Chapter I: Front Matter

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A man who lived for truth, and truth alone--
Brave as the bravest--generous as brave;
A man whose heart was rent by every moan
That burst from every trodden, tortured slave;
A man prepared to fight, prepared to die,
To lighten, banish, human misery.

The mighty scorned him, vilified, oppressed;
The bitter cup of poverty and pain
Forced him to drink. He was misfortune’s guest
Through weary, weary years; his anguish’d brain
Shed tears of pity--wrath--for Mankind’s woe;
For his own sorrows tears could never flow.

He loved the people with a brother’s love;
He hated tyrants with a tyrant’s hate.
He turned from kings below, to God above--
The King of kings, who smites the wicked great.
The shame, the scourge, the terror of their race,
Those demons in earth’s holy dwelling-place.

Thou noble soul!--around thee gathered those
Who, poor and trampled patriots, were like thee.
Thou art not dead!--thy martyred spirit glows
In us, a band devoted of the free;
We best can celebrate thy natal day,
By virtues, valours, such as marked thy way.

WILLIAM MACCALL.

THE

RISE, PROGRESS, AND PHASES

OF

HUMAN SLAVERY:

HOW IT CAME INTO THE WORLD, AND HOW IT SHALL BE MADE TO GO OUT.

BY JAMES BRONTERRE O’BRIEN.

LONDON: WILLIAM REEVES, 185, FLEET STREET, E.C. G. STANDRING, 8 AND 9, FINSBURY STREET; MARTIN BOON, 170, FARRINGDON ROAD, W.C. SOUTH AFRICA: HAY BROS., WHOLESALE AGENTS, KING WILLIAM’S TOWN.

1885

TO THE PEOPLE!

This little Work, by an eloquent denunciator of the manifold evils of Profitmongering and Landlordism, whose entire life was devoted to the advocacy of Social Rights, as distinguished from Socialistic theories, is now given to the world for the first time in a complete form.

The Author, in his lifetime, was frustrated in his design of finishing his History through the ceaseless machinations of working-class exploiters and landlords. This has been at length achieved by the aid of his various writings preserved in print. The object steadily kept in view has been to give the _ipsissima verba_ of the Author, so that no foreign pen may garble or mislead.

In order to provide room for so much additional matter as was essential to the elucidation of the great reforms needed in the subjects of Land Nationalisation, Credit, Currency, and Exchange, it has been found expedient to omit from this edition some disquisitions on subjects of ephemeral and passing interest, not closely connected with the scope of the Work. Ample compensation, however, has been given in the additions which have been made for the elucidation and enforcement of the saving truths herein contained.

“SPARTACUS.”

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PROLETARIANISM SPRUNG FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY.

Importance of Social Reform--Universality of covert or open Slavery--Partial Prevalence of Working Class--Origin in Proletarianism--Advent of Christianity--its Effects on Slavery--Middle and Working Classes the product of Emancipations--Classification of the _Proletariat_ 1

CHAPTER II.

ORIGIN OF SLAVERY IN PATERNAL AUTHORITY.

Antiquity of Slavery--anterior to Legal Institution--Examples cited from Ancient History--Arose from Patriarchal Government--despotic Power of Head of Family--Marriage Custom of Purchase--Aristocratic Governments favourable to Development--Decadence under Republics 8

CHAPTER III.

CAUSES OF PARENTAL DESPOTISM.

Evidences from Egypt and Persia--Supreme Authority of Family Head--First Legal Limitation under Roman Empire--Necessity for gradual Growth of Slavery--Source of Paternal Riches--Importance of Chief of Family 13

CHAPTER IV.

INCREASE AND CONSOLIDATION OF SLAVERY.

Sanction given by Law and Public Opinion--Various Causes of Enslavement--Practices of Ancient Germans--Analogy in Modern Commercial and Funding Systems and Expatriation of Irish Peasantry--Slavery among the Jews 19

CHAPTER V.

OPINION OF THE ANCIENT WORLD ON SLAVERY.

Permanence of Slavery under all Revolutions--Ignorance of principle of Human Equality--Theory and Personal Experience of Plato--Contentment of Slaves with their Condition--Occasional Comfort and Happiness of Slaves--Absence of Revolts against Slavery--Social and Political Rights ignored by Greeks and Romans 26

CHAPTER VI.

UNIVERSALITY OF PUBLIC OPINION AS TO MASTER AND SLAVES.

System acquiesced in by Slave-Class--Insurrections and Rebellions from other causes than Hatred of Slavery--Rising under Spartacus--conditions wanting for Success--Contrast of Modern Aspirations after Freedom--Example from enslaved Roman Citizens--Preference of Slaves for their Condition 33

CHAPTER VII.

COMPARISON OF ANCIENT AND MODERN SLAVERY.

Forces which overthrew Chattel Slavery--Advantages of Chattel Slaves over Freedmen and Wages-slaves--Natural Fecundity esteemed a Blessing, not a Curse--Condition of American Slaves under Slavery 40

CHAPTER VIII.

EXPLOITATION-VALUE OF SLAVE AND FREE LABOUR.

Contrast of Plantation-Servants with British Workpeople--Affluence of former American Slaves--Misery of Free Labourers and Artisans--Value of Irish Peasants and English Workers--Free and Slave Children in America 47

CHAPTER IX.

HISTORY OF EARLY SOCIAL REFORMERS.

Intention of foregoing Contrast--Difficulties of Christian Revolution, and comparative Facility of coming Ones--Essenes as Early Reformers--Difficulties in the way of Christian innovations on Pagan Slavery 54

CHAPTER X.

PROGRESS OF EARLY CHRISTIAN PROPAGANDA.

Opposition from corrupt Slave-Caste--Detestation of Christian Doctrines by Slave-owners--Incomprehensibility of the new Doctrine of Equality--Absence of a destitute Free People a Drawback on Reform--Spread of the New Teachings--Alarm, and Persecution of the New Faith 61

CHAPTER XI.

THE FOUR GREAT PERSECUTIONS.

Obscurity and Insignificance of Early Reformers their best Protection--Christians the great Levellers--Nero’s Persecution--The Blood of the Martyrs the Seed of the Church--Persecution of Domitian--Martyrdoms under Trajan--Tortures under Antonius 68

CHAPTER XII.

PROGRESS OF PROPAGANDA TO THE TENTH PERSECUTION.

Seven Years’ Persecution of Equalitarian Innovators--Seventh Great Persecution--Christians charged with Sorcery in Eighth Persecution--Tortures of Ninth and Tenth Persecutions--Pretended Conversion of Constantine--Lives of Early Christian exemplars to the Pagan World 75

CHAPTER XIII.

DEBASEMENT OF THE NEW POWER WHEN SEIZED BY RULERS.

Cost of making the New Ideas triumphant--Change in Character in the hands of Kings, Courtiers, and Profitmongers--Emancipations become a matter of Policy and Profit--Repudiation of principles of Fraternity and Equality--Horrors of introduction of Proletarianism 82

CHAPTER XIV.

SERVICE OF CHRISTIANITY IN BREAKING CASTE-BONDS.

Division of Emancipated Slaves into two Classes of Proletarians--Equality and Fraternity gave the desire for Liberty--Inveteracy of Caste-prejudice--Perversion of Christianity under Constantine--Antagonism of Wages-Slavery and Christianity 89

CHAPTER XV.

FORM OF SLAVERY UNDER MODERN CIVILIZATION.

Persistence of Chattel-Slavery in Eastern Countries--Assumption of form of Wages-Slavery under Modern Civilization--Creation of Millionaire Capitalists by present System--Result in Ruin and Starvation of the Labouring Class--Necessity of repressive Armies and Police--Measures necessary to secure Social Reform 96

CHAPTER XVI.

REFORMS AS MUCH NEEDED IN AMERICA AND IN COLONIES AS IN EUROPE.

Answer to question, “How is Human Slavery to go out?”--Insufficiency of mere Political Freedom--Accessibility of Public Lands in new Countries their chief Advantage--Inadequacy of Universal Suffrage without a Knowledge of Social Rights--America falling into same Abyss as Europe 104

CHAPTER XVII.

RELIEF TO UNEMPLOYED OR DESTITUTE A RIGHT--NOT A CHARITY.

Inability of a People ignorant of Social Rights to choose Representatives--Duties of a wise Democracy--Omnipotency of a Knowledge of Social Rights--Facility of Application of Social Reforms--Exposition of the three Provisional Measures necessary 109

CHAPTER XVIII.

GRADUAL RESUMPTION OF PUBLIC LANDS BY THE STATE.

Necessity of Agrarian Reform--Crown Lands, Church Lands, and Corporation Lands to be immediately resumed, and their Rent applied to the relief of Taxation--The Rich have no right to meddle with them--Needed by the exploited Millions, as a Fulcrum to raise them from the Earth 115

CHAPTER XIX.

NATIONAL DEBT A MORTGAGE ON REALISED PROPERTY.

Necessity for Adjustment of Public and Private Debts--Their overwhelming Burden must result in Civil War--Third Resolution the only Remedy--Opinion of Cobbett--Enormous Increase of Debt through Improvements in Manufactures--Only just Claims of Public and Private Creditors 120

CHAPTER XX.

NATIONAL LANDS AND CREDIT FOR THE USE OF THE PEOPLE.

Unjust Laws to enable the Few to deprive the Working Class of their Earnings--Private Property in Land the Basis of Wages-Slavery--Raw Materials of Wealth belong to all--Land and Money Lords govern the World--Right of Working Class to the Use of Credit--Surplus of Earnings of Working Class beyond Consumption the Source of all Capital 126

CHAPTER XXI.

NATIONAL SYSTEM OF CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE REQUIRED.

Inadequacy and Absurdity of present Medium of Exchange--Necessity of new National Currency for the Home Trade--Example from Iron Currency of Sparta--Labour Notes of Guernsey--Gold and Silver mere Commodities--All four Reforms must be combined 134

CHAPTER XXII.

EVIL OF MONOPOLIES AND EXPLOITATION OF INDUSTRIES.

False principle of Law-made Property--Absurdity of Funding System and Borrowing from Investors--Evil of Public Works in hands of Profitmongers and Speculators--Rapacity of Predatory Classes--Efforts of Robespierre to abolish their nefarious System--his legal Assassination in consequence--All the evils of Society the work of Landlords and Profitmongers 143

THE

RISE, PROGRESS, AND PHASES

OF

HUMAN SLAVERY.