The Watchtower Society and John and Morton Edgar - A2Z.org

tested interests-the aristocrats, iand-owners, propedyowners,and capitalists, and also the church-resent theproposal to change the existing social and politicalarrangements. They would like, indeed, to see the pedplemore contented. To this end they are willing to grantcertain measures of reform; but only so long as they canretain their wealth and honours and keep the peopleservile in some degree. The day is past, however, for thepeople to be content with things as they are. As wellattempt to stem the ocean's flowing tide, as try to checkthe advance of knowledge and truth 1Within recent years a new political party, the Socialistor Social democrat, has sprung into existence in everycivilised country; and we should expect that very soon allpoliticians will be either Socialists or Anti-Socialists,although they may form themselves into sub-divisionsEvery thinking man sees this at hand. The Anti-Socialists-the aristocrats, the capitalists and the church-have the ,support of those whose interests are bound up with theirs,and also of such peace-lovers as fear to entrust themselvesto the will of the people. But the Socialists are demandingand securing reforms, and every success makes themeager for greater victories. We cannot suppose that thosenow in authority will long continue to meekly submit; andafter abortive attempts to obtain their greater desires bypeaceful means, the people will get impatient at theopposition and slowness of reform. Becoming imperativein their demands, they will ultimately have recourse toforce, and general revolution will break out. The peopleare now bound together to that degree, that the warbetween the masses and the classes will be world-wide.