They
believe that if every worker dropped his tools and absolutely refused to
work under the old system, it would be impossible to continue it. That
is true, but those who advocate this policy slur over many difficulties,
and the relative power of endurance of both parties. They do not, I
think, take into account the immense power in the hands of those who
uphold the present system. Those who might be expected to strike are
not--at least in Ireland--a majority of the population. They would have
far fewer material resources to fall back on than those others whose
interests would lead them to preserve the present social order. It is
clear, too, when we analyze the forces at the command of labor and
capital, that the latter has attached to itself by the bonds of self-
interest the scientific men--engineers, inventors, chemists,
bacteriologists, designers, organizers, all the intellect of industry--
without which, in alliance with itself, revolting labor would be unable
to continue production as before. Labor so revolting might indeed for a
time bring the work of the nation to a standstill; but unless it could
by some means attract to itself men of the class described, it would not
be able to take the helm of the ship of industry and guide it with
knowledge as the holders of economic power have done in the past.
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