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into the service of the people。 The modern State； says Sorel； ‘‘is a body of
intellectuals； which is invested with privileges； and which possesses
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means of the kind called political for defending itself against the attacks
made on it by other groups of intellectuals； eager to possess the profits of
public employment。 Parties are constituted in order to acquire the conquest
of these employments； and they are analogous to the State。''＇10＇
＇10＇ La Decomposition du Marxisme；'' p。 53。
Syndicalists aim at organizing men； not by party； but by occupation。
This； they say； alone represents the true conception and method of the
class war。 Accordingly they despise all POLITICAL action through the
medium of Parliament and elections： the kind of action that they
recommend is direct action by the revolutionary syndicate or trade union。
The battle… cry of industrial versus political action has spread far beyond
the ranks of French Syndicalism。 It is to be found in the I。 W。 W。 in
America； and among Industrial Unionists and Guild Socialists in Great
Britain。 Those who advocate it； for the most part； aim also at a different
goal from that of Marx。 They believe that there can be no adequate
individual freedom where the State is all…powerful； even if the State be a
Socialist one。 Some of them are out…and… out Anarchists； who wish to see
the State wholly abolished； others only wish to curtail its authority。 Owing
to this movement； opposition to Marx； which from the Anarchist side
existed from the first； has grown very strong。 It is this opposition in its
older form that will occupy us in our next chapter。
CHAPTER II
BAKUNIN AND ANARCHISM
IN the popular mind； an Anarchist is a person who throws bombs and
commits other outrages； either because he is more or less insane； or
because he uses the pretense of extreme political opinions as a cloak for
criminal proclivities。 This view is； of course； in every way inadequate。
Some Anarchists believe in throwing bombs； many do not。 Men of almost
every other shade of opinion believe in throwing bombs in suitable
circumstances： for example； the men who threw the bomb at Sarajevo
which started the present war were not Anarchists； but Nationalists。 And
those Anarchists who are in favor of bomb…throwing do not in this respect
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differ on any vital principle from the rest of the community； with the
exception of that infinitesimal portion who adopt the Tolstoyan attitude of
non…resistance。 Anarchists； like Socialists； usually believe in the doctrine
of the class war； and if they use bombs； it is as Governments use bombs；
for purposes of war： but for every bomb manufactured by an Anarchist；
many millions are manufactured by Governments； and for every man
killed by Anarchist violence； many millions are killed by the violence of
States。 We may； therefore； dismiss from our minds the whole question of
violence； which plays so large a part in the popular imagination； since it is
neither essential nor peculiar to those who adopt the Anarchist position。
Anarchism； as its derivation indicates； is the theory which is opposed
to every kind of forcible government。 It is opposed to the State as the
embodiment of the force employed in the government of the community。
Such government as Anarchism can tolerate must be free government； not
merely in the sense that it is that of a majority； but in the sense that it is
that assented to by all。 Anarchists object to such institutions as the police
and the criminal law； by means of which the will of one part of the
community is forced upon another part。 In their view； the democratic form
of government is not very enormously preferable to other forms so long as
minorities are compelled by force or its potentiality to submit to the will of
majorities。 Liberty is the supreme good in the Anarchist creed； and liberty
is sought by the direct road of abolishing all forcible control over the
individual by the community。
Anarchism； in this sense； is no new doctrine。 It is set forth admirably
by Chuang Tzu； a Chinese philosopher； who lived about the year 300 B。
C。：
Horses have hoofs to carry them over frost and snow； hair； to protect
them from wind and cold。 They eat grass and drink water； and fling up
their heels over the champaign。 Such is the real nature of horses。 Palatial
dwellings are of no use to them。
One day Po Lo appeared； saying： ‘‘I understand the management of
horses。''
So he branded them； and clipped them； and pared their hoofs； and put
halters on them； tying them up by the head and shackling them by the feet；
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and disposing them in stables； with the result that two or three in every ten
died。 Then he kept them hungry and thirsty； trotting them and galloping
them； and grooming； and trimming； with the misery of the tasselled bridle
before and the fear of the knotted whip behind； until more than half of
them were dead。
The potter says： ‘‘I can do what I will with Clay。 If I want it round； I
use compasses； if rectangular； a square。''
The carpenter says： ‘‘I can do what I will with wood。 If I want it
curved； I use an arc； if straight； a line。''
But on what grounds can we think that the natures of clay and wood
desire this application of compasses and square； of arc and line？
Nevertheless； every age extols Po Lo for his skill in managing horses； and
potters and carpenters for their skill with clay and wood。 Those who
govern the empire make the same mistake。
Now I regard government of the empire from quite a different point of
view。
The people have certain natural instincts：to weave and clothe
themselves； to till and feed themselves。 These are common to all humanity；
and all are agreed thereon。 Such instincts are called ‘‘Heaven…sent。''
And so in the days when natural instincts prevailed； men moved
quietly and gazed steadily。 At that time there were no roads over
mountains； nor boats； nor bridges over water。 All things were produced；
each for its own proper sphere。 Birds and beasts multiplied； trees and
shrubs grew up。 The former might be led by the hand； you could climb up
and peep into the raven's nest。 For then man dwelt with birds and beasts；
and all creation was one。 There were no distinctions of good and bad men。
Being all equally without knowledge； their virtue could not go astray。
Being all equally without evil desires； they were in a state of natural
integrity； the perfection of human existence。
But when Sages appeared； tripping up people over charity and
fettering them with duty to their neighbor； doubt found its way into the
world。 And th