(F)
Notice by the Canton Branch of the Communist Association.
To the seamen on strike.
We have struck for our existence.
All right-thinking and peaceful people,
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-
all who are not
capitalists or members of the official oligarchy that backs
them,
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sympathise with us.
We have come to a sense of our human value, and refuse to
allow our labour to be sold like merchandise.
We demand for everyone a life with a meaning and an interest
and will not be exploited by a minority, like slaves or cattle.
Therefore we have declared war on the capitalists and have
started a class warfare.
This tremendous and heroic action of ours has brought us
honour, and will end in our victory.
Capital, under the present system of production, has battened
securely on the blood of the toiling masses till it has
become bloated and inert, like a mosquito gorged with human
blood.
Therefore it has fenced itself round with the rampart of class
distinction. But insensibly it has been digging its own grave.
Throughout the world labour is arising and recovering its
rights. Nevermore will it be trampled to death by capital.
We seamen cannot fail in our just demands, but we must not grow careless. The tools of capital are many: its spies are every-
where: its false propaganda are skilfully pushed, to lead us
astray. The following four points must therefore be carefully
borned in mind; -
1.
Hold out to the end.
Our latest conditions put to the shipowners represent the
minimum compatible with modern society's requirements for
the existence of the individual. We must on no account yield
an inch to pressure or inducement.
Be the mediators who they may, we must not give consent till we
get what we want.
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