Second, Anarchism stands for violence and destruction, hence it must be repudiated as vile and dangerous. What, then, are the objections? First, Anarchism is impractical, though a beautiful ideal.

“Why?” “Because.” Yet the opposition of the uneducated to Anarchism deserves the same consideration as that of the intelligent man.

Acting, as it always does, by mere impulse, its reasons are like those of a child. The ignorant mass has in its favor that it makes no pretense of knowledge or tolerance. And yet this is not so very strange when we consider the relativity of all things. The strange phenomenon of the opposition to Anarchism is that it brings to light the relation between so-called intelligence and ignorance.

In so doing, I shall attempt to elucidate what Anarchism really stands for. I shall therefore meet only two of the principal objections. To deal even remotely with all that is being said and done against Anarchism would necessitate the writing of a whole volume. Indeed, as the most revolutionary and uncompromising innovator, Anarchism must needs meet with the combined ignorance and venom of the world it aims to reconstruct. The rack, the thumbscrew, and the knout are still with us so are the convict’s garb and the social wrath, all conspiring against the spirit that is serenely marching on.Īnarchism could not hope to escape the fate of all other ideas of innovation. Nor need we retrace our steps into the distant past to realize the enormity of opposition, difficulties, and hardships placed in the path of every progressive idea. In its tenacious hold on tradition, the Old has never hesitated to make use of the foulest and cruelest means to stay the advent of the New, in whatever form or period the latter may have asserted itself. The history of human growth and development is at the same time the history of the terrible struggle of every new idea heralding the approach of a brighter dawn. I cannot tell - but it the earth shall see! When each at least unto himself shall waken.Ĭomes it in sunshine? In the tempest’s thrill? Thou sayest all which I for goal have taken. They shall continue blind among the blind.īut thou, O word, so clear, so strong, so pure, To them the word’s right meaning was not given. The truth that lies behind a word to find, ”Art thou, and war and murder’s endless rage.” Anarchism and Other Essays Emma Goldmann 1911 sourceĬhapter 1: Anarchism: What It Really Stands forĮver reviled, accursed, ne’er understood,

Goldman anarchism and other essays