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Experience of backwoods communities； mining camps and other such
places seems to show that under new conditions men easily revert to a
more barbarous attitude and practice。 It would seem； therefore； that； while
human nature remains as it is； there will be more liberty for all in a
community where some acts of tyranny by individuals are forbidden； than
in a community where the law leaves each individual free to follow his
every impulse。 But； although the necessity of some form of government
and law must for the present be conceded； it is important to remember that
all law and government is in itself in some degree an evil； only justifiable
when it prevents other and greater evils。 Every use of the power of the
State needs； therefore； to be very closely scrutinized； and every possibility
of diminishing its power is to be welcomed provided it does not lead to a
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reign of private tyranny。
The power of the State is partly legal； partly economic： acts of a kind
which the State dislikes can be punished by the criminal law； and
individuals who incur the displeasure of the State may find it hard to earn
a livelihood。
The views of Marx on the State are not very clear。 On the one hand he
seems willing；； like the modern State Socialists； to allow great power to
the State； but on the other hand he suggests that when the Socialist
revolution has been consummated； the State； as we know it； will disappear。
Among the measures which are advocated in the Communist Manifesto as
immediately desirable； there are several which would very greatly increase
the power of the existing State。 For example； ‘‘Centralization of credit in
the hands of the State； by means of a national bank with State capital and
an exclusive monopoly；'' and again； ‘‘Centralization of the means of
communication and transport in the hands of the State。'' But the Manifesto
goes on to say：
When； in the course of development； class distinctions have
disappeared； and all production has been concentrated in the hands of a
vast association of the whole nation； the public power will lose its political
character。 Political power； properly so called； is merely the organised
power of one class for oppressing another。 If the proletariat during its
contest with the bourgeoisie is compelled； by the force of circumstances；
to organize itself as a class； if； by means of a revolution； it makes itself the
ruling class； and； as such； sweeps away by force the old conditions of
production； then it will； along with these conditions； have swept away the
conditions for the existence of class antagonisms； and of classes generally；
and will thereby have abolished its own supremacy as a class。
In place of the old bourgeois society； with its classes and class
antagonisms； we shall have an association； in which； the free development
of each is the condition for the free development of all。＇47＇
＇47＇ Communist Manifesto； p。 22。
This attitude Marx preserved in essentials throughout his life。
Accordingly； it is not to be wondered at that his followers； so far as
regards their immediate aims； have in the main become out…and…out State
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Socialists。 On the other hand； the Syndicalists； who accept from Marx the
doctrine of the class war； which they regard as what is really vital in his
teaching； reject the State with abhorrence and wish to abolish it wholly； in
which respect they are at one with the Anarchists。 The Guild Socialists；
though some persons in this country regard them as extremists； really
represent the English love of compromise。 The Syndicalist arguments as to
the dangers inherent in the power of the State have made them dissatisfied
with the old State Socialism； but they are unable to accept the Anarchist
view that society can dispense altogether with a central authority。
Accordingly they propose that there should be two co…equal instruments of
Government in a community； the one geographical； representing the
consumers； and essentially the continuation of the democratic State； the
other representing the producers； organized； not geographically； but in
guilds； after the manner of industrial unionism。 These two author… ities
will deal with different classes of questions。 Guild Socialists do not regard
the industrial authority as forming part of the State； for they contend that it
is the essence of the State to be geographical； but the industrial authority
will resemble the present State in the fact that it will have coercive powers；
and that its decrees will be enforced； when necessary。 It is to be suspected
that Syndicalists also； much as they object to the existing State； would not
object to coercion of individuals in an industry by the Trade Union in that
industry。 Government within the Trade Union would probably be quite as
strict as State government is now。 In saying this we are assuming that the
theoretical Anarchism of Syndicalist leaders would not survive accession
to power； but I am afraid experience shows that this is not a very
hazardous assumption。
Among all these different views； the one which raises the deepest issue
is the Anarchist contention that all coercion by the community is
unnecessary。 Like most of the things that Anarchists say； there is much
more to be urged in support of this view than most people would suppose
at first sight。 Kropotkin； who is its ablest exponent； points out how much
has been achieved already by the method of free agreement。 He does not
wish to abolish government in the sense of collective decisions： what he
does wish to abolish is the system by which a decision is en… forced upon
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those who oppose it。＇48＇ The whole system of representative government
and majority rule is to him a bad thing。＇49＇ He points to such instances as
the agreements among the different railway systems of the Continent for
the running of through expresses and for co…operation generally。 He points
out that in such cases the different companies or authorities concerned
each appoint a delegate； and that the delegates suggest a basis of
agreement； which has to be subsequently ratified by each of the bodies ap…
pointing them。 The assembly of delegates has no coercive power whatever；
and a majority can do nothing against a recalcitrant minority。 Yet this has
not prevented the conclusion of very elaborate systems of agreements。 By
such methods； so Anarchists contend； the USEFUL functions of
government can be carried out without any coercion。 They maintain that
the usefulness of agreement is so patent as to make co…operation certain if
once the predatory motives associated with the present system of private
property were removed。
＇48＇ ‘‘On the other hand； the STATE has also been confused with
GOVERNMENT。 As there can be no State without government； it has
been sometimes said that it is the absence of government； and not the
abolition of the State； that should be the aim。
‘‘It seems to me； however； that State and government represent two
ideas of a different kind。 The State idea implies quite another idea to that
of government。 It not only includes the existence of a power placed above
society； but also a territorial concentration and a concentration of many
functions of the life of society in the hands of a few or even of all。 It
implies new relations among the members of society。
‘‘This characteristic distinction； which perhaps escapes notice at first
sight； appears clearly when the origin of the State is studied。'' Kropotkin；
‘‘The State。'' p。 4。
＇49＇ Representative government has accomplished its historical
mission； it has given a mortal blow to