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Russell, George William, 1867-1935

"Some Thoughts on an Irish Polity"

They speak of this struggle as the
class war; but they carry on the conflict most energetically where it
is most difficult for them to succeed, and hardly at all where it would
be comparatively easy for them to weaken the resources of their
antagonists. In warfare much use is made of flanking movements, which
aim at cutting the enemy's communication with his base of supply.
Frontal attacks are dangerous. It is equally true in economic warfare.
The strike is a frontal attack, and those they fight are entrenched
deeply with all the artillery of the State, the press, science, and
wealth on their side. What would we think of an army which, at the
close of each week's fighting, voluntarily surrendered to the enemy the
ground, guns, ammunition, and prisoners captured through the previous
six days? Yet this is what our workers do. The power opposed to them
is mainly economic, though there is an intellectual basis for it also.
But the wages of the workers, little for the individual, yet a large
part of the national income if taken for the mass, goes back to
strengthen the system they protest against through purchases of domestic
requirements.


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