CO-OPERATION. 27 



ernment is then impossible. Failing to do this, one deserves 

 to be a slave, for all the abuses of government are thus 

 invited and made necessary. What folly, standing on the out- 

 side preaching, while the dog is on the inside eating, or idly 

 complaining of the best there is, while lifting not a finger 

 to supply anything better. 



Nothing can cope with the power of peaceable, passive resist 

 ance in the exercise of one's rights. Through an arbitrary law 

 you may 'drive a coach and four,' but all the powers of nature 

 reinfoi'ce those who co-operate with her. Possession, by exer- 

 cise, is every point of the law. No outside, arbitrary power 

 can reach it, to attempt it would be like fighting the elements 

 the sea, tire, air, electricity. 



Let us cease then, longer leaning on the arms of paternal 

 government; let us no more be deluded with the sophistry of 

 the economists. Let us begin at our own doors and organize 

 business on a labor instead of a usury basis. Let us stuj) divi- 

 ding, by closing the holes whereby the producer fails to get 

 what he produces. 



Where we now come in contact with the usury system and 

 support it, let us begin, with consumption, and organize a sup- 

 ply department, by pooling our custom, and selling it to our- 

 selves, at cost. This is the outlet of the old and inlet to the new. 

 Having a place where a solvent currency can be redeemed, 

 in everything that money can buy, upon the property of 

 the members, as a bank of issue, mutual banking begins and 

 interest is abolished. Government cannot prevent the people 

 effecting their own exchanges, while 1)7 per cent, of them are 

 already being accomplished with commercial jiaper. 



Having a free currency and a store needing sujjplies, produc- 

 tion, manufacturing, self employment, follow. There being 

 no dividends, the interests of labor and capital are identical. 



We have now a conij^lete epitome of business, consumi)tion 

 production and exchange: the bank, the store, the farm and 

 factory; Avhose superior organization must draw all other 

 stoi'es, banks and factories to it. 



Let the tariff monpolists keep up their own establishments. 



If a bonus is to be paid to capital, the consumers must share it. 



Let the people organize a blind pool, to build up thit 



road, to bankrupt that, to bid in its stock, get straddle of its 



