The Anarchistic Method. 317 



conformity to, the principles of evolution in the progress 

 of society. 



From the presentation that I have made of this subject, 

 it should be seen by the most conservative mind that 

 Anarchism is nothing more nor less than the old-fashioned 

 American idea that that government is best which governs 

 least. The present apparent tendency of thought is toward 

 the idea that that government is best that governs most — 

 State Socialism, or, as it is called in its distinctively Amer- 

 ican form, Xationalism. Between these two ideas we are 

 slowly but surely being forced to choose. The question is 

 immediately before us : whether government shall, little by 

 little, increase its functions, or little by little decrease its 

 functions ; whether government shall become more central- 

 ized or society more flexible ; whether the individual shall 

 be more and more subordinated to the State or more and 

 more free to pursue in his own way, life, liberty and 

 happiness. Anarchists believe that the State should 

 decrease and the individual increase ; that the most har- 

 monious society will be composed of individuals who are 

 controlled by reason, governed by moral considerations ; and 

 that the removal of restrictions upon industry and trade, 

 the cessation of partial, monopolistic legislation, will conduce 

 to the development of men who will be able to sustain 

 social relations to each other without necessity for the 

 imaginary terrors of supernaturalism or the real compulsion 

 of military government. ]\Iutualism between free individ- 

 uals is the doctrine of Anarchism. To rationally and 

 peacefully decrease the powers of compulsory government 

 is the method of Anarchism. 



There are two questions which Anarchists are frequently 

 called upon to answer. The first of these is : How can 

 communal xtndertakings be accomplished without some 

 governmental authority ? How can sewers and stn-ets be 

 made and supervised without some centralized restraining 

 or compelling power ? How could boundaries to land, 

 and all those inatters that are now defined bylaw, — and 

 disputes about which are settled in the courts, — be deter- 

 mined ? To all these questions Anarchists can no more 

 give definite answers than tlit-y can tell what the fashion 

 in hats will be in the year 2UO0. All they can do is to 

 appeal to history and show that men have learned how to 

 do many things without the aid of government, for the 



