifthAvenuehadnottheleastinklingthattheamiablemanagerwhosoentertaininglydiscussedphilosophy,drama,andliteratureattheirfiveo’clockteas,wasthe\"notorious\"EmmaGoldman。Ifthelattershouldsomedaywriteherautobiography,shewillnodoubthavemanyinterestinganecdotestorelateinconnectionwiththeseexperiences。

  TheweeklyAnarchistpublication,FREESOCIETY,issuedbytheIsaakfamily,wasforcedtosuspendinconsequenceofthenation-widefurythatsweptthecountryafterthedeathofMcKinley。TofilloutthegapEmmaGoldman,inco-operationwithMaxBaginskiandothercomrades,decidedtopublishamonthlymagazinedevotedtothefurtheranceofAnarchistideasinlifeandliterature。ThefirstissueofMOTHEREARTHappearedinthemonthofMarch,1906,theinitialexpensesoftheperiodicalpartlycoveredbytheproceedsofatheaterbenefitgivenbyOrleneff,Mme。Nazimova,andtheircompany,infavoroftheAnarchistmagazine。UndertremendousdifficultiesandobstaclesthetirelesspropagandisthassucceededincontinuingMOTHEREARTHuninterruptedlysince1906——anachievementrarelyequalledintheannalsofradicalpublications。

  InMay,1906,AlexanderBerkmanatlastleftthehellofPennsylvania,wherehehadpassedthebestfourteenyearsofhislife。Noonehadbelievedinthepossibilityofhissurvival。HisliberationterminatedanightmareoffourteenyearsforEmmaGoldman,andanimportantchapterofhercareerwasthusconcluded。

  NowherehadthebirthoftheRussianrevolutionarousedsuchvitalandactiveresponseasamongtheRussianslivinginAmerica。TheheroesoftherevolutionarymovementinRussia,Tchaikovsky,Mme。

  Breshkovskaia,Gershuni,andothersvisitedtheseshorestowakenthesympathiesoftheAmericanpeopletowardthestruggleforliberty,andtocollectaidforitscontinuanceandsupport。Thesuccessoftheseeffortswastoaconsiderableextentduetotheexertions,eloquence,andthetalentfororganizationonthepartofEmmaGoldman。Thisopportunityenabledhertogivevaluableservicestothestruggleforlibertyinhernativeland。ItisnotgenerallyknownthatitistheAnarchistswhoaremainlyinstrumentalininsuringthesuccess,moralaswellasfinancial,ofmostoftheradicalundertakings。TheAnarchistisindifferenttoacknowledgedappreciation;theneedsoftheCauseabsorbhiswholeinterest,andtothesehedevoteshisenergyandabilities。Yetitmaybementionedthatsomeotherwisedecentfolks,thoughatalltimesanxiousforAnarchistsupportandco-operation,areeverwillingtomonopolizeallthecreditfortheworkdone。DuringthelastseveraldecadesitwaschieflytheAnarchistswhohadorganizedallthegreatrevolutionaryefforts,andaidedineverystruggleforliberty。Butforfearofshockingtherespectablemob,wholooksupontheAnarchistsastheapostlesofSatan,andbecauseoftheirsocialpositioninbourgeoissociety,thewould-beradicalsignoretheactivityoftheAnarchists。

  In1907EmmaGoldmanparticipatedasdelegatetothesecondAnarchistCongress,atAmsterdam。ShewasintenselyactiveinallitsproceedingsandsupportedtheorganizationoftheAnarchistINTERNATIONALE。TogetherwiththeotherAmericandelegate,MaxBaginski,shesubmittedtothecongressanexhaustivereportofAmericanconditions,closingwiththefollowingcharacteristicremarks:

  \"ThechargethatAnarchismisdestructive,ratherthanconstructive,andthat,therefore,Anarchismisopposedtoorganization,isoneofthemanyfalsehoodsspreadbyouropponents。Theyconfoundourpresentsocialinstitutionswithorganization;hencetheyfailtounderstandhowwecanopposetheformer,andyetfavorthelatter。

  Thefact,however,isthatthetwoarenotidentical。

  \"TheStateiscommonlyregardedasthehighestformoforganization。

  Butisitinrealityatrueorganization?Isitnotratheranarbitraryinstitution,cunninglyimposeduponthemasses?

  \"Industry,too,iscalledanorganization;yetnothingisfartherfromthetruth。Industryistheceaselesspiracyoftherichagainstthepoor。

  \"WeareaskedtobelievethattheArmyisanorganization,butacloseinvestigationwillshowthatitisnothingelsethanacruelinstrumentofblindforce。

  \"ThePublicSchool!Thecollegesandotherinstitutionsoflearning,aretheynotmodelsoforganization,offeringthepeoplefineopportunitiesforinstruction?Farfromit。Theschool,morethananyotherinstitution,isaveritablebarrack,wherethehumanmindisdrilledandmanipulatedintosubmissiontovarioussocialandmoralspooks,andthusfittedtocontinueoursystemofexploitationandoppression。

  \"Organization,asWEunderstandit,however,isadifferentthing。

  Itisbased,primarily,onfreedom。Itisanaturalandvoluntarygroupingofenergiestosecureresultsbeneficialtohumanity。

  \"Itistheharmonyoforganicgrowthwhichproducesvarietyofcolorandform,thecompletewholeweadmireintheflower。Analogouslywilltheorganizedactivityoffreehumanbeings,imbuedwiththespiritofsolidarity,resultintheperfectionofsocialharmony,whichwecallAnarchism。Infact,Anarchismalonemakesnon-authoritarianorganizationofcommoninterestspossible,sinceitabolishestheexistingantagonismbetweenindividualsandclasses。

  \"Underpresentconditionstheantagonismofeconomicandsocialinterestsresultsinrelentlesswaramongthesocialunits,andcreatesaninsurmountableobstacleinthewayofaco-operativecommonwealth。

  \"Thereisamistakennotionthatorganizationdoesnotfosterindividualfreedom;that,onthecontrary,itmeansthedecayofindividuality。Inreality,however,thetruefunctionoforganizationistoaidthedevelopmentandgrowthofpersonality。

  \"Justastheanimalcells,bymutualco-operation,expresstheirlatentpowersinformationofthecompleteorganism,sodoestheindividual,byco-operativeeffortwithotherindividuals,attainhishighestformofdevelopment。

  \"Anorganization,inthetruesense,cannotresultfromthecombinationofmerenonentities。Itmustbecomposedofself-conscious,intelligentindividualities。Indeed,thetotalofthepossibilitiesandactivitiesofanorganizationisrepresentedintheexpressionofindividualenergies。

  \"Itthereforelogicallyfollowsthatthegreaterthenumberofstrong,self-consciouspersonalitiesinanorganization,thelessdangerofstagnation,andthemoreintenseitslifeelement。

  \"Anarchismassertsthepossibilityofanorganizationwithoutdiscipline,fear,orpunishment,andwithoutthepressureofpoverty:

  anewsocialorganismwhichwillmakeanendtotheterriblestruggleforthemeansofexistence,——thesavagestrugglewhichunderminesthefinestqualitiesinman,andeverwidensthesocialabyss。Inshort,Anarchismstrivestowardsasocialorganizationwhichwillestablishwell-beingforall。

  \"Thegermofsuchanorganizationcanbefoundinthatformoftradesunionismwhichhasdoneawaywithcentralization,bureaucracy,anddiscipline,andwhichfavorsindependentanddirectactiononthepartofitsmembers。\"

  TheveryconsiderableprogressofAnarchistideasinAmericacanbestbegaugedbytheremarkablesuccessofthethreeextensivelecturetoursofEmmaGoldmansincetheAmsterdamCongressof1907。Eachtourextendedovernewterritory,includinglocalitieswhereAnarchismhadneverbeforereceivedahearing。ButthemostgratifyingaspectofheruntiringeffortsisthetremendoussaleofAnarchistliterature,whosepropagandisteffectcannotbeestimated。

  Itwasduringoneofthesetoursthataremarkableincidenthappened,strikinglydemonstratingtheinspiringpotentialitiesoftheAnarchistidea。InSanFrancisco,in1908,EmmaGoldman’slectureattractedasoldieroftheUnitedStatesArmy,WilliamBuwalda。FordaringtoattendanAnarchistmeeting,thefreeRepubliccourt-martialedBuwaldaandimprisonedhimforoneyear。Thankstotheregeneratingpowerofthenewphilosophy,thegovernmentlostasoldier,butthecauseoflibertygainedaman。

  ApropagandistofEmmaGoldman’simportanceisnecessarilyasharpthorntothereaction。Sheislookeduponasadangertothecontinuedexistenceofauthoritarianusurpation。Nowonder,then,thattheenemyresortstoanyandallmeanstomakeherimpossible。

  Asystematicattempttosuppressheractivitieswasorganizedayearagobytheunitedpoliceforceofthecountry。Butlikeallprevioussimilarattempts,itfailedinamostbrilliantmanner。EnergeticprotestsonthepartoftheintellectualelementofAmericasucceededinoverthrowingthedastardlyconspiracyagainstfreespeech。

  AnotherattempttomakeEmmaGoldmanimpossiblewasessayedbytheFederalauthoritiesatWashington。Inordertodepriveheroftherightsofcitizenship,thegovernmentrevokedthecitizenshippapersofherhusband,whomshehadmarriedattheyouthfulageofeighteen,andwhosewhereabouts,ifhebealive,couldnotbedeterminedforthelasttwodecades。ThegreatgovernmentofthegloriousUnitedStatesdidnothesitatetostooptothemostdespicablemethodstoaccomplishthatachievement。ButashercitizenshiphadneverprovedofusetoEmmaGoldman,shecanbearthelosswithalightheart。

  Therearepersonalitieswhopossesssuchapowerfulindividualitythatbyitsveryforcetheyexertthemostpotentinfluenceoverthebestrepresentativesoftheirtime。MichaelBakuninwassuchapersonality。Butforhim,RichardWagnerhadneverwrittenDIEKUNST

  UNDDIEREVOLUTION。EmmaGoldmanisasimilarpersonality。Sheisastrongfactorinthesocio-politicallifeofAmerica。Byvirtueofhereloquence,energy,andbrilliantmentality,shemouldsthemindsandheartsofthousandsofherauditors。

  Deepsympathyandcompassionforsufferinghumanity,andaninexorablehonestytowardherself,aretheleadingtraitsofEmmaGoldman。Noperson,whetherfriendorfoe,shallpresumetocontrolhergoalordictatehermodeoflife。Shewouldperishratherthansacrificeherconvictions,ortherightofself-ownershipofsoulandbody。RespectabilitycouldeasilyforgivetheteachingoftheoreticAnarchism;butEmmaGoldmandoesnotmerelypreachthenewphilosophy;shealsopersistsinlivingit,——andthatistheonesupreme,unforgivablecrime。Wereshe,likesomanyradicals,toconsiderheridealasmerelyanintellectualornament;wereshetomakeconcessionstoexistingsocietyandcompromisewitholdprejudices,——theneventhemostradicalviewscouldbepardonedinher。Butthatshetakesherradicalismseriously;thatithaspermeatedherbloodandmarrowtotheextentwhereshenotmerelyteachesbutalsopracticesherconvictions——thisshockseventheradicalMrs。Grundy。EmmaGoldmanlivesherownlife;sheassociateswithpublicans——hencetheindignationofthePhariseesandSadducees。

  ItisnomerecoincidencethatsuchdivergentwritersasPietroGoriandWilliamMarionReedyfindsimilartraitsintheircharacterizationofEmmaGoldman。InacontributiontoLAQUESTIONE

  SOCIALE,PietroGoricallshera\"moralpower,awomanwho,withthevisionofasibyl,prophesiesthecomingofanewkingdomfortheoppressed;awomanwho,withlogicanddeepearnestness,analysestheillsofsociety,andportrays,withartisttouch,thecomingdawnofhumanity,foundedonequality,brotherhood,andliberty。\"

  WilliamReedyseesinEmmaGoldmanthe\"daughterofthedream,hergospelavisionwhichisthevisionofeverytrulygreat-souledmanandwomanwhohaseverlived。\"

  CowardswhofeartheconsequencesoftheirdeedshavecoinedthewordofphilosophicAnarchism。EmmaGoldmanistoosincere,toodefiant,toseeksafetybehindsuchpaltrypleas。SheisanAnarchist,pureandsimple。SherepresentstheideaofAnarchismasframedbyJosiahWarrn,Proudhon,Bakunin,Kropotkin,Tolstoy。YetshealsounderstandsthepsychologiccauseswhichinduceaCaserio,aVaillant,aBresci,aBerkman,oraCzolgosztocommitdeedsofviolence。Tothesoldierinthesocialstruggleitisapointofhonortocomeinconflictwiththepowersofdarknessandtyranny,andEmmaGoldmanisproudtocountamongherbestfriendsandcomradesmenandwomenwhobearthewoundsandscarsreceivedinbattle。

  InthewordsofVoltairinedeCleyre,characterizingEmmaGoldmanafterthelatter’simprisonmentin1893:ThespiritthatanimatesEmmaGoldmanistheonlyonewhichwillemancipatetheslavefromhisslavery,thetyrantfromhistyranny——thespiritwhichiswillingtodareandsuffer。

  HIPPOLYTEHAVEL。

  NewYork,December,1910。

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