EVOLUTION AND SOCIAL REFORM.* 



III. THE ANARCHISTIC METHOD. 



Those who accept the conclusions of Anarchism believe 

 that it is a science ; or, if you please, a philosophy sup- 

 ported by facts scientifically discovered and collated. It is 

 not a religion based upon assumptions, unwarranted or 

 contradicted by facts. It is not a system of metaphysics 

 consisting of undemonstrable speculations. They freely 

 admit that Sociology is not yet an exact science ; that, 

 strictly speaking, there is no Science of Society. But they 

 speak of Anarchism as a science because its methods of 

 investigation and accomplishment are scientific. In so far 

 as it represents conclusions they have been reached scien- 

 tifically. If Anarchists have a theory it is because they 

 believe observed facts are best explained by that theory. 

 If a theory does not well account for observed facts it is 

 abandoned, and a new working hypothesis is sought. They 

 do not pursue the theologic or metaphysical method in 

 formulating their postulates. 



Anarchists believe there should be no government : by 

 which they mean no government by j)hysical force ; no 

 government to prevent persons from thinking, saying or 

 doing what they should be free to think, say or do ; no 

 government for the encouragement of those who invade 

 what should be the rights of others, with the protection of 

 such invaders ; no government to authorize a few to monop- 

 olize what should be the opportunities of all ; no govern- 

 ment to compel persons to do what they should be free to 

 refuse to do, what it is not necessary for the good of all 

 that they should do; no government in favor of one class 

 as against another class ; no government to enrich the idle 

 by impoverishing the industrious. They believe there 

 should be no government that interferes with wholesome 

 individual liberty and wealth-producing exertion. But 

 they believe in well-ordered society, in which the wise, the 

 just, the good will rule by precepts, principles and ex- 

 amples ; in which healthful public opinion will utter and 



* Copyright, 1890, by James H. West. 



