316 Mvolution and Social Reform : 



For example: By general consent among a large number 

 in a given locality, they may refuse to pay, under compul- 

 sion, their taxes, offering, of course, to resign all claims to 

 governmental protection, and perhaps offering voluntarily 

 to contribute toward the maintenance of those comniixnal 

 undertakings of which they approve ; or they may go upon 

 vacant land to use it, suffering themselves to be evicted, 

 unless public oi)inion sustains them ; or they may attempt 

 to circulate mutual bank or credit money. In two words, 

 the Anarchistic method, for the present, is propaganda, but 

 when they believe themselves to be in sufticient numbers 

 they will probably resort to passive resistance. 



Upon this presentation they may appear to be very 

 impractical, but if what I have so briefly said is thought- 

 fully considered, and if it is remembered tliat Anarchistic 

 opinion as it grows will constantly be registering itself by 

 the platform-makers and law-makers, I tliink the conclusion 

 will be reached that Anarchists are not characteristically 

 dreamers, but are sane students of history and human 

 nature. 



Let me illustrate what I mean by a case that is before 

 the public mind at this moment. Anarchists are opposed 

 to capital punishment, and they observe with complacent 

 pleasure the growing sentiment against the barbarous 

 ])ractice. A bill for its abolition recently passed the New 

 York Assembly but was defeated in the Senate. The 

 introduction of this bill in the New York Legislature 

 exemplifies the tendency of the politicians to reflect public 

 opinion in the making or unmaking of laws ; but the facts 

 regarding the practice of capital punishment also show 

 that it is a matter of no concern whatever Avhat legislatures 

 do or fail to do in the ])reniises. I do not know how many 

 murders were committed in New York State last year, but 

 there were only eight executions ; and although there were 

 reported during the same year ooGT murders and homicides 

 as having occurred in the United States, there were but 

 ninety-eiglit hangings. The death-penalty is gradually 

 abolishing itself, and whetlier tlie laws on the subject 

 remain on the statute-books or not, the practice of hanging 

 in this country will soon be given up. This method of 

 abolishing an obnoxious law is Anarchistic or evolutionary; 

 and it should be understood tliat the Anarchistic method is 

 ahviiys and in every particular the application of, or, rather, 



