The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-03

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law. no supreme authority. 1t 10 a
beautiful theory, and it would be prac-
tioable were ''all men q law unto them>
selves" The practical anarchist be-
lieves the same, bat he is not man OF
peace and non-reeistsnos. He regards
all restraint upon his action as a
tyranny which be has the right to
throw off by any msars. The assassin
Of President Csrnot shouted for anarchy
when he planted his knife in the body
Of his victim. Every murderer, train
robbsr. burglar and thief, is a practical
anarchist and, like the philosophical
anarchist, wishes there were no govern
ment, no law aud no officer to maks ar
rests, and no courts to convict and
punish.
1t is true that any human government
is q restraint upon liberty, and when
men enter into society they give up some
OF their natural rights. This is necessary
because "all man are not q law unto
thsmselves." There is no community
in all the world, OF any considerable
magnitude. where restraint OF law and
authority 10 not necessary to some OF
its mem bers. In every community there
are persons so advanced in goodness
that the principal of theoretical anarchy
could be applied without harm from
their action, and such suffer mora than
the rascal who refuses to obey the
golden rule, and upon whom the vengs.
snce of tho law is executed. The Rdvo-
cacy OF anarchy by those who claim to
be good men does imm easurable harm,
for upon those who are not salts fed with
mere theory, il operates liks lighted
match upon key OF powder.
When tho millennium comes man may
be able to get along without human law
or authority. 1t has not yet made it's
appearance, and its approach will be
through gradual progression. Ninetee en-
centuries ago Christ taught that which,
il obeyed. will create conditions when
anarchial doctrines can be safely applied.
His teachings and example have bsen
pressed upon men through numberless
agsncies, from that day TO this, yet at
best there is q large minority OF the
human family that would prey upon
others, or will not do unto others as they
would that others should do unto them.
There is yes existen. such ignorance or
depravity that the distinction between
n,eum and teunl is no. oomprehsnded or
recognized. The frat duty of socisty is
to protect itself and all ita m sm bsrs. II it
cannot be done by the law of love 1t
must be done by the law of com pulson.
1t is best that restraints upon human
action should be removed as fast al the
safety of society will permit. The best
effort in that direction is to improve
mental and moral conditions and to pa.
tiently wait for the good time coming"
The world has steadily progressed,
though here and there in the general
stream there seem to be eddiss and
backward currents. There have been
revolutions, radical and destructive Of
institutions which appear 80 be leaps in
advancement, but when thu confusion
and mists have disappeared it has been
found that progress has, after all, bsen
at the usual pace. Anarchy aud vio-
lenoe gre synonyms. and in the history
Of the world deSpotism has bssn more
often begot by it than freedom. It
seems to be law that progress toward
q higher state must be slow OF growth
in order to be substantial and psrma.
nent. The philosophical an anarchists will
render the world a service if they will
join hands with the more conservative
in modifying and improving human
government instead OF extinguishlng it.
By their radical efforts they are more
likely to bring upon the world greater
oppression than greater liberty.