The Labor enquirer., 1886-07-03


insist that Anarchy does not mean riot,
and arson, and murder ?n l answer un-
hesitatingly, yes.
| Notwithstanding what has transpired
notwithstanding what anv representa-
tive Anarchist has been reported to saw ;
in spite Of all appearances to the cob
trary, people are still mistaken when
they say that the teaching of Anarchfsm
necessarily implies the incentive to
arson and murder. They might jgst as
we'll say that the Declaration of Inde-
pendence was an ince tive to that little
affair, the Boston tea party" of that
the emancipation proclamation was
issued in order to create the Newt York
riots which followed.
I%What then Is Anarchy ? 1t is a. Aprin
ciple. 1t is protest against the fdllies
and crimes of men as expressed in c9er-
Give legislation. 1t Is the abolitionAo Aof
repressive government by h-an. Not the
abolition of order, nor the substitution
of chaos for the present disorder.
Some people will probably denS that
we have any repressive government or
laws here. But if there is single law
on the statute books which one individ-
ual does not wish to obey and is COM
PEELED to do so, whether he likes it or
not, or be punished as a breaker, he
surely is not free. He is coerced, COM
PEELED against his will to obev. This is
exactly the STATE of affairs here, now ;
there are laws which many people deem
unjust, but which they do not disob, "
for fear of the consequences.
Anarchism does not necessarily mean
absence of authority. In fact, Anarch-
lists believe in leadership, but do not
concede that any leader has the right to
compel obedience from his followers.
If man is but a poor carpenter, or
machinist, or shoemaker, he will look
up to and follow the instructions of an
experienced and skillful workman IN
his trade; he would regard him as an
authority IN that particular line of work !;
but such leader would have no right
to compel obedience from his workman,
nor would anyone recognize lis right to
use coercion, or exact penalty for dis
obedience. That would be actual slavery.
IAnarchy, then, Is opposition to coerc We
authority. That Anarchists are opposed
ITO ALL law and ALL authority denv.
Anarchists 10 not believe in political
state; they believe in social system.
Man is a social, not a political being
No complex system of society is required
to furnish mans social needs. Nature
has given US all the laws we need for our
happiness in THIS world. She has taught
us that when hungry we must eat
when we are cold we must have more
warmth; when over-worh ed We requiSe
rest. She has given us organs, senses,
strength and skill to supply our wants.
She has given us an inexaustible reser-
voir-the earth-to draw from. Her
laws are simple, and. obedience is re-
warded with every blessing. She un-
doubtedly intended we should live, love
land be happy. But nature has also pro-
vided penalties TO: the punishment of
those who violate her laws. She always
exacts the full penalty, and has no favor
ties. Statutory laws she knows nothing
cf, and when thev are opposed to
natures laws (as they very often are) the
former must inevitably give way-nature
will not weld one lrch. In the mainte.
nance of her supremacy human beings
often suffer fearfully-the innocent with
the guilty-but nature will not discrimi
nate; an eye for an eve, tooth for a
Tooth, is her memorable law, and she
never recants or grows merciful./
Not only are individuals brought un-
der the operations of natures laws, but
society as whole-which is simply an
aggregation of findlviduals-is also amen.
able to them. If society sin it must pay
the full penalty. In the case of the in
dividual the punishment often quickly
follows the offense, while the enemies of
society often 90 hundreds of years before
retributive Justice is visited upon the
people. Still, the blow is none the less
sure because tardy, aud often it is more
severe on account of being long DELAYED.
1.-THE Anarchists maintain that no man
FCan make laws for the people which
shall be justto all. Ghev as sert that,
in order to make laws for only one per-
son it would be necessary for such legis-
lator to be intimately acqu lin ed with
that person to know his wishes, his
tastes, his weaknesses and his strength
in fact, to know his very thoughts.
Now there are no two persons alike in
disposition and general character, and
what might prove tolerably just law to
one, would be sure to dlsplease others
How I'M DO -sible then for set of legisla
tors to draught laws which would do
Justice to all. No wonder, say the An
archists, you need an executive and judi
cial power to enforce the laws.
? The Anarchist does not preach uniVer-
sal chaos-does not wish it as many
thoughtless people, and the press gen
orally, charge On the contrary, they
are opposed to disorder; opposed to
wrong, and continually preach the soli-
darity of the human race and the Broth