Albert Fischer Quotes
I was tried here in this room for murder and I was convicted of Anarchy.... If the ruling classes think that by hanging us, hanging a few Anarchists, they can crush out Anarchy, they will be badly mistaken, because the Anarchist loves his principles more than his life. An Anarchist is always ready to die for his principles.
In a Chicago labor demonstration at the Haymarket a bomb killed several policemen. Fisher and his colleagues were anarchists who had printed a pamphlet the previous day advocating the demonstration and urging violence against the authorities in retaliation for the police-caused death of demonstrators the day previous. When the police were killed, Fisher and his colleagues were arrested, tried, and convicted of murder even though they were not even present at the scene. Several, including Fisher, were hanged before Governor Altgeld commuted the sentences of the other Haymarket “conspirators.” See {43713}
Albert Fischer, 1858-1887, Anarchist & Trade Union Organizer, Speech at his trial, September, 1887
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In a Chicago labor demonstration at the Haymarket a bomb killed several policemen. Fisher and his colleagues were anarchists who had printed a pamphlet the previous day advocating the demonstration and urging violence against the authorities in retaliation for the police-caused death of demonstrators the day previous. When the police were killed, Fisher and his colleagues were arrested, tried, and convicted of murder even though they were not even present at the scene. Several, including Fisher, were hanged before Governor Altgeld commuted the sentences of the other Haymarket “conspirators.” See {43713}
The word “smashing” is a literal translation from the Khmer language. It is not used in the metaphorical sense as we are used to. To save money, arms, bullets and resources the Khmer Rouge method of execution was to “smash” the victim’s head in with a shovel or other implement. This slogan told people literally to murder their political enemies in this brutal way.
He was elected to Parliament while in jail and never took his seat as he died of a hunger strike in jail.
He was referring to the public unrest and dissatisfaction when an middle, poor or impoverished class is ground down by rigid interpretation and contract laws so that people in debt can rarely get out. He argues that this was a stark reality before most revolutions and a primary cause.
During the English Civil War, he wrote official news and propaganda for both sides of the conflict. His writings were well known to our founding fathers and John Adams wrote a treatise attacking Nedham’s writings.
Massachusetts rioters who had distressed Abigail Adams and others were pardoned for their crimes. Jefferson was responding to her concerns {592539} and providing her with the pardon news.
This quote is often cited to imply that Luther endorsed rioting which is not the case. See the related quotes from the same speech for the larger context of the quote which makes clear Luther’s true views of the unproductiveness and destructiveness of rioting.
