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directed against it by Anarchists and Syndicalists is thoroughly justified。
Such criticism would have had more influence if any clear idea of an
alternative to parliamentary democracy had been generally apprehended。
But it must be confessed that Syndicalists have not presented their case in
a way which is likely to attract the average citizen。 Much of what they say
amounts to this： that a minority； consisting of skilled workers in vital
industries； can； by a strike； make the economic life of the whole
community impossible； and can in this way force their will upon the
nation。 The action aimed at is compared to the seizure of a power station；
by which a whole vast system can be paralyzed。 Such a doctrine is an
appeal to force； and is naturally met by an appeal to force on the other side。
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It is useless for the Syndicalists to protest that they only desire power in
order to promote liberty： the world which they are seeking to establish
does not； as yet； appeal to the effective will of the community； and cannot
be stably inaugurated until it does do so。 Persuasion is a slow process； and
may sometimes be accelerated by violent methods； to this extent such
methods may be justified。 But the ultimate goal of any reformer who aims
at liberty can only be reached through persuasion。 The attempt to thrust
liberty by force upon those who do not desire what we consider liberty
must always prove a failure； and Syndicalists； like other reformers； must
ultimately rely upon persuasion for success。
But it would be a mistake to confuse aims with methods： however
little we may agree with the proposal to force the millennium on a
reluctant community by starvation； we may yet agree that much of what
the Syndicalists desire to achieve is desirable。
Let us dismiss from our minds such criticisms of parliamentary
government as are bound up with the present system of private property；
and consider only those which would remain true in a collectivist
community。 Certain defects seem inherent in the very nature of
representative institutions。 There is a sense of self…importance； inseparable
from success in a contest for popular favor。 There is an all…but unavoidable
habit of hypocrisy； since experience shows that the democracy does not
detect insincerity in an orator； and will； on the other hand； be shocked by
things which even the most sincere men may think necessary。 Hence arises
a tone of cynicism among elected representatives； and a feeling that no
man can retain his position in politics without deceit。 This is as much the
fault of the democracy as of the representatives； but it seems unavoidable
so long as the main thing that all bodies of men demand of their
champions is flattery。 However the blame may be apportioned； the evil
must be recognized as one which is bound to occur in the existing forms of
democracy。 Another evil； which is especially noticeable in large States； is
the remoteness of the seat of government from many of the constituencies…
…a remoteness which is psychological even more than geographical。 The
legislators live in comfort； protected by thick walls and innumerable
policemen from the voice of the mob； as time goes on they remember only
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dimly the passions and promises of their electoral campaign； they come to
feel it an essential part of statesmanship to consider what are called the
interests of the community as a whole； rather than those of some
discontented group； but the interests of the community as a whole are
sufficiently vague to be easily seen to coincide with self…interest。 All these
causes lead Parliaments to betray the people； consciously or unconsciously；
and it is no wonder if they have produced a certain aloofness from
democratic theory in the more vigorous champions of labor。
Majority rule； as it exists in large States； is subject to the fatal defect
that； in a very great number of questions； only a fraction of the nation have
any direct interest or knowledge； yet the others have an equal voice in
their settlement。 When people have no direct interest in a question they are
very apt to be influenced by irrelevant considerations； this is shown in the
extraordinary reluctance to grant autonomy to subordinate nations or
groups。 For this reason； it is very dangerous to allow the nation as a whole
to decide on matters which concern only a small section； whether that
section be geographical or industrial or defined in any other way。 The best
cure for this evil； so far as can be seen at present； lies in allowing self…
government to every important group within a nation in all matters that
affect that group much more than they affect the rest of the community。
The government of a group； chosen by the group； will be far more in touch
with its constituents； far more conscious of their interests； than a remote
Parliament nominally representing the whole country。 The most original
idea in Syndicalism adopted and developed by the Guild Socialistsis
the idea of making industries self…governing units so far as their internal
affairs are concerned。 By this method； extended also to such other groups
as have clearly separable interests； the evils which have shown themselves
in representative democracy can； I believe； be largely overcome。
Guild Socialists； as we have seen； have another suggestion； growing
naturally out of the autonomy of industrial guilds； by which they hope to
limit the power of the State and help to preserve individual liberty。 They
propose that； in addition to Parliament； elected （as at present） on a
territorial basis and representing the community as consumers； there shall
also be a ‘‘Guild Congress；'' a glorified successor of the present Trade
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Union Congress； which shall consist of representatives chosen by the
Guilds； and shall represent the community as producers。
This method of diminishing the excessive power of the State has been
attractively set forth by Mr。 G。 D。 H。 Cole in his ‘‘Self…Government in
Industry。''＇54＇ ‘‘Where now；'' he says； ‘‘the State passes a Factory Act； or a
Coal Mines Regulation Act； the Guild Congress of the future will pass
such Acts； and its power of enforcing them will be the same as that of the
State'' （p。 98）。 His ultimate ground for advocating this system is that； in his
opinion； it will tend to preserve individual liberty： ‘‘The fundamental
reason for the preservation； in a democratic Society； of both the industrial
and the political forms of Social organization is； it seems to me； that only
by dividing the vast power now wielded by industrial capitalism can the
individual hope to be free'' （p。 91）。
＇54＇ Bell； 1917。
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