SUB-SECTION II ANARCHIST MOVEMENT IN AMERICA Chapter I. Anarchism - An Historical Sketch. II. Anarchist Communism III. Anarcho-Syndicalism [839] 840 844 861 SUB-SECTION II ANARCHIST MOVEMENT IN AMERICA CHAPTER I Historical Sketch and Definition It is not necessary in this report to trace the history and devel opment of the various theories of social and economic order which may properly be grouped under the term "Anarchism." From the very nature of its philosophy a precise definition is wanting. Each writer or speaker who advocates it gives expression to his or her own peculiar concept. Anarchism is defined in the literature issued by Emma Goldman, who for many years was one of the leading anarchists in this country, as "The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence, and are therefore wrong and harmful as well as unnecessary." (See p 7, stenographer's minutes, Committee Hearings.) The advocates of theoretical anarchism are not necessarily men of violence, nor men familiar with the use of the torch or bomb, but the picture of a society, free from all restraint, has won to the ranks of the anarchists those irreconcilable and ungoverned spirits who want liberty transformed to license and who seek to indulge their passions and greed without incurring the penalties imposed by organized society. As a result, the term "Anarchism" has come to be applied indiscriminately to all persons who resort to violence and defy the law of the land, even though their acts may have been inspired by other than political motives. Many writers on theoretical anarchism express a horror of deeds of violence which cannot in themselves bring political or economic results. The anarchism of Bakunin was the expression of an open warfare against the military and autocratic powers of Russia and elsewhere, rather than terrorism of the individual, or attacks upon individuals or civilians without political purpose. It is interesting to recall that at the time Bakunin evolved his theories, the spirit of revolution was rife throughout Europe, and the aspirations of small and subject nationalities were finding expression in attacks upon the then constituted authorities. The nihilists of Russia, although claimed by some writers not to be anarchists, may safely be classed with this group, and their tactics were in the nature of demonstrations against the oppres sion of an autocratic government, and were sanctioned only with apparent reluctance by the leaders of the group. Theoretical anarchism is the expression of extreme individualism. The anarchist in theory strives after the most complete selfdevelopment of the individual which is compatible with the equal claims of his fellow men. He dispenses with the central authority of the State. He rejects universal suffrage on the ground that " It must always turn to the profit of the dominating and exploiting minority against interest of the majority enslaved." (Bakunin). Government is considered the instrument for the establishment of monopoly; as the invention of the few to protect their vested interests. The anarchist refuses to participate in government; to form a political party or to take any part in the scheme of society which he deems to be a bar to progress. Anarchism is, therefore, the very antithesis of state Socialism. The philosophy of anarchism is not a spontaneous expression of any one thinker or group of thinkers, but has developed slowly from the earliest time. Socrates and Zeno have both expressed theories analogous of the modern anarchist. Rabelais and Rousseau, and many mediaeval writers, have expressed similar thoughts. It remained for Godwin, however, in his work entitled "Inquiry Concerning Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness," published in 1793, to formulate the more modern ideas of anarchism, although in his work he did not employ the word "anarchism" to designate the theories which he so effectually portrayed. He believed it was essential to abolish all laws and the courts for their administration in order to allow real justice development. During the French Revolution the term " anarchist" first made its appearance, and was applied by Girondists to extremists. The first memoir of Proudhon, published in 1840, entitled "Qu'Est-ce Que la Propriete"" describes his conception of Mutuellisme, and applies the term "anarchy" to describe the ideal society. For the purposes of this report it is not necessary to detail the various mutations anarchistic thought has undergone. In the United States it attained prominence in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Several congresses of anarchists were held, and several newspapers established, notably "The Anarchist" at Boston, "The Arbeiter-Zeitung" of Chicago, and "The Voice of the People" at St. Louis. In 1883 at Pittsburgh, a Congress of twenty delegates representing anarchists and social revolutionaries issued an address to the workmen of America with the following program: (1) Destruction of the existing class rule by all means, i. e., energetic, relentless, revolutionary and international action. (2) Establishment of a free society, based upon co-operative organization of production. (3) Free exchange of equivalent products by and between productive organizations, without commerce and profit-mongering. (4) Organization of education on a secular, scientific and equal basis for both sexes. (5) Equal rights for all, without distinction of sex or race. (6) Regulation of all public affairs by free contracts between the autonomous (independent) communes and associations, resting on a federalistic basis. This, together with the appeal to the workmen to organize, was published in Chicago, in November, 1883, by the local committee, among whom was August Spies, who was later convicted and executed for his participation in the Haymarket affair in the year 1887. (See Enc. Brit. 11th Ed., Vol. I, p. 917.) It should be noted from the foregoing that anarchism has many points in common with Socialism and syndicalism. Both Marx, the founder of scientific Socialism, and Bakunin, the author of systematic anarchism, desire the final abolition of classes in society; political, economic and social equality for both sexes; that the land and instruments of production and of capital become collective property of the community; that this should be utilized only by the proletariat so long as so-called class distinctions remain in society. Communist anarchism, therefore, which was the parent of the Social Revolutionary Party in Russia, is closely identified with the Communist Socialism of Germany, and the syndicalism of France. Many anarchists believe that Communism is a necessary step in the attainment of true anarchy which in theory can only be instituted when the mass of society have been schooled to freedom. It is therefore apparent that anarchism is in theory the extreme Left Wing of the Socialist movement. In fact, for a time, the anarchists were admitted to the International Workingmen's Association, but were expelled in the year 1872 owing to differences which arose between Marx and Bakunin. The importance |