“He was using the strike-the terrible poverty, the sense of grievance, sharpened by hunger-with the ardour of a missionary preaching to savages for the greater glory of his religion. He said that the Church was on the side of the poor and that one day it would cause justice to triumph by calling down the wrath of God upon the inequities of the rich. And that day would soon dawn, for the rich had usurped God’s place and were even now governing without the power of God, having wickedly stolen His power. But if the workers seeking fair distribution of the fruits of the earth, then they should begin by placing their faith in the priests of the church just as the humble and meek had gathered around the apostles upon the death of Jesus.”
Émile Zola, “Germinal”, 1885.
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