Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-09-26
(Second Articie)
Anarc hism and Socialism
N.Y. rsnAnnu nAnrnM

opinions to-day, even when the think
er is unaware that his mental process
es are colored by any philosophy. "
Men who pride themselves on being
what they call practical" frequently
scoff at theory" But the truth is,
every practice is founded upon theory,
which may lie latent and unrecognized
in the obscure, subconscious region OF
the mind, yet none the less 1t is the
ruling philosophy Of the mans life. II
is often the case that the creed which
is consciously professed is diametrically
opposed to the subconscious philoso
ply that really determines action. This
is so, not only In religion, but in politics
as we'll.
Men call themselves republicans,
democrats, ""popullsts;" but there Is
nothing distinctive In these designa
tions; none OF them describes the creed
professed. The words republican,
democrat" and "populist" are really
synonyms, and any one OF them may be
used with equal proPriety to designate
the man who believes Ia popular govern
ment. But the words ''nihilist," IAN
archist." socialist" and "commu-
nist"-if we observe their chronological
ignifications-are capable OF very pre-
else differentiation in meaning, ard
cannot be used anonymously or inter
changeably. These four words describe
different phases assumed by the two
opposing philosophers that preside at
every ballot-box-anarshism aud So
cialism; one restricting, the other en-
larging, the sphere In which government
is permitted to operate.
Nihilism Is philosophic anarchism
run mad. 1t gives birth to deeds utterly
abhorrent to every true anarchist. Ills
the angry and violent protest OF wild
natures embittered against society by
real or fancled grievances. In prosper
Gus times these savage creatures seldom
emerge from their caverns.
Anarchism, as a political theory, was
first proclaimed by Thomas jefferson,
whose famous nd oft-repeated sayings.
1.-THE world Is governed too much,
and 1.-THE best-governed nation Is the
one that is governed the least" con-
stitute the essential creed Of conserva-
tive democracy to-day. II it DO true
that 1.-THE best governed nation Is the
one that Is governed the least" a log
ical deduction leads to the conclusion
that the model state IL one ia which
there is no government at all. When
such state becomes possible, we may
have anarchism without anarchy.
Here the query suggests itself II
Jefferson were alive now would he be
a Jeffersonian l think not. He was
the most radical politician OF his
time-in fact, he was far ahead Of HE
age-and it is pretty certain that ne
would not be conservative, II he
we're present with us to-day. He was
a progressive man even In his old age.
In his youth he was an innovator,
formulating a new theory Of government
In the Declaration OF Independence. In
his old age also he was an innovator,
founding the University OF Virginia
upon plan that had no president. Ii
he could rise from the grave, an octo-
genarlan ghost, he would still be an in
novator. The Jefferson OF 1905 would
be the jefferson Of 1776. But from this
identity Of personally there would be
evolved political philosophy very dit.
ferent from that which he announced
in the early days Of the republic.
Opinions do not proceed from the
head, but from the heart. Men believe,
not as logical DEGREES, but according to
the dictates Of their feelings, their pas
sions, their prejudlces. Mr.. Jeffsrson's
sympathies with the oppr essed por-
tons Of mankind, at an eroch when al
most the whole world was subject to
absolute monarchs, led hun to say
1.-THE world is governed too much. y
But now when nearly everywhere polit-
ical power has been bestowed more or
less boun tifu;ly upon the people, and
especially in our own land where the pop
ular will, constitutionally expressed, is
supreme, MIR. Jefferson would be sur
prised to find Individual frsedo m al
lowed to run rampant to the detriment
Of the people, and he wonld say. "This
world is governed too little"
He would have the wisdom to see.
and the candor to confess, that the old
policy OF "laissez faire"-which per-
nits every man to do as he p,eases,
provided he does not trespass upon tn Q
rights of others-while it may work
safely for awhile In a simple society
with but small variety OF interests, will
produce nothing but mischief when
applied to larger aud more complex
community in which antagonistlc inter
ests are snarling at one another with
the ferocity OF wolves fighting over the
meat with which they would appease
the pangs OF hunger or satiate the
greed OF gluttony. He would observe
that the motto OF his day, EVERY mar
for himself, and God for us all, D." hal
been changed In practice to every
man for himself, and the devil take thu
hindmost." He wo.ll1 find that thu
fair field for all with favors to none
has resulted in the exclusive occupancy
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