The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-28
is AN ANARCHIST.
Reclus, the Great French
Scientist.
A Lucid Exposition of the Doctrines
of the Proposed Social
Revolution.

The implication of Paul RecIus in the
anarchist plots in Paris. says the New
York Tribune. calls attention to his
father, the famous geographer, Elisee
Reclus, who, because of his participation
in the Commune, his anarchist opinions
and sympathy with Nihiism, has for
many years been an exile from France.
He makes his home at Clarens. Oh Lake
Leman, amid some OF the most beautiful
and inspiring scenery in all Switzerland,
occupying a modest villa close to the edge
of the water-so close, indeed, that at his
study window he can, like the prisoner of
ChillOn on the same lake. feel the spray
when winds are high. Ii was here that he
gave refuge to his friend and fellow
student, Prince KrapOtkin, and here that
literary and scientific folk innumerable
have visited him to enjoy his charming So
ciety and to deplore his absence from the
great centers of art and learning.
AS pictured by visitor, N. Reclus is
short Of stature and slightly built, some
60 years old, and with nothing about him
OF the typical Frenchman. He has fore
head of unusual height and breadth, from
which falls oa ok rather unkempt mass
of once brown hair, mingled now with
many streaks of gray. His musiache and
beard are of the same hue, his eyes deep
blue and his remarkable face denotes at
once power, sympathy and high intelli-
gence. Like his friend Prince krapotkin.
he has more the air of a man of letters
than of man of action, and there is
nothing whatever in his manner or his an
peaTance to distinguish him as ar ardent
revolutionist or enthusiastic renovator of
society.
Ii is impossible to converse many min
utes with the learned author of The
Earth" without being struck with the en-
cycloDedic character of his knowledge.
Many literary men forget a great deal of
what even they themselves have written !:
but Nj. Reclus, whose published works
form a not nconsiderable library, seems
TO remember all he has ever read He
know their own parishes, and Supports his
arguments with a wealth of illustration
and facility Of expression which, should he
ever take to talking, would make him one
OF the most formidable debaters of the age.
His powers of assimilation aud acquisition
are extraordinary. He learned the Rus
sian language in order that he might the
better write the article on Russia for his
monumental work, "Uuiversal Geogra-
phy," and has knowledge of nearly every
European tongue.
NJ. Recus is, however, at least as much
O y.
has, too, the courage of his convictions.
de is as faithful TO his IDEAL of duty as were
his Huguenot ancestors. Some years ago
when, in his Jealous efforts 10 behalf Of
Krapotkin, he placed himself al the dis
posal Of the Lyons examining Judge. he
Informed his mother that be might have 10
go to prisOn. go" she answered, 'if you
consider it your duty"
NJ. Recus objected Dot to Governments
alone, but 10 every sort OF authority.
What would you do on board ship in a
storm?" he was asked. 'As Greek sail
Ors." he answered. Choose the ablest
mariner among us-the one with the bes;
coup d'9il-to take the management of
the ship. But we should neither treat him
as captain nor call him ODe-simply carry
out his directions as one has to carry out
the directions of surgeon who performs
an operation. Every man to his METER"
"And this great division of property.
how would you bring that about?' 1--WE
don't intend to bring it about at ALL" was
his reply. ave are not so stupid as to
suppose that ii is either desirable or posi-.
BILE to make an equal division of property.
But we look on all property asthe COM
mou possession of humanity. and we con-
slider that 1t should be enjoyed in common.
There is enough for all. and all should
work and all enjoy the fruits Of their labor.
But this end can never be attained by Gov
ernments or irresponsible Deputies. We
propose. therefore to put an end to both"
"HOw in that case would you protect the
weak from the strong. how put down
crime and punish criminals? For the de-
struction of authority would imply the
abolition of tribunals, police and soldiers"
THE man who commits a crime" he said.
"interferes with my freedom. impedes NV
liberty of action. He would be brought
before one ofthe groups into which society
would spontaneously resolve itself and
I do nd
should not require courts and policemen
for that"
He was further asked to explain how.
in the event of private trading being
abolished, a country like England, which
is dependent on foreign countries for
much Of its corn and meat, could feed it's
people. That, he admitted. would be diff
cult at frst-especially If England should
be the first to adopt the anarchic pro-
gramme. He contended however, that in
very short time after the land was
nation allied IL would produce enough food
for all the people who lived on it, By
turning meadows into corn land, cuItivat-
ing waste places, and adopting scientific
system OF husbandry. enough food might
be produced To dispense altogether with
foreign importations. This contention he
supported BY adducing MULTI ude of
facts and figures which showed, whatever
might be the merit of his arguments. a thor
the point ON which he dwell the most, and
to which he returned again and again, was
that this mother earth of ours produces
enough of everything TO make all her chill
dreB happy, and that poverty and all its
woes arise not, as it is the fashion to say,
from the nature of things. but from bad
laws and selfishness In high places.
I'VE want" he said. ito shake off these
fetters-these vicious old Dstitutious-that
render the poor poorer, the rich richer:
that force 1900. coo Of your English people
to keep all the rest in idleness. This is the
object of anarchism, but everything
every movement. every speech. every in
incident that m skes for the redemption of
the disin herited and the freedom of the
| socially oppressed-tbat also Is anarchy"
propaganda by acts" phrase which
| anarchists are very fond of using, does
not. he explained. mean propaganda BY
violence, but by any sort of demonstration
on the platform or otherwise whereby at
| tention is called to the social question and
| the need for new order of things.