On the other hand, the Socialist papers (of which three only, representing somewhat different schools, were published in London)came out full to the throat of well-printed matter. They were greedily bought by the whole public who, of course, like the Government, expected a manifesto in them. But they found no word of reference to the great subject. It seemed as if their editors had ransacked their drawers for articles which would have been in place forty years before, under the technical name of educational articles. Most of these were admirable and straightforward expositions of the doctrines and practice of Socialism, free from haste and spite and hard words, and came upon the public with a kind of May-day freshness, amidst the worry and terror of the moment; and though the knowing well understood that the meaning of this move in the game was mere defiance, and a token of irreconcilable hostility to the then rulers of society, and though, also, they were meant for nothing else by `the rebels', yet they really had their effect as `educational articles'. However, `education' of another kind was acting upon the public with irresistible power, and probably cleared their heads a little."" As to the Government, they were absolutely terrified by this act of `boycotting'(the slang word then current for such acts of abstention).
Their counsels became wild and vacillating to the last degree: one hour they were for giving way for the present till they could hatch another plot; the next they all but sent an order for the arrest in the lump of all the workmen's committees; the next they were on the point of ordering their brisk young general to take any excuse that offered for another massacre. But when they called to mind that the soldiery in that `Battle' of Trafalgar Square were so daunted by the slaughter which they had made, that they could not be got to fire a second volley, they shrank back again from the dreadful courage necessary for carrying out another massacre. Meantime, the prisoners, brought the second time before the magistrates under a strong escort of soldiers, were the second time remanded.""The strike went on this day also. The workmen's committees were extended and gave relief to great numbers of people, for they had organised a considerable amount of production of food by men whom they could depend upon. Quite a number of well-to-do people were now compelled to seek relief of them. But another curious thing happened:
