Blog - Page 154 of 286 - The Libertarian Labyrinth

Floyd Dell, from “Women as World-Builders” (1913)

May 30, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

CHAPTER V BEATRICE WEBB AND EMMA GOLDMAN THE careers of these two women serve admirably to exhibit the woman’s movement in still, another aspect, and to throw light upon the essential nature of woman’s character. These careers stand in plain contrast. Beatrice Webb has compiled statistics, and Emma Goldman has preached the gospel of freedom. It remains to be shown which is the better and the more characteristically feminine gift to the world. Beatrice Potter was the daughter of a Canadian railway president. Born in 1858, she grew up in a time when revolutionary movements were in the making. She […]

William C. Owen, “Why Attack Emma Goldman?” (1922)

May 30, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

WHY ATTACK EMMA GOLDMAN? The man is starving, but he may not pluck so much as a turnip to save his life. The wind cuts to the marrow of his bones, but out in the open he must he if he cannot purchase shelter. This is the lot of the modern proletariat reduced to destitution. It is the condition thousands of unemployed and penniless continually must face. This very day, in every ” civilised” country, thousands will have gone without a meal. This very night thousands will shiver on park benches, or huddle themselves into a fitful sleep within some […]

Emile Henry, “Comrades of l’En Dehors” (1892)

May 26, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

COMRADES OF L’EN DEHORS I read in your last number an article from the compagnon Malatesta, entitled “A Little Theory.” Please be so good as to insert these few lines of personal reflections on that subject. The compagnon Malatesta, after having elaborated upon the imminence and the necessity of a violent revolution, and considering the role of the anarchists to contribute to its imminent arrival, said that “any act of propaganda or achievement, by word or by deed, individual or collective, is good when it serves to bring nearer and to facilitate the Revolution… » Then, speaking of acts of revolt […]

William Marion Reedy, “The Daughter of the Dream” (1908)

May 15, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

THE DAUGHTER OF THE DREAM. One who reads the newspapers never has the correct idea about anyone the newspapers write about. There’s Emma Goldman, for instance. From the newspapers you would judge her to be an ignorant, vulgar, shrieking harridan, with a bomb in one hand and a bottle of vitriol in the other. What is she, then? Anything but what the papers say. She’s a little woman, somewhat stout, with neatly wavy hair, a clear blue eye, a mouth sensitive if not of classic lines. She is not pretty, but when her face lights up with the glow and […]

Walt Whitman, “A Woman Waits for Me” (“Poem of Procreation”)

May 15, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

[Among the references in Emma Goldman’s writings on sex, Walt Whitman is undoubtedly key. His poem, “A Woman Waits for Me,” is referenced at the end of “The Element of Sex in Life.”] A woman waits for me, she contains all, nothing is lacking, Yet all were lacking if sex were lacking, or if the moisture of the right man were lacking. Sex contains all, bodies, souls, Meanings, proofs, purities, delicacies, results, promulgations, Songs, commands, health, pride, the maternal mystery, the seminal milk, All hopes, benefactions, bestowals, all the passions, loves, beauties, delights of the earth, All the governments, judges, […]

Carlo Pisacane, “Testamento politico” (1857)

May 10, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

TESTAMENTO POLITICO DI CARLO PISACANE Nel momento d’imprendere un’ arrischiata impresa, voglio manifestare al paese le mie opinioni, onde rimbeccare la critica del volgo, corrivo sempre ad applaudire i fortunati e maledire i vinti. I miei principi politici sono abbastanza noti; io credo che il solo socialismo, ma non già i sistemi francesi informati tutti da quell’ idea monarchica e dispotica che predomina nella nazione, ma il socialismo espresso dalla formola: Libertà ed Associazione, sia il solo avvenire non lontano dell’Italia, e forse dell’Europa: questa mia idea l’ho espressa in due volumi, frutti di circa sei anni di studio; non […]

Bernard Lazare, “Michel Bakounine” (1895)

May 6, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

Quelqu’un qui connut et aima Michel Bakounine, publie aujourd’hui un volume d’œuvres de celui qu’on se plaît encore à appeler le père du Nihilisme (1). Ce volume ne comprend que des fragments et ceux qui le doivent suivre ne contiendront aussi que des opuscules inachevés. On pourrait quand même essayer d’exposer ici la métaphysique de Bakounine et indiquer quelles furent ses conceptions économiques. Il vaut cependant mieux, pour un tel travail, attendre de posséder l’œuvre complète, car il ne siérait pas de commettre les erreurs de jugement ou de fait qui furent commises par ceux qui, précédemment, parlèrent de Bakounine […]

Émile Buré, “Michel Bakounine” (1901)

May 6, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

Michel Bakounine Le docteur Nettlau, dans un important ouvrage qui a été remis aux bibliothèques, s’emploie à faire revivre Michel Bakounine, « révolutionnaire émérite, conspirateur expérimenté et grand charmeur d’hommes ». Il nous suffira, dans cette courte notice, de préciser quelques dates en nous aidant de la thèse de M. A. François : Michel Bakounine et la Philosophie de l’Anarchie. Michel Bakounine naquit dans le district de Torjok, entre Pétersbourg et Moscou, d’un père, ancien attaché à la légation russe de Florence, que ses idées libérales avaient éloigné de la Cour. En 1832, à dix-huit ans, le jeune Michel est […]

William Batchelder Greene Timeline & Miscellany

May 6, 2016

1819 April 4: William B. Greene born in Haverhill, MA. Records show the name as “Green,” and this is probably before WBG’s father changed his own name from Peter Nathaniel Green to Nathaniel Greene. 1821 Mary Gardiner Greene born in Haverhill, MA. In 1821, the Greenes moved to Boston, where Nathaniel established the American Statesman. 1831 May(?): WBG enters Chauncy Hall School, Boston, G. F. Thayer, principal. 1833 May: WBG leaves Chauncy Hall School, enters Haverhill Academy, Haverhill, Ebenezer Smith, Jr., principal. 1834 October: WBG leaves Haverhill Academy. October 9: WBG sets out from NYC, en route to Havre and […]

A new Proudhon Library: looking forward

April 29, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

There are some discussions going on about perhaps attempting a Proudhon Library comparable to the Bakunin Library publishing project currently underway. It has taken four years to move from the decision to publish the Bakunin works to the point where we are now, with two volumes nearing completion and a fairly clear plan for the rest. Given the much greater extent and complexity of Proudhon’s work, the planning stage is likely to be at least as lengthy. But there are other difficulties as well. There is more than a bit of resistance to be overcome if we’re going to have […]