1891 Archives - The Libertarian Labyrinth

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Gates of Freedom” (1891)

April 6, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

[two_third] The Gates of Freedom [Address delivered before the Liberal Convention at Topeka, Kan., March 15, `89`.] “They have rights who dare maintain them.” This is my text. And the purpose of my lecture is threefold. First to state the facts concerning the actual status of woman in relation to society as a whole—what position she really holds in human economy. Not, mind you, what classes of men regard her, not how “she is considered by the law,” not what she herself imagines, but the bald fact of what she is. Second—to show upon what ground we demand certain “rights” […]

Dyer D. Lum, “To Hell with Her” (1891)

April 5, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

[two_third] “To Hell With Her.” I know a woman (in the profane, rather than in the sacred sense of that verb). She was born in far Norseland, and the bloom on her cheeks vied with the aurora borealis, the one dazzling young fishermen by day as the other did by night. Radiant in beauty and health, an eidelweiss on the bleak snow-covered scenery, the natural instincts which burn even in polar regions had their way: she married early. She gave birth to six children. She is now thirty and in this land of liberty. Free, or a deserted wife to […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Justice is Blind” (1891)

April 4, 2018 Shawn P. Wilbur

Aye, and deaf and dumb in Kansas! For what, save utter deafness to all justice, could lead a judge to so far forget the dignity of authority as to sentence any living being without first asking the question: “Have you anything to say which sentence should not be pronounced against you?” True, the question is often a farce. I venture to say that not once in five hundred times is the sentence altered thereby; but true also we are treading upon dangerous times when judges no longer respect even the form of justice.

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Voltairine De Cleyre, “Letter from Voltairine De Cleyre” (1891)

August 19, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

For the Boston Investigator. LETTER FROM VOLTAIRINE DE CLEYRE. Mr. Editor:—It is so long since I made my bow to the Investigator that I feel somewhat as if an introduction were necessary in order that my friends my recognize me. I went out to the land of reputed grasshoppers and hot winds something like a year ago, to a small retreat among the Kansas prairies called Enterprise, and there resigned myself to poetry in the shape of exquisite sunsets, thrice golden moons and brilliant starts, the vast solemnity of the great waving seas of grass, and the extremely prosaic business […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “American Progress” (1891)

July 27, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

IN a very able article in the October Monist, Mr. T. R. Preston gives a bird’s-eye view of American Politics, for the purpose, it would appear of pointing out the coincidence of American political development with the more general theory of Evolution. This article commands admiration for its evident spirit of fairness, and desire to bring out the truth concerning the purpose of the rise, growth, and decay of political parties. Nevertheless he has arrived at certain conclusions which, in my opinion, are incorrect, and should not pass without criticism. If I rightly apprehend the general tenor and particularly the […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “A Lance for Anarchy” (1891)

July 27, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

THE perusal of Dr. Carus’s article, “Freethought: Its Truth and its Error” in The Open Court of Aug. 6th, has impelled me to a parallel line of thought concerning a doctrine, a principle, less understood, more misinterpreted, both by enemies and followers, than even that much abused, much misunderstood, much misinterpreted principle of freethought; and, as is the case with the latter, the greatest damage proceeds not so much from the opposition of prejudice as from the profession of ignorance. “Freethought,” says Dr. Carus, “has arisen in revolution to blind obedience.” It was indeed the great revolt against human authority […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Philosophy of Selfishness and Metaphysical Ethics” (1891)

July 27, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

The Philosophy of Selfishness and Metaphysical Ethics In No. 197 of The Open Court appeared a criticism of the egoistic conception of life from the pen of Mr. Salter in which I was deeply interested. Interested because I believe that as one of the leaders of the ethical movement Mr. Slater is aware that there is no more frequent or more fatal error to overcome, in his work, than this very philosophy of selfishness, and therefore should be one of those best conversant with the proofs of its shallowness and falsity. It is plain that the increasing interest in the […]

Voltairine de Cleyre and Rosa Slobodinsky, “The Individualist and the Communist” (1891)

July 27, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

THE INDIVIDUALIST AND THE COMMUNIST. A DIALOGUE. BY ROSA SLOBODINSKY AND VOLTAIRINE DE CLEYRE. INDIVIDUALIST: “Our host is engaged and requests that I introduce myself to—I beg your pardon, sir, but have I not the pleasure of meeting the Communist speaker who addressed the meeting on Blank street last evening?” COMMUNIST: “Your face seems familiar to me, too.” INDV.: “Doubtless you may have seen me there, or at some kindred place. I am glad at the opportunity to talk with you as your speech proved you to be somewhat of a thinker. Perhaps—” COM.: “Ah, indeed, I recognize you now. […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Economic Relations of Sex” (1891)

July 25, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

CORRESPONDENCE. THE ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF SEX. To the Editor of The Open Court: POSSESSED of rather more than ordinary interest in the sex question, and agreeing with Professor Cope that any proposition for the amelioration of the condition of women should be discussed and decided by women, I am moved to certain remarks suggested by his article on “The Material Relations of Sex” in the first number of The Monist.[note]Article reproduced below.—Editor.[/note] All through its perusal I was impressed by his unconscious recognition of an underlying question, which, apart from woman’s inferiority, determines the relations of the sexes. This is […]

Lizzie M. Holmes, “Nina Van Zandt Spies to Marry an Italian Editor” (1891)

July 24, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

Nina Van Zandt Spies to Marry an Italian Editor. HER SENSATIONAL PROXY UNION. The Romance of the Trial of the Chicago Anarchists Retold.—The Authentic Story of a Woman’s Unwavering Devotion. ON ENTERING a certain museum in Chicago the first objects that attract the eye of the visitor are two excellent oil paintings, under one of which are the words, “Handsome August Spies,” and beneath the other, “Beautiful Nina Van Zandt.” The crowds invariably pause to gaze upon the pictures as they have done for more than four years. Time has not lessened the interest taken in these two characters and […]