1904 Archives - The Libertarian Labyrinth

E. Armand, “L’idéal libertaire et sa réalisation” (1904)

November 1, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur

Related links: E. Armand [main page] Feuillets de propagande émancipatrice, N° 4 L’idéal libertaire et sa réalisation par E. ARMAND de l’Ere Nouvelle L’autorité a fait son temps: sous quelle forme qu’elle se présente: dogmes, lois, conventions, morales, — que ce soit au point de vue educatif, économique, intellectuel, le système autoritaire perd de plus en plus du terrain. Représentant du passé, son éclat se ternit graduellement à mesure que se lève la brillante aurore de l’avenir; et même considéré à la lueur des idées courantes, l’i apparait décidément comme une conception digue des temps barbares, ou comme symbole par […]

Lizzie M. Holmes, “The Evolution of an Agitator” (1904)

July 24, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

The Evolution of an Agitator. Some years ago, a young minister of the gospel was given charge of a good sized church in the southwestern part of Chicago. He had shown such marked ability, such earnestness and enthusiasm in the care of a small village pastorate that his superiors thought he must have a larger field on which to expend his power, and resolved to promote him. So they placed him over this church situated in one of the most populous districts in the city, where the people were nearly all poor. If plenty of work was promotion, young DeWitt […]

H. W., “Anarchism” (1904)

September 8, 2016 Shawn P. Wilbur

Anarchism aims to establish an ideal state of society based on the “golden rule,” in which all distinctions of castes and privileges are abolished, and in which each individual is expected to labor spontaneously for the welfare of himself and the community. Mutual interests and due respect for each other are the only forces deemed necessary in their social relationship, i. e., each will be a law unto himself. Admitting that such a society could not be inaugurated under the present state of affairs, its advocates are endeavoring to awaken the people to the fact that government creates disorder, and […]

Imprisoned Twenty Years (Vera Figner, 1904)

June 22, 2016 A Beautiful Nihilist

IMPRISONED TWENTY YEARS Czar Banishes Desperate Woman Nihilist to Archangel By Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 8.—Mary Figner, who has been confined to the Schlusselburg fortress for twenty years, has been released and banished to Archangel, northern Russia. The woman was condemned to life imprisonment for participating in Nihilist conspiracies. She waved her handkerchief as a signal indicating the approach of Alexander II when he was assassinated here in 1881. As the woman still shows desperate nihilistic sentiments she has now been banished. “Imprisoned Twenty Years,” Los Angeles Herald 32 no. 39 (November 9, 1904): 11.

Nelly Roussel, “By Rebellion!” (1904)

January 2, 2015

To all women, my sisters. To the Eternal Creatress, aching and unknown. By Rebellion! A SYMBOLIC SCENE By NELLY ROUSSEL (Mme. Godet) SCENE I. EVE, sorrowfully. Oh! My bruised wrists hurt me!… For so long they have borne chains!… My poor eyes, drowning in tears, will go blind!… For so many centuries they have cried!… Gazing at her chains and lifting them painfully. Ah! Alas! Alas! In my slavery and my abandonment, where will I find a drop of water to quench my thirst, manna to comfort my hunger, rest to relieve my exhausted flesh, and consoling words […]