From the Anarchist Library, an anonymous letter from a worker 1883:
Capital and the Capitalists
What is capital? The harvest of the rich by the
sweat of the people.
Yes, we workers created capital. By our work we
increase it every day. And far from profiting from what we have
created, we become slaves to it and by making the capitalists richer
to our own detriment, we become insufferable. Many workers look to
suicide to end this order of things. I think there is a better way.
What, the capitalist wallows in pleasure and the
worker cannot live off the product of his labor. While the former is
dancing and feasting, the latter is starving.
O worker, my brother, you are suffering and the
capitalist is laughing at your pains. You die and he insults your
corpse. Faced with these blatant facts, you find nothing better than
to end your life without caring that on the day of action your
brothers in slavery will be missing your support.
No, you have not thought of that and that is your
excuse, but from now on chase these thoughts from your head and feel
something different.
Yes, there is a better way than dying. You have to
live in order to prepare the great era of the future. You have to
live to see your efforts crowned with success. You have to live to be
present at the resurrection of the worker and the death of the
capitalist.
To get there what do we need: Audacity — we have
it. Finances — we’ll find it. Sacrifices — we are all ready to
give what is dearest to us for the triumph of our ideals.
Therefore, let’s get to work. Let’s group
together — there is strength in union. No half-measures. Think of
those who are suffering, whose children demand vengeance. Encourage
the weak. Finally, let’s get ready because the hour approaches when
we will have to call upon different arguments than those of our
corrupt representatives.
And on that day, no mercy to the masters, like
they have shown none to us. Let our battle cry be:
Down with capital.
Crush the capitalists.
Death to traitors and scoundrels.
Long live the Revolution!
— Letter from a worker exploited by capital.
