The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16
RECENT PUBLICATIONS


Russia has produced no more versatile
genius than was Prince Peter Alexeievitch
Kropotlin. who signed himself plain ''P.
kropotkin." Explorer. geographer. natur-
alist. sociologist. soldier. writer. carpenter.
book binder and Nihilist-he was past
master in all. He was a great student and
a deep thinker. but too liberal in his views
to please the Russians. and he spent part
o. his life in prison as a consequence. In
France. also. he suffered because his teach
inss transgressed the liberties Of speech
granted by the republic Even in Switzer-
land he was deemed too radical and was
escorted to the frontier under guard. In
England. however. he was permitted to edit
an Anarchist paper and was regarded as
the leader OF a colony of exiles, some of
whom were reds" and others merely So
cislistic or communistic. like Count Tolstoi
and the prince himself at times.
1t was while under the Russian ban that
Kropotkin turned 10 literature, and the
knowledge gained while ne was in the serv-
ice OF his country put to good use.
Scientists, political economists, geographers
and students OF sociology are familiar
with his earlier works. Mutual Aid" just
published for circulation in the United
death in London about year ago, presents
new IDEAS on a subject that has been dis
cussed by theorists for a century or more.
In his youth the author made several jour-
Eeys through eastern Siberia and Man
churfa. and was impressed with the mutual
ala and mutual support he found in the
lower animal kingdom. He says 81 saw
among the semi-wiid cattle and horses.
squirrels and so on, that when animals
nave TO struggle against the scarcity of
which is affected by the calamity comes
Out or the ordeal so much impoverished IN
vlSor and health that no progressive evolu-
ton of the species can be based upon such
periods Of keen competition" This was
written partly as an answer TO one of OAR
win theories Further Illustrating his
Ided hropotkln says: 1T is not love TO
my nelgnD0r-WhOm / often do not know at
all-which induces me to seize a pail of
water and rush toward his house when
see II on fire; 1t is far wider, even though
sohdar.ty and sociability which moves me.
90 IL Is with animals. II is not love, and
not even sympathy Understood in its
OF ruminants or of horses TO
form ring in order to resist an
attack OF wolves; not love which induces
wolves to form a pack for hunting; not
love which induces kittens or lambs to play,
OF cozen OF species of young birds to
sPend their days together in the autumn;
anu ~ IS neither love nor personal SYM
pathy which induces many thousand fall
low deer scattered over a territory as large
as france TO form into score of sepa-
rate nerds. all marching TO a given spot,
In order there to cross a river 1t is a feel
ing infinitely wider than love or personal
sympathy-an instinct that has been slowly
developed among animals and men in the
course o. an extremely long evolution, and
which has taught animals and men alike
tne 1orce they can borrow from the prac-
tice OF mutual aid and support, and the
joys they can find In social life The i'm.
portance OF this distinction will be easily
appreciated py the student of animal psy-
ehology' and the more so by the student OF
human ethics. Love, sympathy and self
sacrifice certainly play an Immense part
IN the progressive development of our
moral Feelings. But il Is not love. and
not even sympathy upon which society is
passed IN mankind. II is the conscience
pe II only at the stage Of an instinct-of
recognition of the force that Is borrowed
py eacn man from the practice of mutual
ala OF the close dependence of every one :
happiness on the happiness OF all, and OF
the sense OF justice, or equity. which bring
the individual TO consider the rights of
every other individual to his own
IN supporting the foregoing statements
hropotk1n gives numerous EXAMPLES He
carries his idea throughout all life and
SHOWS mutual aid Is the unWritten hut
unvariable, law Of insects. birds beasts
and savage and civilized mankind Labor
unions are the outgrowth of the desire for
mutual aid So, also. are the many forms
! OF cooperation, clubs. societies. fraterni-
ties, etc. And IL might be said that the
modern combine is the mutual aid nrin-
ciple carried out in a way. Trusts. cornbi-
nations. mergers. corporations are all rnu-
tual support organizations, If the theory
or Prince kropotkin be permissible of ex-
pansion. Mcclure, Phillips e. Co. New
York, control the American edition of the
book ~