The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-07-05

law has been always wrong. Government
began in tyranny and force, began in the
fsudalism Of the soldier and bigotry Of the
priest; and the ideas Of justice and humanity
have been fighting their way, like thunder
storm, against the organized selhshness Of
human nature. -("WOman's Rights.")
Ansrchism has yet higher saction.
Gibbon tells US the early Christians
were anarchists. In the famous fifteenth
chapter Of his "Deoline and Fall Of the
Roman Empire he says:
''The Christians were not less averse to the
business than to the pleasures Of the world.
The defense of our persons and property
they knew not how to reconcile with the pa
tient doctrine which enjoined an unlimited
fOrgiveness.of pastiujurieS, and commanded
them to invite the repetition Of fresh in
suits. Their simplicity was offended by the
use of Oaths, by the pomp Of magistrsCy,
and by the active contention of public lifei
nor could their humane ignorance be con-
vinOed that it was lawful on any occasion
10 shed the blood of our fellow creatures,
either by the award Of justice, or by that of
war; even though their criminal or hostile
attempts should threaten the peace and
safety Of the whole community.
While they inoulcated the msxims Of passive
obedience, they refused to take any active
part in the civil administration or the mill
taPy defense Of the empire. Some indul-
gsnCe might, perhaps, be allowed to those
persons who, before their conversion, were
already engaged in suoh violent and sanguin-
sry occupations; but il was impossible that
the Christians, without renounoing a more
sacred duty, could assume the character Of
soldiers, of magistrates, or Of princes. This
indolent, or even criminal disregard to the
public welfare exposed them to the CON-
tempt and reproaOhes of the pagans, who
very frequently asked, what must be the
fate Of the empire, attacked on every side
by the barbarians, if all mankind should
adopt the pusillanimous sentiments Of the
new sectp"
trust / have succeeded in showing
that ansrchism, whether foolish or wise,
is at least neither un-American nor
wicked; that it rests upon the Declsra-
tion Of Independence and the Sermon on
the Mount. And whoever will read an
srchism in the writinge Of anarchists,
and not in the Misrepresentation of ig-
norsnt or willfully mendacious enemies,
will not fail to see that | have stated the
anarchists real creed. Some anarchists
have been revolutionists, but in being 30
they were not acting as anarchists
Some Christians in Asia have just been
but Christianity is not, therefore,
creed Of riot and seditien. Men
condemned to death for riot and sedition.
are anarchists as they are Metho-
diSts or Bsptists; and not everything one
of them does is to be laid TO his creed.
No more sober, industrious and peace
able people are to be found among the
citizens Of Kansas than are the Kansas
anarchists. Are we, then, to be con-
stsntly denounced as incendsries and
assassinsH There are Mosts among
Christians as well as among anarchists.
We, at least, fully understand that
society can be reformed only through
the reformation of human hearts; that
while sel6shness rules individual char
scter, greed will rule society. Hence,
like the early Christian, we submit to
things as they are while urging that they
should change. We must live in the