The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-05
Cure s,ur LII. Anarchist.

EVERY llOuSllluQ tldNSlel AZ Aot'~
must pe impressed with the supernulty
OF folks-thai is TO say, folks WITH notn-
ing TO do. In Italy lnis plethora seems
more pronounced tnan elsewhere. AT every
MOTEL there are four servants where only
one is required
Italy has less than one-half the popula-
ton of the United States, yet she mas
navy that outma tches ours she maintains
an army OF leJ,vUJ men in time OF peace,
and there is one priest ior every SHY
persons.
sac might maintain the priests but she
cannot. possibly advance and carry the
army that rides upon her back. Italy Is
the extreme type Of all European coun-
tries, except Switzerland, Holland, Nor
way and Sweden. These last stand for in
teiligence, sobriety, beauty and worth.
Italy is rotting at the core. The moss
is at work pulling down the palaces that
Caprino planned; the grass springs from
between the paving stones where Mlcnael
Angelo tired, and the noble Romans and
courtiy Fiorentnes, like the crawling
lizards, only bask IN the sun in winter and
move but to keep in the shade in sum-
mer.
CONSUMPTION kills ambition. Men will
not work where the Government demands
half their wages as Italy does only Two
careers worth mentioning are open to as
piring youth in Italy-tfe army and the
Church. Manual labor is held everywhere
III contempt. and this accounts for tue
seeming superfiuity of folks and the braEen
beggardon. The rich set the example OF
idle,ess. Italy's art is u thing Of the past
Italy was.
Governments cannot be done away with
instantaneously, but progress will come,
as it mas in the past, by lesSenlnS the
number of laws. We want less governing,
and the ideal government viii arrive when
there is no government at all.
So long as governments set the example
of killing their enemies, private individuals
will occasionally kill theirs So long as
men are dubbed robbed, hanged by the
governing class. just so long will the IDEA
of violence and brutality be born in the
souls of men.
Governments imprison. men and then
hound them when they are released. Hate
will never die SO long as men are taken
from useful production on the specous
plea of patriotism, and bayonets CLEAN in
Gods pure sunshine.
And the worst part about making a
soldier of a man is not that soldier kills
brown men or white men, but that the
soldier loses his own soul.
In America Just now there are strong
signs of following the example Of modern
Italy. To divert the attention of men from
useful production to war, waste and
wealth through conquest is to invite moral
disease and death. The history of nations
dead and gone is one. They grew strong
and died because they did. Insurance ac-
tuarics say that athletes are very bad risks.
Switzerland to-day is the least illiterate
RS wei! as the NEST truly prosperous COIN
try IN the world She is, in fact. the only
republic. for the people themselves make
the laws. Her government IS of the people.
In Switzerland to work with your hands is
honorable-nanual training for both boys
and girls is a part of the public school
system. Her gilded social arstocracy is
either English or American.
Switzerland has no navy, for the same
reason that Bohemia has not; and while
every man is a soldier. yet three weeks
service every year is only a useful play
spell. In Switzerland there is no bessar-
dor, and little vice. Everywhers life and
property are safe The people are healthy,
prosperous and happy. Switzerland minds
her own business and the chief tenet OF
her political creed IS. We viii attend Ten 70
cur own affairs She will only. fight if
invaded, ard fortunately she IS not big
enough to indulge in lingo swagGer.
Tit. flag of Switzerland is the White
Cross-white on red background-and
this is the symbol of peace and amity the
wide world over The Geneva Clos
red cross on a white background-de-
signed In compliment to Switzerland, is the
one flag upon which no guns are trained.
And now at the parting of the ways
would it not be wise for America to choose
between the example of Switzerland and
Italy?
America is a giant:sit is well to have
giants strength but not well to use it like
a giant. This is the richest country the
world has ever knowT-in treasure and in
men and women. If NE mind oursown bust
peace we can solve a problem that has
vexed the world from the beginning Of
time. Shall ne make our country blossom
like The rose. or shall ne follow the exam