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Title: War—What For? Author: Laurance Labadie Date: c. 1912 Language: en Topics: anti-war, militarism, anti-militarism, war Source: Retrieved 10/25/2021 from http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/labadie/LabadieEssays.pdf Notes: From a carbon copy of the typed original, signed but undated. From internal evidence it seems to have been produced at about the start of World War I. Reprinted in Laurance LaBadie: Selected Essays (Libertarian Broadsides), James J. Martin, ed., Ralph Myles Publisher, Inc., 1978.
During the last century the theory of evolution was coupled with that of
meliorism. Man and the social order were considered as growing and
developing, changing for the better. Thus, modern man tends to
depreciate the mentality of his forebears and to have a conceited
estimate of his own intellectuality. But there is evidence of an
alarming decline in his mental powers even during recorded history.
As far as purely mental processes are concerned, the fellow who
discovered that scrambling could be better done by ganging up was a
genius comparable to the discoverer of the wheel. Likewise, the fellow
who first realized that another’s labor products could be obtained by
other than killing him—that, indeed, a continual despoilment might be
inaugurated by his enslavement, was another genius, possibly even a
humanitarian, of no mean powers. To the extent that these means for
obtaining goods seemed necessary for the persistence of human life,
their conception was highly rational and showed growing powers of
observation and thought far above that possible for the amoeba. It is
the contention of some, agreeing with Christian theology, that the
original sin of man consisted of thinking and reasoning. It may be that
they are right.
It is significant, however, that notwithstanding the enormously
increased productivity since earlier times, these very same gentry
operate and are admired and lauded to this very day. This may be
observed by our attitudes toward the military and the so called business
enterprise fellows who are bent on “getting theirs.” None of the moderns
seem to have the wit to understand that plundering the other fellow
isn’t economical any more. But one of these days some genius may stumble
on the idea. if we aren’t blown to bits beforehand.
The discoverer of the possible justice to be obtained by the
inauguration of the principle of property certainly had more sense than
the subsequent promotors of that principle who spread it to ideas and
privileges the very nature of which denies the application of the
principle if its original and rational intent were to be maintained. The
beneficial and valid effects of property have therefore not merely been
nullified hut have been directly contradicted. This, moreover, has
occurred at a time when no excuse for predatoriness seems justified. One
may understand birds squabbling over a few grains of wheat, but if
beside those few grains there stood a heap of wheat, more than they all
could eat and of better quality, the squabble would to most of us appear
to be downright lunacy. Yet the analogy with mankind’s present behavior
is nearly perfect.
The final criterion for judging intelligence is in the ability to make
accurate distinctions. But modern man has become so gullible and
mentally inert that he cannot distinguish between the practices by which
he is destroying himself from those which may be used for his benefit,
There is hardly any professional practice, from the preaching of
religion to the practice of medicine, which is not today hell-bent in
promoting an inferior type of human.
Considering its comparatively auspicious beginning, the American social
order has degenerated probably faster than any other in history. That
over one-hundred and twenty million people should willingly acquiesce in
three reigns of Rooseveltism indicates to what a calamitous condition it
has fallen.
Possibly one good thing would result from a first class war during our
present techniques of destruction—it might end the sorry farce and turn
the earth over to the bugs and beasts.