318 EvoliutOJi and Social Reform. 



doing of which government was once believed to be neces 

 sary, and to reason with apparent warrant that men are 

 capable of learning how to do in the future much that now 

 seems difficult or impossible. If it is remembered that 

 Anarchists suppose that men must learn how to do many 

 things by voluntary association better than they are done 

 or can be done by present methods, before they will cease 

 to be done by governmental compulsion, the question will 

 be answered as well as it can be in a single sentence. The 

 best fire-department is that which insurance companies 

 equip for their own interests ; the best schools are private 

 schools, else why do they continue in unequal competition 

 with public schools ? There is no good reason why men 

 should not yet learn how to build the best roads and sewers 

 and other communal works without the services of armed 

 constables or policemen. To suppose otherwise is to 

 strangely limit the capabilities of the human mind, which 

 has already accomplished enough once apparent impos- 

 sibilities to warrant very considerable faith in its ability to 

 meet all future social requirements and practically solve 

 all future social problems. 



The other question to which I referred is : How long 

 will it be before Anarchism will or may be practically 

 realized ? To this the Anarchist replies that it is impos- 

 sible to tell. Evolution is slow up to a certain point, at 

 which point events shape themselves with astonishing 

 rapidity. We can never tell at just what stage of evolu- 

 tion we are. Unforeseen circumstances often precipitate 

 accomplishments which apparently belong to the remote 

 future. But with the question, "When ?" Anarchists do 

 not much concern themselves. What is long to human 

 life is short as a historical period. The Anarchist is a 

 scientist ; it is for him to announce his discover}'. He is 

 a philosoplier ; it is for him to earnestly labor and patiently 

 wait. He believes he has discovered certain sociological 

 facts ; he believes that all men will in time come to 

 acknowledge them as facts. For what is gained while he 

 lives he rejoices: but if little is accomplished before his 

 work is done he does not despair. He sees of the travail 

 of his soul and is satisfied. 



