Socialist League: 1884–89 William Morris

in december 1884, morris founded socialist league (sl) other sdf defectors. composed sl s manifesto bax, describing position of revolutionary international socialism , advocating proletarian internationalism , world revolution while rejecting concept of socialism in 1 country. in this, committed himself making socialists educating, organising, , agitating establish strong socialist movement; calling on activists boycott elections, hoped socialists take part in proletariat revolution , establish socialist society. bax taught morris more marxism, , introduced him marx s collaborator, friedrich engels; engels thought morris honest lacking in practical skills aid proletariat revolution. morris remained in contact other sectors of london s far left community, being regular @ socialist international club in shoreditch, east london, avoided created fabian society, deeming middle-class. although marxist, befriended prominent anarchist activists stepniak , peter kropotkin, , came influenced anarchist views, extent biographer fiona maccarthy described approach being marxism visionary libertarianism .

as leading figure in league morris embarked on series of speeches , talks on street corners, in working men s clubs, , in lecture theatres across england , scotland. visited dublin, there offering support irish nationalism, , formed branch of league @ hammersmith house. time of first conference in july 1885, league had 8 branches across england , had affiliations several socialist groups in scotland. however, british socialist movement grew faced increased opposition establishment, police arresting , intimidating activists. combat this, league joined defence club other socialist groups, including sdf, morris appointed treasurer. morris passionate in denouncing bullying , hectoring felt socialists faced police, , on 1 occasion arrested after fighting against police officer; magistrate dismissed charges. black monday riots of february 1886 led increased political repression against left-wing agitators, , in july morris arrested , fined public obstruction while preaching socialism on streets.

morris oversaw production of league s monthly—soon become weekly—newspaper, commonweal, serving editor 6 years, during time kept financially afloat. first published in february 1885, contain contributions such prominent socialists engels, shaw, paul lafargue, wilhelm liebknecht, , karl kautsky, morris regularly writing articles , poems it. in commonweal serialised 13-episode poem, pilgrims of hope, set in period of paris commune. november 1886 january 1887, morris novel, dream of john ball, serialised in commonweal. set in kent during peasants revolt of 1381, contained strong socialist themes although proved popular among of different ideological viewpoints, resulting in publication in book form reeves , turner in 1888. shortly after, collection of morris essays, signs of change, published.

— william morris.

from january october 1890, morris serialised novel, news nowhere, in commonweal, resulting in improved circulation paper. in march 1891 published in book form, before being translated french, italian, , german 1898 , becoming classic among europe s socialist community. combining utopian socialism , soft science fiction, book tells tale of contemporary socialist, william guest, falls asleep , awakes in mid-20th century, discovering future society based on common ownership , democratic control of means of production. in society there no private property, no big cities, no authority, no monetary system, no divorce, no courts, no prisons, , no class systems; depiction of morris ideal socialist society.

morris had continued translation work; in april 1887, reeves , turner published first volume of morris translation of homer s odyssey, second following in november. venturing new territory, morris authored , starred in play, tables turned; or nupkins awakened, performed @ league meeting in november 1887. told story of socialists put on trial in front of corrupt judge; tale ends prisoners behind freed proletariat revolution. in june 1889, morris traveled paris league s delegate international socialist working men s congress, international standing recognised being chosen english spokesman congress committee. second international emerged congress, although morris distraught @ chaotic , disorganised proceedings.

at league s fourth conference in may 1888, factional divisions became increasingly apparent between morris anti-parliamentary socialists, parliamentary socialists, , anarchists; bloomsbury branch expelled supporting parliamentary action. under leadership of charles mowbray, league s anarchist wing growing , called on league embrace violent action in trying overthrow capitalist system. autumn 1889 anarchists had taken on league s executive committee , morris stripped of editorship of commonweal in favour of anarchist frank kitz. alienated morris league, had become financial burden him; had been subsidising activities £500 year, large sum of money @ time. autumn of 1890, morris left socialist league, hammersmith branch seceding become independent hammersmith socialist society in november 1890.