(2) The origin of the first class-labor system,
(3) The origin of the class struggle,
(4) The origin of the social degradation, the socially “down-and-out” condition, the loss of social standing—of the working class people,
(5) The origin and growth of the humility of the working class, of the sheepish meekness of the working class, the meekness which today shows itself in the politics of most working men—always suspecting and despising their own working-class political party, always in our day tagging along after some smooth, well-dressed crook candidates on capitalist class party tickets.
(6) The perpetuation of ignorance—in the working class.
(7) The origin of the intellectual prostitute, the moral emasculate.
Now, help your satisfied fellow worker, help him understand why he is satisfied.
Without malice, without anti-culture prejudice, without anti-religious hatred, without anti-church spite, but with knowledge of the naturalness of human behavior domineered by economic necessity, with knowledge of the great historical process, with your vision clear, your heart kind, your courage high, and your purpose fraternal—explain, explain this matter of meekness to your humble, contented wage-slave neighbor. Explain: That long ago the working man was forced and taught to be docile and meek. Under slavery, later under serfdom and still later under capitalism—for thousands of years—he industrially, socially, and politically surrendered. He was compelled to do so. He was taught to do so.
He got the habit.
He had the manhood and the courage beaten out of him, kicked out of him—and coaxed out of him.