Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/192

 1/8 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

enemies of human progress. 1 Prince Kropotkin, an avowed anarchist and a prominent socialistic propagandist, was, during a recent trip to this country, well received and entertained by anarchists, socialists, as well as by many who do not share his views. This distinguished advocate of socialism put forward mild views in his speeches here, but in his book published in Paris, La conquete du pain, after speaking of the great material progress and achievements of modern society, rehearses the socialistic argument of the "robbery" of the masses by the rich which has been going on for years, and, summing up the social- istic plan, says: "If men and women bring their quota of work, they have a right to their quota of all which shall be produced by everybody, and this share will give them ease." And he continues:

In order that this ease may become a reality, it is necessary that the immense capital, cities, houses, cultivated fields, factories, avenues of com- munication, education, shall cease to be considered as private property, [and]

must become common property Ease for all is the end; expropriation

is the means The obstacles must be swept away by force, and it must

become a reality by revolution. Whence will come the revolution ? Work- men and explorers, revolutionists and conservatives, thinkers and practical men, all feel that it is at our doors.

And he proceeds at length to show how this is to be brought about, and how affairs are to be managed by the unorganized leaders of the men in revolt, and how the seized goods are to be distributed. He says it will not do to make confiscation of the property only of the rich, as some socialists advise, but that a clean sweep must be made. This -would include the houses and meager savings of thrifty farmers and laborers, who must divide with the idle and vicious. He outlines his plans for seizing the homes and lands of the well-to-do, and piecing out the apart- ments to the "comrades." Any householder who objects "will be dealt with by the people in arms," and naturally anyone who opposes them is to be "removed." All government is to be

'"The vast majority of socialists, whose ranks shade through the different degrees into red anarchism, gather encouragement and strength from the little section of sentimentalists who compose the wing that is in sight and does the theorizing." Political Economy of Humanism.