Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-11-24
A DANGEROUS ELEMENT.

A manifesto which was recently issued 10
Chicago by a conference Of leading Anarch'
lists shows in some degree what we have TO
fear from these enemies Of law and progress.
when the Government Of the United |
States" it ran, twas first established il was |
currently believed that the form adopted |
would secure To all the people the enjoy |
ment of the natural rights proclaimed in the
Declaration OF Independence. After fair
trial under the most favorable conditions II
has failed to justify the expectations formed
for it. We boast of our equality before the
law, whilst every principle Of equality is
violated in the laws relating TO land tenure,
to patented inventions, to the money Of
commerce, to public franchise, TO public and
-ivale corporations, TO the collection OF
teuis, TO the enforcement OF contracts, and
all other laws relating to property by which
the rich and privileged class has been built
upon the poverty and wretchedness Of the
poor as certainly as il its members had been
granted titles Of nobility by the act of king
If this is the grievance Of Anarchism the
natural remedy is 10 do away with all things
of which il complains. The effect Of this
would be to destroy all that we hold sacred.
The first and most cherished institution
which would be forced TO surrender to its
wild ambition would be the home; for with
no ownership OF land no man could establish
securely and proudly that which is now the
fountain OF natural strength aud welfare.
Inventions would Cease. Without the pro-
lection OF the government " secure him the
fruits Of his weary toll, the inventor would
hardly care 10 sacrifice his life and strength
to any one possessed Of more powerful
means to carry the invention to success.
Even now the world is full Of men who do
not hesitate to turn the skill Of others TO
their own account, and in absence OF the
patent the poor inventor would naturally
suffer from these INSCRIPTIONS people, even
more than he does to-day. Moreover, under
Anarchism stable finance would give way
10 confusion, and commerce would not only
be destroyed, but would be rendered imPos
sible. In short, Anarchy would result in u
despotism far worse than any the world has
yet seen. Great enterprises could not be
carried on and corporations could no longer
exist The debtor would need pay only
when his personal desire prompted him to
do 10, and the creditor would find himself
without protection. Only the lazy and the
vicious would prosper, and the greater their
dishonesty and -sliftlessness- the greater
would be their reward.
To carry the principle Of Anarchy To sue
cessful issue assumes q social quality which
does not exist, which never has existed and
never can exist. 1t presupposes human
nature that has regard only for the universal
welfare of state Of civil society when law
shall be abolished, and the individual gov
erned only by his own sense Of right AS
matter Of fact, however, these conditions are
impossible. and it is cause for surprise that
the agitators Of this social system 10 not
read that impossiblity before their eyes.
They themselves are, as a rule, Intelligent
men, but who are their iOllOweIsy Merely
class OF ignorant, reckless beings, some oi
them criminals, many more with criminal
Intentions, ready 10 shont themselves hoTse
for individual government, which is really
no government at all. and even to burn and
to kill that they may bring about social
condition which they do not understand,
but which appeals 10 their wild, fantastic,
rum-drugged brains because il means the
overthrow Of all who are more fortunate
than they.
That the ambition Of the Anarchist will
ever be fulfilled is impossible. While the
spirit exists, however, we have much to fear
Tor the home and the nation, for II must re.
suit in the increase Of disorder and crime.
We have seen recently some OF its bad eli
fects, and We are more seriously than ever
confronted with the necessity of stamping
out the life Of this social evil. which ia the
avowed enemy TO the great American spirit
ofprogress,