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‘‘The State。'' p。 4。
＇49＇ Representative government has accomplished its historical
mission； it has given a mortal blow to Court…rule； and by its debates it has
awakened public interest in public questions。 But； to see in it the
government of the future Socialist society； is to commit a gross error。 Each
economical phase of life implies its own political phase； and it is
impossible to touch the very basis of the present economical lifeprivate
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property without a corresponding change in the very basis of the political
organization。 Life already shows in which direction the change will be
made。 Not in increasing the powers of the State； but in resorting to free
organization and free federation in all those branches which are now
considered as attributes of the State。'' Kropotkin； ‘‘Anarchist
Communism；'' pp。 28…29。
Attractive as this view is； I cannot resist the conclusion that it results
from impatience and represents the attempt to find a short…cut toward the
ideal which all humane people desire。
Let us begin with the question of private crime。＇50＇ Anarchists
maintain that the criminal is manufactured by bad social conditions and
would disappear in such a world as they aim at creating。＇51＇ No doubt
there is a great measure of truth in this view。 There would be little motive
to robbery； for example； in an Anarchist world； unless it were organized on
a large scale by a body of men bent on upsetting the Anarchist regime。 It
may also be conceded that impulses toward criminal violence could be
very largely eliminated by a better education。 But all such contentions； it
seems to me； have their limitations。 To take an extreme case； we cannot
suppose that there would be no lunatics in an Anarchist community； and
some of these lunatics would； no doubt； be homicidal。 Probably no one
would argue that they ought to be left at liberty。 But there are no sharp
lines in nature； from the homicidal lunatic to the sane man of violent
passions there is a continuous gradation。 Even in the most perfect
community there will be men and women； otherwise sane； who will feel
an impulse to commit murder from jealousy。 These are now usually
restrained by the fear of punishment； but if this fear were removed； such
murders would probably become much more common； as may be seen
from the present behavior of certain soldiers on leave。 Moreover； certain
kinds of conduct arouse public hostility； and would almost inevitably lead
to lynching； if no other recognized method of punishment existed。 There is
in most men a certain natural vindictiveness； not always directed against
the worst members of the community。 For example； Spinoza was very
nearly murdered by the mob because he was suspected of undue
friendliness to France at a time when Holland was at war with that country。
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Apart from such cases； there would be the very real danger of an
organized attempt to destroy Anarchism and revive ancient oppressions。 Is
it to be supposed； for example； that Napoleon； if he had been born into
such a community as Kropotkin advocates； would have acquiesced tamely
in a world where his genius could find no scope？ I cannot see what should
prevent a combination of ambitious men forming themselves into a private
army； manufacturing their own munitions； and at last enslaving the
defenseless citizens； who had relied upon the inherent attractiveness of
liberty。 It would not be consistent with the principles of Anarchism for the
community to interfere with the drilling of a private army； no matter what
its objects might be （though； of course； an opposing private army might be
formed by men with different views）。 Indeed； Kropotkin instances the old
volunteers in Great Britain as an example of a movement on Anarchist
lines。＇52＇ Even if a predatory army were not formed from within； it might
easily come from a neighboring nation； or from races on the borderland of
civilization。 So long as the love of power exists； I do not see how it can be
prevented from finding an outlet in oppression except by means of the
organized force of the community。
＇50＇ On this subject there is an excellent discussion in the before…
mentioned work of Monsieur Naquet。
＇51＇ ‘‘As to the thirdthe chiefobjection； which maintains the
necessity of a government for punishing those who break the law of
society； there is so much to say about it that it hardly can be touched
incidentally。 The more we study the question； the more we are brought to
the conclusion that society itself is responsible for the anti…social deeds
perpetrated in its midst； and that no punishment； no prisons； and no
hangmen can diminish the numbers of such deeds； nothing short of a
reorganization of society itself。 Three…quarters of all the acts which are
brought every year before our courts have their origin； either directly or
indirectly； in the present disorganized state of society with regard to the
production and distribution of wealthnot in the perversity of human
nature。 As to the relatively few anti…social deeds which result from anti…
social inclinations of separate individuals； it is not by prisons； nor even by
resorting to the hangmen； that we can diminish their numbers。 By our
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prisons； we merely multiply them and render them worse。 By our
detectives； our ‘price of blood；' our executions； and our jails； we spread in
society such a terrible flow of basest passions and habits； that he who
should realize the effects of these institutions to their full extent； would be
frightened by what society is doing under the pretext of maintaining
morality。 We must search for other remedies； and the remedies have been
indicated long since。'' Kropotkin； ‘‘Anarchist Communism；'' pp。 31…32。
＇52＇ ‘‘Anarchist Communism；'' p。 27。
The conclusion； which appears to be forced upon us； is that the
Anarchist ideal of a community in which no acts are forbidden by law is
not； at any rate for the present； compatible with the stability of such a
world as the Anarchists desire。 In order to obtain and preserve a world
resembling as closely as possible that at which they aim； it will still be
necessary that some acts should be forbidden by law。 We may put the chief
of these under three heads：
1。 Theft。
2。 Crimes of violence。
3。 The creation of organizations intended to subvert the Anarchist
regime by force。
We will briefly recapitulate what has been said already as to the
necessity of these prohibitions。
1。 Theft。It is true that in an Anarchist world there will be no
destitution； and therefore no thefts motivated by starvation。 But such thefts
are at present by no means the most considerable or the most harmful。 The
system of rationing； which is to be applied to luxuries； will leave many
men with fewer luxuries than they might desire。 It will give opportunities
for peculation by those who are in control of the public stores； and it will
leave the possibility of appropriating such valuable objects of art as would
naturally be preserved in public museums。 It may be contended that such
forms of theft would be prevented by public opinion。 But public opinion is
not greatly operative upon an individual unless it is the opinion of his own
group。 A group of men combined for purposes of theft might readily defy
the public opinion of the majority unless that public op