The cause of the miserable condition of the workers is slavery. The
cause of slavery is legislation. Legislation rests on organized
violence. It follows that an improvement in the condition of the people
is possible only through the abolition of organized violence. “But
organized violence is government, and how can we live without
governments? Without governments there will be chaos, anarchy; all the
achievements of civilization will perish, and the people will revert to
their primitive barbarism.” But why should we suppose this? Why think
that non-official people could not arrange it, not for themselves, but
for others? We see, on the contrary, that in the most diverse matters
people in our times arrange their own lives incomparably better than
those who govern them arrange for them. Without the least help from
government, and often in spite of the interference of government, people
organize all sorts of social undertakings—workmen’s unions, co-operative
societies, railway companies, and syndicates. If collections for public
works are needed, why should we suppose that free people could not
without violence voluntarily collect the necessary means, and carry out
all that is carried out by means of taxes, if only the undertakings in
question are really useful for anybody? Why suppose that there cannot be
tribunals without violence?
* * * * *
The robber generally plundered the rich, the governments generally
plunder the poor and protect those rich who assist in their crimes. The
robber doing his work risked his life, while the governments risk
nothing, but base their whole activity on lies and deception. The robber
did not compel anyone to join his band, the governments generally enrol
their soldiers by force. All who paid the tax to the robber had equal
security from danger. But in the state, the more any one takes part in
the organized fraud the more he receives not merely of protection, but
also of reward.
_Ten Cents A Copy_
Order from M. E. FITZGERALD, 857 Broadway, New York City
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