A.B.C. OF ANARCHISM Every revolution is acoompanied by a great outburst of popular enthusiasm full of hope and aspiration. It is the spring-board of revolution. The high tide, spontaneous and powerfi,tl, opens up the human source.s.of initiative and activity. The sense of equality liberatt:s the best there is in man and makes him consciously creative. These are the great motors of the social revolution, its moving forces. Their free and unhindered expression signifies the development and deepening of the revolution. Their suppression means decay and death. The revolution is safe, it grows and becomes strong, as long as the masses feel that they are direct participants in l.t, that the)' are fashioning their own lives, that they are making the revolution,. that they are the revolution. But the moment their activities are usurped by a political party or are centred in some special organisation, re~olutionary effort becomes limited to a comparatively small circle from which the large masses are practically excluded. The natural result of that popular enthusiasm is ·dampened, interest gradually weakens, initiative languishes, creativeness wanes; and the revolution becomes the monopoly of a clique which presently turns dictator. This is fatal to the revolutron. The sole prevention of such a cataistrophe lies in the continued active interest of the worker2 through their every.Jday participation in all matters pertaining t-0 the revolution. The source of this interest and activity is the shop and the union. · The interest of the masses and their loyalty to the revolution depend furthermore on their feeling that the revolution represents justice and fair play. This explains why revolutions have the power of rousing the people .to acts of great heroism and devotion. As already pointed out, the masses instinctively see in revolution the enemy of wrong and iniquity and the harbinger of justice. In this sense revolution is a highly ethical factor and an inspiration. Fundamentally it is only great moral principles which can fire the masses and lift them to spiritual heights. · All popular upheavals have shown this to be true ; particularly so the Russian Revolution. It was because of that spirit -that the Russian masses so strikingly triumphed over all obstacles in the days of February and October. No opposition could conquer their devotion inspired by a great and noble cause. But the Revolution began to decline \fhen it had become emasculated of its high moral ·values, when it was denuded of its elements of justice, equality and liberty. Their loss was the doom of the Revolution. ' It cannot be emphasised too strongly how essential spiritual values are to the social revolution. These and the consciousness '80 Biblioteca G no Bianco
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