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Title: Anarchism in a Nutshell Author: Henry Glasse Date: February, 1918 Language: en Topics: Libertarian Labyrinth Source: https://www.libertarian-labyrinth.org/anarchist-beginnings/henry-glasse-anarchism-in-a-nutshell-1918/ Notes: Freedom (London) 32 no. 345 (February, 1918): 11.
The State is a mutual assurance company comprising the ruling
classes—landowners, capitalists, high officials, and clergy; government
is the directorate or executive committee of this association, whose
object is to secure to its members their domination over the mass of the
people, and the exploitation of its necessities for their
aggrandisement. Even supposing that the State could be reorganised
according to the theories of Social Democracy (Parliamentary Socialism),
the most that could result would be the substitution of majority rule
for minority rule; the one is just as much tyranny as the other. For my
part, with Byron,
“I’d have mankind be free
As much from mobs as kings, from you as me.”
The ideal of Anarchist Communism (Free Socialism) embraces complete
individual liberty, the regulation by each of his own life, free
association with his fellows in accordance with his own tastes and
aptitudes, and recognition of the right of all to the world’s wealth, to
be used by each according to his needs and capacities. The Anarchist
does not believe in Government nor Legality, therefore he cannot
consistently advocate the capture of governmental power by the vote;
neither is he so foolish as to hope to do so through the means of ”
constitutional” methods adopted and adapted by his enemies in order to
perpetuate their baneful influence under hypocritical forms. Numbers, on
which alone an election depends, constitute only one, and that by no
means the most important, factor of success in any other kind of
contest; ten brave men can overcome twenty cowards, a man of conviction
is worth a dozen waverers, and a few intelligent men can outwit the
stupidity of a crowd. Anarchists need not wait to convert a voting
majority, but will assert their claims as soon as they feel strong
enough; temporary or partial failures will not affect their
determination, and the numerical force necessary will be in inverse
proportion to its energy and enthusiasm.