The Labor enquirer., 1884-12-13
DENVER, COLORADO sATtRDAY DECEMBER ls 1884

what anarchists objects to most, then inn
mediately talk Of organizing.
Local organization may be sufficient
for local interests, but what Of national
affairs such as railroads, telegraphs
mails, water-courses, etc. Under. an
archY two groups might not agree on
the details and methods of the road they
wish. An engineer might or might not
allow himself to be coerced so far as to be
on his engine at a given time; the diff
|culty would be increased by an err
ratio and tickle fireman; the conductor
would raise and lower passenger rates
several times in a trip, according to his
estimate of the passengers purse, or his
Judgment of future good crops; when
custom required green signal, a pro-
gresslye brakeman would display red
one, wishing to begin a radical reform in
signals. All this is just asioollsh as the
repudiation of systems The system Ct
running railroad, ITO whitehall must I'D !.
here, is its government. As DIR. Lazarus
would permit .local autonomies," ," COM
binations against monopoly, and any
other necessary government. perhaps he
had better drop the word anarchy,
(which means without government and
experience the novel sensation which
would result from being consistent. 7
The anarchist is really a state Socialist.
He would secure the rights of map and
employ all the organization necessary for
that purpose. Like the state Social st,
he would abolish large part of prevail
ing institutions. His quarrel is with
words. When the anarchist says govern
ment he means despotism. When he
renders cheerful obedience to any regu-
.lationhe says it is not government which
he obeys, but he means it is not despot-
ISM A natural law, a system of indus
try, a social code is government whether
it be obeyed willingly or not.
Whatever governs is government. Any
Individual believieg his natural rights
are being violated should be permitted
to agitate his views and convince a ma
iority that new system is needed. This
is all the liberty possible until the sci
ence of society is perfected
If Dr.. Lazarus will read Henry
Georges book he will find that the fore
most idea is the right of every person to
land. Show Mr. George that his method
is defective and he will not need to
abandon the main principle.
DR.. Lazarus will find support for his,
interest theories in Progress ana Pow
everty.7 He may fall into the same in
consistency which marks Mr.. Georges
argument, namely, that interest arises
from the increase due to natural forces
(such as the growth of lamb until it
becomes a sheep yet claiming for all
men equal access to natural wealth. Who
will pay interest when all have equal
opportunity to avoid it?
l regret the necessity for disputing all
of the doctors most important state
ments, butI must analyze one more:
THE more the people have to do with
government the more corrupt they be-
come" '.., .s ~
Now the fact is, that the more the peo.
pie have to do with each other, in COM
mercial wav, the more corrupt they
become. We feel less liable to be swim
died when dealing with man who rep
resents large corporation, than if he
represents only himself Individual
traders expect to be cheated and to cheat.
In dealing with the state We have less
fear than when dealing with any other
corporation or individual. The larger
the corporation the safer We feel, f.. .
Personal relations may have to do with
friendship, art, literature, science and
many other sources Of social enjoyment
but, let the commercial spirit enter in
and social intercourse is cramped and
deadened. ~. t..
Corruption arises from dealing with
government only when public position
affords an opportunity to gain advantage
over the people. 1t would be true to say,
the more man tries to gain such advan-
tage, the more corrupt does he become.
When all work for the government, or
each for ALL then no one will havean ad-
vantage. But then, says the doctor,
some one will be at the head, some one
will have power. F"Show me a, man chat
won't abuse power and I'll show you one
that won't try to get it."
Fam in terrible suspense because DR..
Lazarus may start rumor that Henry
George, John Swinton and Zeno have
not tried to get power. -. ZENo.
Hayerhin.
[By Associated Labor Press.l =
HAvERHILL, Dec. "a cut-down
having recently been made in the mills
of Newburyport in which Mr.. William
Woods is interested, he has agreed with
his tenants who are mostly all EMPLOYED