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Title: Anarchism
Author: H. W.
Date: May 10, 1904
Language: en
Topics: anarchism
Source: https://www.libertarian-labyrinth.org/anarchist-beginnings/h-w-anarchism-1904-2/
Notes: Free Society 10b no. 18 (May 10, 1904): 2.

H. W.

Anarchism

Anarchism aims to establish an ideal state of society based on the

“golden rule,” in which all distinctions of castes and privileges are

abolished, and in which each individual is expected to labor

spontaneously for the welfare of himself and the community. Mutual

interests and due respect for each other are the only forces deemed

necessary in their social relationship, i. e., each will be a law unto

himself.

Admitting that such a society could not be inaugurated under the present

state of affairs, its advocates are endeavoring to awaken the people to

the fact that government creates disorder, and that freedom is the

remedy, in which humanitarian work they are greatly handicapped by the

misrepresentations of a mercenary press.

Yet, despite its defamations, the scales are gradually falling off the

eyes of the intelligent people, who are beginning to recognize the

merits of a society which has only the welfare of mankind at heart; and

it is only a question of time when the multitude will “evolute” into the

full light of reason and justice.

In property as such, Anarchism sees the greatest source of evil, strife

and corruption. All governments protect individuals and corporations in

the unlimited accumulation of property at the expense of the mass of the

toilers, thus fostering greed and avarice and arousing ambitions which

lead to wars for personal and national aggrandizement, regardless of the

misery it entails upon the people. Recognizing the evil of unrestrained

accumulation and monopolization of wealth, as exemplified in the

constantly increasing demoralization of society as at present

instituted, Anarchism repudiates property in land and natural resources,

as well as ownership of the means of production, i. e., such as are not

required for the needs and comforts of the individual. In this sense,

Proudhon, the founder of Anarchism, declared that “property is robbery.”

A person can occupy only one house, can sleep only in one bed, etc.,

etc., hence in a free society there is no incentive to accumulate things

and withhold them from others. And with the incentive gone, temptation

disappears, and with it nine-tenths of all the crimes now perpetrated in

civilized countries.

By holding more than any one requires for his own necessities, he robs

others of what they may be in need of.

The most essential transformation, then, which society will have to

undergo before the ideal state is attained, is the abolishment of all

legalized property, society recognizing the right of such property as

one requires for his own use. In short, monopoly must cease, and the

individual be free to produce and consume as he sees fit, each

performing such labor as he or she is best adapted for.

Education is the means thru which this ideal state is to be attained.

Once property and its prop—government— are abolished, the temptation for

wrongdoing, such as stealing, exploiting each other, etc., etc., will

cease and the necessity for government terminates.

There is nothing visionary or Utopian in such an ideal state of society.

It is due to the fatal mistake of our forefathers, who sanctioned the

unlimited accumulation of lands and chattels, and protected the holders

in their possession, that strife and warfare has been the lot of man.

But for this almost irretrievable

error, the very aims and objects sought for by Anarchism would have been

established long ere this and be in vogue now.

There will always be different factions in the fields of science and

philosophy unless some ground is discovered “upon which all branches may

converge as from their common root,” to paraphrase one of Herbert

Spencer’s ban mots. Yet a failure to discover such converging point

would by no means be an obstacle to an ideal state of society. Science

and philosophy have never alienated brothers; have never shed a drop of

blood, and will give zest to life when man is free to act as he was by

nature designed to do.

Philosophy, however, should not be confounded with religion, its ally in

some respects. While religion in itself is generally a harmless

self-deception, it has become in the hands of ambitious and unprincipled

men a mighty engine of persecution and oppression. “Dressed in the

livery of Heaven” it has vied with the State in drenching the earth with

human gore. With sanctimonious mien it has perverted true morality until

every walk of life is reeking with corruption. A comparison with heathen

countries will bear me out in this. Worshipping Mammon more than God or

man. religion wears its priestly robe “to serve the devil in.”

A compatible alliance with the different socialistic factions would be

difficult to conceive; for so long as the incentive to strife and

corruption remains in the form of money and property, so long will

brother be pitted against brother and faction against faction.

Self-seeking will ever be the order of the day under a so-called

co-operative socialistic system. Nothing but the total abolishment of

governmental systems and the substitution of principles based on the

precept “each for all and all for each” will establish an equilibrium of

social forces that will forever insure “peace and good will to man on

earth.”

Socialism and Communism are regarded by some as the “stepping stones” to

an ideal state, as a “half way station” between despotic and

self-government. But how could Socialism, as understood now, which asks

for more government, and imposes greater restrictions upon the

individual in some respects, be a “half way station?” Even if it were,

why stop there, seeing that it is full of snares and pitfalls of all

kinds? Why not “make” for the final haven of mankind at once, not tarry

on the way?

While Anarchists consider themselves subject to existing laws and

customs, they would, nevertheless, consider themselves false to their

principles and derelict to their duties if they relaxed their efforts to

bring about the changes needed to insure a state of society based on

right and justice to all, and thus terminate the carnival of crime now

rampant everywhere.

Slowly but surely has been the progress of Anarchism. Its true aims and

objects are beginning to illumine the mind of man. Its advance may be

likened to the early dawn before the break of day. Ere long the sun of

righteousness will arise in all its glory and shed its lustrous rays

over the face of “mother earth,” dispelling the mists of ignorance and

superstition, and the noxious vapors of avarice and oppression under

which humanity is suffering. Man’s innate love of freedom will assert

itself; the goddess of liberty will break the chain the Church and State

have forged around him, and he will walk forth a free man. The

comprehension by the masses of the principles of Anarchism would be

synchronous with its recognition as the real savior of mankind.