proposed roads to freedom(通往自由之路)-第34章
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population； but such fears I believe to be groundless。 See above； （Chapter
IV； on ‘‘Work and Pay。'' Also； Chapter vi of ‘‘Principles of Social
Reconstruction'' （George Allen and Unwin； Ltd。）。
Government and law will still exist in our community； but both will
be reduced to a minimum。 There will still be acts which will be forbidden…
…for example； murder。 But very nearly the whole of that part of the
criminal law which deals with property will have become obsolete； and
many of the motives which now produce murders will be no longer
operative。 Those who nevertheless still do commit crimes will not be
blamed or regarded as wicked； they will be regarded as unfortunate； and
kept in some kind of mental hospital until it is thought that they are no
longer a danger。 By education and freedom and the abolition of private
capital the number of crimes can be made exceedingly small。 By the
method of individual curative treatment it will generally be possible to
secure that a man's first offense shall also be his last； except in the case of
lunatics and the feeble…minded； for whom of course a more prolonged but
not less kindly detention may be necessary。
Government may be regarded as consisting of two parts： the one； the
decisions of the community or its recognized organs； the other； the
enforcing of those decisions upon all who resist them。 The first part is not
objected to by Anarchists。 The second part； in an ordinary civilized State；
may remain entirely in the background： those who have resisted a new law
while it was being debated will； as a rule； submit to it when it is passed；
because resistance is generally useless in a settled and orderly community。
But the possibility of governmental force remains； and indeed is the very
reason for the submission which makes force unnecessary。 If； as
Anarchists desire； there were no use of force by government； the majority
could still band themselves together and use force against the minority。
The only difference would be that their army or their police force would
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be ad hoc； instead of being permanent and professional。 The result of this
would be that everyone would have to learn how to fight； for fear a well…
drilled minority should seize power and establish an old…fashioned
oligarchic State。 Thus the aim of the Anarchists seems hardly likely to be
achieved by the methods which they advocate。
The reign of violence in human affairs； whether within a country or in
its external relations； can only be prevented； if we have not been mistaken；
by an authority able to declare all use of force except by itself illegal； and
strong enough to be obviously capable of making all other use of force
futile； except when it could secure the support of public opinion as a
defense of freedom or a resistance to injustice。 Such an authority exists
within a country： it is the State。 But in international affairs it remains to be
created。 The difficulties are stupendous； but they must be overcome if the
world is to be saved from periodical wars； each more destructive than any
of its predecessors。 Whether； after this war； a League of Nations will be
formed； and will be capable of performing this task； it is as yet impossible
to foretell。 However that may be； some method of preventing wars will
have to be established before our Utopia becomes possible。 When once
men BELIEVE that the world is safe from war； the whole difficulty will be
solved： there will then no longer be any serious resistance to the
disbanding of national armies and navies； and the substitution for them of
a small international force for protection against uncivilized races。 And
when that stage has been reached； peace will be virtually secure。
The practice of government by majorities； which Anarchists criticise；
is in fact open to most of the objections which they urge against it。 Still
more objectionable is the power of the executive in matters vitally
affecting the happiness of all； such as peace and war。 But neither can be
dispensed with suddenly。 There are； however； two methods of diminishing
the harm done by them： （1） Government by majorities can be made less
oppressive by devolution； by placing the decision of questions primarily
affecting only a section of the community in the hands of that section；
rather than of a Central Chamber。 In this way； men are no longer forced to
submit to decisions made in a hurry by people mostly ignorant of the
matter in hand and not personally interested。 Autonomy for internal affairs
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should be given； not only to areas； but to all groups； such as industries or
Churches； which have important common interests not shared by the rest
of the community。 （2） The great powers vested in the executive of a
modern State are chiefly due to the frequent need of rapid decisions；
especially as regards foreign affairs。 If the danger of war were practically
eliminated； more cumbrous but less autocratic methods would be possible；
and the Legislature might recover many of the powers which the executive
has usurped。 By these two methods； the intensity of the interference with
liberty involved in government can be gradually diminished。 Some
interference； and even some danger of unwarranted and despotic
interference； is of the essence of government； and must remain so long as
government remains。 But until men are less prone to violence than they
are now； a certain degree of governmental force seems the lesser of two
evils。 We may hope； however； that if once the danger of war is at an end；
men's violent impulses will gradually grow less； the more so as； in that
case； it will be possible to diminish enormously the individual power
which now makes rulers autocratic and ready for almost any act of tyranny
in order to crush opposition。 The development of a world where even
governmental force has become unnecessary （except against lunatics）
must be gradual。 But as a gradual process it is perfectly possible； and
when it has been completed we may hope to see the principles of
Anarchism embodied in the management of communal affairs。
How will the economic and political system that we have outlined bear
on the evils of character？ I believe the effect will be quite extraordinarily
beneficent。
The process of leading men's thought and imagination away from the
use of force will be greatly accelerated by the abolition of the capitalist
system； provided it is not succeeded by a form of State Socialism in which
officials have enormous power。 At present； the capitalist has more control
over the lives of others than any man ought to have； his friends have
authority in the State； his economic power is the pattern for political
power。 In a world where all men and women enjoy economic freedom；
there will not be the same habit of command； nor； consequently； the same
love of despotism； a gentler type of character than that now prevalent will
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gradually grow up。 Men are formed by their circumstances； not born
ready… made。 The bad effect of the present economic system on character；
and the immensely better effect to be expected from communal ownership；
are among the strongest reasons for advocating the change。
In the world as we have been imagining fit； economic fear and most
economic hope will be alike removed out of life。 No one will be haunted
by the dread of poverty or driven into ruthlessness by the hope of wealth。
There will not be the distinction of social classes which now plays such an
immense part in life。 The unsuccessful professional man will not live in
terror lest his children should sink in the scale； the aspiring employe will
not be looking forward to the day when he can become a sweater in his
turn。 Ambitious young men will have to dream other daydreams than that
of business success and wealth wrung out of the ruin of competitors and
the degradation of labor。 In such a world； most of the nightmares that lurk
in the background of men's minds will no longer exist； on the other hand；
ambition and the desire to excel will have to take nobler forms than those
that are encouraged by a commercial society。 All those activities that really
confer benefits upon mankind will be open； not only to the fortunate few；
but to all who have sufficient ambition and native aptitude。 Science； labor…
saving inventions； technical progress of all kinds； may be confidently
expected to flourish far more than at present； since they will be the road to
honor； and honor will have to replace money among those of the young
who desire to achieve success。 Whether art will flourish in a Socialistic
community depends upon the form of Social… ism adopted； if the State； or
any public authority； （no matter what）； insists upon controlling art； and
only licensing those whom it regards as proficient； the result will be
disaster。 But if there is real freedom； allowing every man who so desires to
take up an artist's career at the cost of some sacrifice of comfort； it is
likely that the atmosphere of hope； and the absence of economic
compulsion； will lead to a much smaller waste of talent than is involved in
our present system； and to a much less degree of crushing of impulse in
the mills of the struggle for life。
When elementary needs have been satisfied； the serious happiness of
most men depends upon two things： their work； and their human relations。
