On Columbus Day, 1912 the good people of Lawrence, Massachusetts held a ‘God and Country’ parade. That Protestant God and capitalist Country was invoked by the local native white ruling class as they attempted to judicially murder radical Italian labor organizers Joseph Ettor and Arturo Giovannitti during the 1912 I.W.W. strike at Lawrence. Carlo Tresca explains.

“God and Country” by Carlo Tresca from Trial of a New Society by Justus Ebert. I.W.W. Publishing Bureau, Cleveland, 1913.

WHY THEY ARE USED TO ATTACK THE I.W.W.

Fellow Workers:

Comrades of labor and drudgery—you have returned to work. But inaction, disbanding or weakness is still criminal since it means that with your own hands you will thrust Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso to jail or even to death.

You have been strong, noble, lion-like, in your courage during the sympathetic strike for the release of Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso. But can it be also true that you are now timid, cowardly and uncertain?

The rabble of the masters and their hirelings have hurled enraged epithets at the I.W.W. Why? Because they had thought until a few days ago that the I.W.W. was lifeless. The 24 hour strike has demonstrated to the whole world that the I.W.W. continues to exist—virile and strong.

The masters and the upholders of the masters condemn the I.W.W. in the name of God and country. These questions have no bearing on the I.W.W. We have never made an issue of religion in our union, but there is a proverb, “God helps him who helps himself,” and we have helped ourselves so effectively that we have obtained 15 per cent increase of wages, shorter hours and the abolition of the premium system.

We unite to gain from our masters a better livelihood—more bread. To gain this economic betterment we must be united, sustain the union, and help each other as brothers. Religion has nothing to do with these shop activities.

And why should the blood of the enemies of our union boil over the question of country? We have all been driven out of our own countries, exiled, wandering over the earth looking for work and as the sons of 27 countries we have a common symbol, the banner of our union. (The American flag did not succeed in saving us from the violence of the police and militia during the strike.)

Against our union’s symbol today the masters, clergy, police, judges and soldiers are arrayed. Why? In order to destroy our organization and compel us to return to the mills, disbanded and powerless, to spend our lives toiling without hope.

It is, perhaps, hard for you, my fellow workers, to understand that men will use the name of God and country to destroy your union. In the interests of the masters, of course, and not with regard for your welfare, do they make patriotism their shield. But these people never cared for you. They never came among you to explain how to help yourself, to explain unionism, they never attempted to assist you during the strike, they neither wept at your sufferings nor rejoiced at your success, but they despised and exploited you without pity.

But are you now left with your spirit crushed beneath the weight of despair? “Every rose has its thorn”—every struggle its hardships. With the 24 hour strike we made the most notable protest in the history of the labor movement. Yes, it was painful, but no happiness comes without tears, and remember even though it is hard that some are without work and suffering, Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso are endangering their very lives for you! Have they not been in prison nine long, weary months? And now would you betray them, wash your hands of the responsibility of their lives, sell them like Judas for money and security? This is a critical moment, brothers of toil and drudgery. Immediately after the 24 hour strike we hoped that Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso would return to our midst free. Since then the trial has been postponed and the masters have discovered your weakness, your lack of freedom of thought, and all talk of Ettor, Caruso and Giovannitti has been forgotten. Atwill, the would-be executioner, lifts his head. If you accept this false challenge, if you rivet your attention on this sham issue, then between you and the men who talk of God and country the lives of Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso are in danger.

What their prosecutors and your enemies want is not to glorify Christopher Columbus, but to take the lives of Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso. Then, fellow workers, do not betray those who have put their lives in jeopardy and are in grave danger of losing them. Do not betray them, but let us bind ourselves together, reorganize, join hands, stand as one man for the freedom of Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso and for our union.

[Written in Italian by Carlo Tresca; translated by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.]

PDF of original book: https://archive.org/download/trialofnewsociet00eber/trialofnewsociet00eber.pdf