Chapter XV: Patriotism Ridiculed and Despised

Though it is evident that there can be no patriotism in men who are doing their utmost to overthrow our government by stirring up class-hatred and inciting rebellion, still most of the citizens of our country have never realized the extent to which Socialists ridicule and despise patriotism and abhor its very name.

"The Call," September 25, 1912, in answering the charge that Socialism undermines patriotism, says: "So it does, and is proud of it, if by patriotism is meant that mawkish sentiment which causes a man, for the sum of $15 a month, to go out and get himself killed in defense of a country of which he owns not a single foot and can never hope to own any. If a wage slave is paid only enough to live on, anyhow, what difference to him does it make whether his boss is a Britisher or a Chinaman?"

The Socialists often succeed in stirring up violence during strikes to develop the spirit of revolt; then, when it becomes necessary for the state to protect the lives and property of its citizens, the lovers of rebellion and disorder do their utmost to incite hatred and contempt against the soldiers who are sent to preserve order.

On February 10, 1912, there appeared in "The Call" an article which reads as follows:

"The capitalist class, alarmed at the amazingly rapid growth of
anti-militarism in this country, is endeavoring, through church and
government, to combat this just sentiment, and by law and precept
to create an artificial respect and love for the soldiers' uniform
and the American flag.

"'Respect the uniform, honor the flag,' is their cry, and they are
foolish enough to believe that if they raise their voices loud
enough, we, the workers, will become infected by their fictitious
enthusiasm, and shout with them.

"'Honor the uniform!' Oh, surely! Honor the trappings and gold lace
with which they are dressing up their weak-minded scabs! Honor the
uniform which has the power to transform a decent but ignorant boy
of the working class into an unthinking savage, who would, if
ordered to do so by a superior in rank, shoot down his aged father
or kill his sister's unborn child with a bayonet thrust, should
they happen to be on strike and crying aloud for a little more
bread, warmer clothing and better shelter. Honor the uniform? No,
spit on it! Make it a shame and a reproach until a worker who wears
it will not dare to show his face among decent working people.
Honor the uniform! Honor that which gives a free license to kill,
if the victim happens to be a worker? Honor that which stands for
oppression, for the loafer against the worker, for the master
against the slave? Honor that which causes a worker to become a
traitor to his class, to forget his ties of blood, and for pay to
deliver himself over body and soul to his natural enemy, the
capitalist class? Honor the Judases, the Benedict Arnolds of the
working class? Our masters insult us by even asking such a thing.

"Shall we honor the Massachusetts militiamen who, without the
slightest provocation, murdered a young worker? Is that what you
want us to do, you capitalists, you cardinals and presidents? You
ask too late, for we already despise and loathe your decorated
hirelings, and are, as time passes, making it more difficult for
you to recruit our decent boys and transform them into loathsome
parasites."

On May 6, 1919, millions of New Yorkers enthusiastically welcomed the 77th Division of our soldier boys on their return home from the battle-fields of Europe. Glowing descriptions of the celebration appeared in nearly all the papers of the Metropolis. A contemptible account, however, was published the next day in "The Call," showing the scornful spirit of the Socialists toward the millions of American troops who made so many sacrifices for their country in the late war. The article in "The Call" runs as follows:

"Rows and Rows and Rows and Rows and Rows of 'Em March

"_Folks Cheered 77th Division which Finally Changed From Toys Into
Folks, Too._

"A row of mounted police rode up Fifth avenue yesterday.

"A man carrying a banner on which were the words and figures, '77th
Division,' marched up Fifth avenue yesterday.

"A band played all the way up Fifth avenue yesterday.

"A line of soldiers walked up Fifth avenue yesterday.

"A second line of soldiers walked up Fifth avenue yesterday.

"A third line of soldiers walked up Fifth avenue yesterday.

"A fourth line of soldiers walked up Fifth avenue yesterday.

* * * * *

"A soldier carrying a service flag walked up Fifth avenue
yesterday.

* * * * *

"One soldier wore khaki and carried a steel helmet on his shoulder.

"A second soldier wore khaki and carried a steel helmet on his
shoulder.

"A third soldier wore khaki and carried a steel helmet on his
shoulder.

"A fourth soldier wore khaki and carried a steel helmet on his
shoulder.

* * * * *

"They marched precisely.

"They marched steadily.

"They marched firmly.

"They marched in silence.

* * * * *

"The crowds cheered.

"The crowds waved flags.

"The crowds did not fill the stands.

"The crowds applauded.

* * * * *

"The police kept the waves of humanity back.

"The police did not have much trouble.

"The police permitted the crowd to cheer.

"The police permitted the crowds to wave flags.

* * * * *

"Soldiers of the 77th Division marched up Fifth avenue yesterday,
and when they had done marching they broke ranks and greeted their
friends and relatives who had not seen them since they went to war.

* * * * *

"A mother greeted her son with kisses and tears.

"A mother greeted her son with kisses and tears.

"A mother greeted her son with kisses and tears.

"Change the word 'mother' to sweetheart, brother, sister, and keep
on repeating until 'father' is reached and then change 'kisses and
tears' to 'smiles and cheers.'"

The hypocritical Socialists at one moment plead for universal peace, the desire of nations, and at the next for class hatred. They are trying to ruin our domestic peace and to expose us to the ravages of lawlessness and crime. By fostering contempt for soldiers and other guardians of the peace, they not only make it harder for them to fulfil their duties, but prevent many from joining the army and navy for the defense of our country against foreign and domestic foes.

Our country at present is well able to defend itself against foreign attacks, but if our domestic enemies continue to sow the seeds of discord and class hatred among our fellow citizens, it will surely fall, for no nation that is divided against itself can stand.

From the very fact that "The Call" of February 10, 1912, dared to publish the following article, showing the intense hatred of its author for the Stars and Stripes, our national emblem, the reader can judge for himself whether the thousands of unoffended subscribers have the faintest spark of patriotism in their hearts:

"'At least honor the flag!' they cry in desperation. 'Honor the
flag which stands for freedom, equality and fraternity!'

"What flag? The American flag? The Stars and Stripes? The flag
which floats over every hellhole of mine and mill and prison? The
flag which floats over station house and barracks whence issue
police and soldiers to batter down and murder workers exercising
their constitutional rights of free speech and free assemblage?
Honor the flag which you, our masters, have changed from a flag of
liberty into a symbol of the cruelest exploitation and vilest
oppression of the new civilization?

"If I had been Samuel Gompers when he was reproached by the
capitalists for placing his foot on the American flag, I should
have answered: 'Yes, I trampled on it, and, more than that, I spit
upon your flag, not mine; I loathe the Stars and Stripes, once the
symbol of liberty for all, but now the stripes represent the bloody
stripes left by your lash on the back of the worker, and the stars,
the bullet and bayonet wounds in his breast. To hell with your
flag!...

"Down with the Stars and Stripes! Run up the red flag of humanity."

Not alone do the members of the rank and file of the Socialist Party attack the Star Spangled Banner, but even its foremost leaders are guilty of the same offense. "The Comrade," July, 1904, furnishes us with an attack made upon our country's flag by no less a personage than Eugene V. Debs:

"Have you a drop of blood in your veins? Has your manhood rotted into cowardice? Wake up and take your place in the class struggle. For the desecration of the flag your leader is in jail. What flag? The flag of the capitalist class--the flag that floats over the bull pens of Colorado. The wholesome truths he stamped upon its stripes are your shame and your masters' crime. Rally to the red flag of international Socialism, the symbol of the proletarian revolt."