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morality。 We must search for other remedies； and the remedies have been
indicated long since。'' Kropotkin； ‘‘Anarchist Communism；'' pp。 31…32。
＇52＇ ‘‘Anarchist Communism；'' p。 27。
The conclusion； which appears to be forced upon us； is that the
Anarchist ideal of a community in which no acts are forbidden by law is
not； at any rate for the present； compatible with the stability of such a
world as the Anarchists desire。 In order to obtain and preserve a world
resembling as closely as possible that at which they aim； it will still be
necessary that some acts should be forbidden by law。 We may put the chief
of these under three heads：
1。 Theft。
2。 Crimes of violence。
3。 The creation of organizations intended to subvert the Anarchist
regime by force。
We will briefly recapitulate what has been said already as to the
necessity of these prohibitions。
1。 Theft。It is true that in an Anarchist world there will be no
destitution； and therefore no thefts motivated by starvation。 But such thefts
are at present by no means the most considerable or the most harmful。 The
system of rationing； which is to be applied to luxuries； will leave many
men with fewer luxuries than they might desire。 It will give opportunities
for peculation by those who are in control of the public stores； and it will
leave the possibility of appropriating such valuable objects of art as would
naturally be preserved in public museums。 It may be contended that such
forms of theft would be prevented by public opinion。 But public opinion is
not greatly operative upon an individual unless it is the opinion of his own
group。 A group of men combined for purposes of theft might readily defy
the public opinion of the majority unless that public opinion made itself
effective by the use of force against them。 Probably； in fact； such force
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would be applied through popular indignation； but in that case we should
revive the evils of the criminal law with the added evils of uncertainty；
haste and passion； which are inseparable from the practice of lynching。 If；
as we have suggested； it were found necessary to provide an economic
stimulus to work by allowing fewer luxuries to idlers； this would afford a
new motive for theft on their part and a new necessity for some form of
criminal law。
2。 Crimes of Violence。Cruelty to children； crimes of jealousy； rape；
and so forth； are almost certain to occur in any society to some extent。 The
prevention of such acts is essential to the existence of freedom for the
weak。 If nothing were done to hinder them； it is to be feared that the
customs of a society would gradually become rougher； and that acts which
are now rare would cease to be so。 If Anarchists are right in maintaining
that the existence of such an economic system as they desire would
prevent the commission of crimes of this kind； the laws forbidding them
would no longer come into operation； and would do no harm to liberty。 If；
on the other hand； the impulse to such actions persisted； it would be
necessary that steps should be taken to restrain men from indulging it。
3。 The third class of difficulties is much the most serious and involves
much the most drastic interference with liberty。 I do not see how a private
army could be tolerated within an Anarchist community； and I do not see
how it could be prevented except by a general prohibition of carrying arms。
If there were no such prohibition； rival parties would organize rival forces；
and civil war would result。 Yet； if there is such a prohibition； it cannot well
be carried out without a very considerable interference with individual
liberty。 No doubt； after a time； the idea of using violence to achieve a
political object might die down； as the practice of duelling has done。 But
such changes of habit and outlook are facilitated by legal prohibition； and
would hardly come about without it。 I shall not speak yet of the
international aspect of this same problem； for I propose to deal with that in
the next chapter； but it is clear that the same considerations apply with
even greater force to the relations between nations。
If we admit； however reluctantly； that a criminal law is necessary and
that the force of the community must be brought to bear to prevent certain
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kinds of actions； a further question arises： How is crime to be treated？
What is the greatest measure of humanity and respect for freedom that is
compatible with the recognition of such a thing as crime？ The first thing to
recognize is that the whole conception of guilt or sin should be utterly
swept away。 At present； the criminal is visited with the displeasure of the
community： the sole method applied to prevent the occurrence of crime is
the infliction of pain upon the criminal。 Everything possible is done to
break his spirit and destroy his self…respect。 Even those pleasures which
would be most likely to have a civilizing effect are forbidden to him；
merely on the ground that they are pleasures； while much of the suffering
inflicted is of a kind which can only brutalize and degrade still further。 I
am not speaking； of course； of those few penal institutions which have
made a serious study of reforming the criminal。 Such institutions；
especially in America； have been proved capable of achieving the most
remarkable results； but they remain everywhere exceptional。 The broad
rule is still that the criminal is made to feel the displeasure of society。 He
must emerge from such a treatment either defiant and hostile； or
submissive and cringing； with a broken spirit and a loss of self…respect。
Neither of these results is anything but evil。 Nor can any good result be
achieved by a method of treatment which embodies reprobation。
When a man is suffering from an infectious disease he is a danger to
the community； and it is necessary to restrict his liberty of movement。 But
no one associates any idea of guilt with such a situation。 On the contrary；
he is an object of commiseration to his friends。 Such steps as science
recommends are taken to cure him of his disease； and he submits as a rule
without reluctance to the curtailment of liberty involved meanwhile。 The
same method in spirit ought to be shown in the treatment of what is called
‘‘crime。'' It is supposed； of course； that the criminal is actuated by
calculations of self…interest； and that the fear of punishment； by supplying
a contrary motive of self…interest affords the best deterrent； The dog；
to gain some private end； Went mad and bit the man。
This is the popular view of crime； yet no dog goes mad from choice；
and probably the same is true of the great majority of criminals； certainly
in the case of crimes of passion。 Even in cases where self…interest is the
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