proposed roads to freedom(通往自由之路)-第11章
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is given in a book called ‘‘Le Peril Anarchiste；'' by Felix Dubois；＇17＇
which incidentally reproduces a number of cartoons from anarchist
journals。 The revolt against law naturally leads； except in those who are
controlled by a real passion for humanity； to a relaxation of all the usually
accepted moral rules； and to a bitter spirit of retaliatory cruelty out of
which good can hardly come。
＇17＇ Paris； 1894。
One of the most curious features of popular Anarchism is its
martyrology； aping Christian forms； with the guillotine （in France） in place
of the cross。 Many who have suffered death at the hands of the authorities
on account of acts of violence were no doubt genuine sufferers for their
belief in a cause； but others； equally honored； are more questionable。 One
of the most curious examples of this outlet for the repressed religious
impulse is the cult of Ravachol； who was guillotined in 1892 on account of
various dynamite outrages。 His past was dubious； but he died defiantly； his
last words were three lines from a well…known Anarchist song； the ‘‘Chant
du Pere Duchesne''：
Si tu veux etre heureux； Nom de Dieu！
Pends ton proprietaire。
As was natural； the leading Anarchists took no part in the canonization
of his memory； nevertheless it proceeded； with the most amazing
extravagances。
It would be wholly unfair to judge Anarchist doctrine； or the views of
its leading exponents； by such phenomena； but it remains a fact that
Anarchism attracts to itself much that lies on the borderland of insanity
and common crime。＇18＇ This must be remembered in exculpation of the
authorities and the thoughtless public； who often confound in a common
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detestation the parasites of the movement and the truly heroic and high…
minded men who have elaborated its theories and sacrificed comfort and
success to their propagation。
＇18＇ The attitude of all the better Anarchists is that expressed by L。 S。
Bevington in the words： ‘‘Of course we know that among those who call
themselves Anarchists there are a minority of unbalanced enthusiasts who
look upon every illegal and sensational act of violence as a matter for
hysterical jubilation。 Very useful to the police and the press； unsteady in
intellect and of weak moral principle； they have repeatedly shown
themselves accessible to venal considerations。 They； and their violence；
and their professed Anarchism are purchasable； and in the last resort they
are welcome and efficient partisans of the bourgeoisie in its remorseless
war against the deliverers of the people。'' His conclusion is a very wise one：
‘‘Let us leave indiscriminate killing and injuring to the Governmentto its
Statesmen； its Stockbrokers； its Officers； and its Law。'' （‘‘Anarchism and
Violence；'' pp。 9…10。 Liberty Press； Chiswick； 1896。）
The terrorist campaign in which such men as Ravachol were active
practically came to an end in 1894。 After that time； under the influence of
Pelloutier； the better sort of Anarchists found a less harmful outlet by
advocating Revolutionary Syndicalism in the Trade Unions and Bourses
du Travail。＇19＇
＇19＇ See next Chapter。
The ECONOMIC organization of society； as conceived by Anarchist
Communists； does not differ greatly from that which is sought by
Socialists。 Their difference from Socialists is in the matter of government：
they demand that government shall require the consent of all the governed；
and not only of a majority。 It is undeniable that the rule of a majority may
be almost as hostile to freedom as the rule of a minority： the divine right
of majorities is a dogma as little possessed of absolute truth as any other。
A strong democratic State may easily be led into oppression of its best
citizens； namely； those those independence of mind would make them a
force for progress。 Experience of democratic parliamentary government
has shown that it falls very far short of what was expected of it by early
Socialists； and the Anarchist revolt against it is not surprising。 But in the
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form of pure Anarchism； this revolt has remained weak and sporadic。 It is
Syndicalism； and the movements to which Syndicalism has given rise； that
have popularized the revolt against parliamentary government and purely
political means of emancipating the wage earner。 But this movement must
be dealt with in a separate chapter。
CHAPTER III
THE SYNDICALIST REVOLT
SYNDICALISM arose in France as a revolt against political
Socialism； and in order to understand it we must trace in brief outline the
positions attained by Socialist parties in the various countries。
After a severe setback； caused by the Franco… Prussian war； Socialism
gradually revived； and in all the countries of Western Europe Socialist
parties have increased their numerical strength almost continuously during
the last forty years； but； as is invariably the case with a growing sect； the
intensity of faith has diminished as the number of believers has increased。
In Germany the Socialist party became the strongest faction of the
Reichstag； and； in spite of differences of opinion among its members； it
preserved its formal unity with that instinct for military discipline which
characterizes the German nation。 In the Reichstag election of 1912 it
polled a third of the total number of votes cast； and returned 110 members
out of a total of 397。 After the death of Bebel； the Revisionists； who
received their first impulse from Bernstein； overcame the more strict
Marxians； and the party became in effect merely one of advanced
Radicalism。 It is too soon to guess what will be the effect of the split
between Majority and Minority Socialists which has occurred during the
war。 There is in Germany hardly a trace of Syndicalism； its characteristic
doctrine； the preference of industrial to political action； has found scarcely
any support。
In England Marx has never had many followers。 Socialism there has
been inspired in the main by the Fabians （founded in 1883）； who threw
over the advocacy of revolution； the Marxian doctrine of value； and the
class…war。 What remained was State Socialism and a doctrine of
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‘‘permeation。'' Civil servants were to be permeated with the realization
that Socialism would enormously increase their power。 Trade Unions were
to be permeated with the belief that the day for purely industrial action
was past； and that they must look to government （inspired secretly by
sympathetic civil servants） to bring about； bit by bit； such parts of the
Socialist program as were not likely to rouse much hostility in the rich。
The Independent Labor Party （formed in 1893） was largely inspired at first
by the ideas of the Fabians； though retaining to the present day； and
especially since the outbreak of the war； much more of the original
Socialist ardor。 It aimed always at co…operation with the industrial
organizations of wage…earners； and； chiefly through its efforts； the Labor
Party＇20＇ was formed in 1900 out of a combination of the Trade Unions
and the political Socialists。 To this party； since 1909； all the important
Unions have belonged； but in spite of the fact that its strength is derived
from Trade Unions； it has stood always for political rather than industrial
action。 Its Socialism has been of a theoretical and academic order； and in
practice； until the outbreak of war； the Labor members in Parliament （of
whom 30 were elected in 1906 and 42 in December； 1910） might be
reckoned almost as a part of the Liberal Party。
＇20＇ Of which the Independent Labor Party is only a section。
France； unlike England and Germany； was not content merely to
repeat the old shibboleths with continually diminishing conviction。 In
France＇21＇ a new movement； originally known as Revolutionary
Syndicalismand afterward simply as Syndicalism kept alive the vigor
of the original impulse； and remained true to the spirit of the older
Socialists； while departing from the letter。 Syndicalism； unlike Socialism
and Anarchism； began from an existing organization and developed the
ideas appropriate to it； whereas Socialism and Anarchism began with the
ideas and only afterward developed the organizations which were their
vehicle。 In order to understand Syndicalism； we have first to describe
Trade Union organization in France； and its political environment。 The
ideas of Syndicalism will then appear as the natural outcome of the
political and economic situation。 Hardly any of these ideas are new；
almost all are derived from the Bakunist section of the old
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International。＇21＇ The old International had considerable success in France
before the Franco… Prussian War； indeed； in 1869； it is estimated to have
had a French membership of a quarter of a million。 What is practically the
Syndicalist program was advocated by a French delegate to the Congress
of the International at Bale in that same year。＇22＇
＇20＇ And also in Italy。 A good； short account of the Italian movement
is given by A。 Lanzillo； ‘‘Le Mouvement Ouvrier en
