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reformers； however they may sympathize with their main purposes and
even with nine…tenths of their program。
Another reason why radical reformers are misjudged by ordinary men
is that they view existing society from outside； with hostility towards its
institutions。 Although； for the most part； they have more belief than their
neighbors in human nature's inherent capacity for a good life； they are so
conscious of the cruelty and oppression resulting from existing institutions
that they make a wholly misleading impression of cynicism。 Most men
have instinctively two entirely different codes of behavior： one toward
those whom they regard as companions or colleagues or friends； or in
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some way members of the same ‘‘herd''； the other toward those whom
they regard as enemies or outcasts or a danger to society。 Radical
reformers are apt to concentrate their attention upon the behavior of
society toward the latter class； the class of those toward whom the ‘‘herd''
feels ill…will。 This class includes； of course； enemies in war； and criminals；
in the minds of those who consider the preservation of the existing order
essential to their own safety or privileges； it includes all who advocate any
great political or economic change； and all classes which； through their
poverty or through any other cause； are likely to feel a dangerous degree
of discontent。 The ordinary citizen probably seldom thinks about such
individuals or classes； and goes through life believing that he and his
friends are kindly people； because they have no wish to injure those
toward whom they entertain no group…hostility。 But the man whose
attention is fastened upon the relations of a group with those whom it
hates or fears will judge quite differently。 In these relations a surprising
ferocity is apt to be developed； and a very ugly side of human nature
comes to the fore。 The opponents of capitalism have learned； through the
study of certain historical facts； that this ferocity has often been shown by
the capitalists and by the State toward the wage…earning classes；
particularly when they have ventured to protest against the unspeakable
suffering to which industrialism has usually condemned them。 Hence
arises a quite different attitude toward existing society from that of the
ordinary well…to…do citizen： an attitude as true as his； perhaps also as
untrue； but equally based on facts； facts concerning his relations to his
enemies instead of to his friends。
The class…war； like wars between nations； produces two opposing
views； each equally true and equally untrue。 The citizen of a nation at war；
when he thinks of his own countrymen； thinks of them primarily as he has
experienced them； in dealings with their friends； in their family relations；
and so on。 They seem to him on the whole kindly； decent folk。 But a
nation with which his country is at war views his compatriots through the
medium of a quite different set of experiences： as they appear in the
ferocity of battle； in the invasion and subjugation of a hostile territory； or
in the chicanery of a juggling diplomacy。 The men of whom these facts are
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true are the very same as the men whom their compatriots know as
husbands or fathers or friends； but they are judged differently because they
are judged on different data。 And so it is with those who view the capitalist
from the standpoint of the revolutionary wage…earner： they appear
inconceivably cynical and misjudging to the capitalist； because the facts
upon which their view is based are facts which he either does not know or
habitually ignores。 Yet the view from the outside is just as true as the view
from the inside。 Both are necessary to the complete truth； and the Socialist；
who emphasizes the outside view； is not a cynic； but merely the friend of
the wage…earners； maddened by the spectacle of the needless misery which
capitalism inflicts upon them。
I have placed these general reflections at the beginning of our study； in
order to make it clear to the reader that； whatever bitterness and hate may
be found in the movements which we are to examine； it is not bitterness or
hate； but love； that is their mainspring。 It is difficult not to hate those who
torture the objects of our love。 Though difficult； it is not impossible； but it
requires a breadth of outlook and a comprehensiveness of understanding
which are not easy to preserve amid a desperate contest。 If ultimate
wisdom has not always been preserved by Socialists and Anarchists； they
have not differed in this from their opponents； and in the source of their
inspiration they have shown themselves superior to those who acquiesce
ignorantly or supinely in the injustices and oppressions by which the
existing system is preserved。
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PART I
HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I
MARX AND SOCIALIST DOCTRINE
SOCIALISM； like everything else that is vital； is rather a tendency
than a strictly definable body of doctrine。 A definition of Socialism is sure
either to include some views which many would regard as not Socialistic；
or to exclude others which claim to be included。 But I think we shall come
nearest to the essence of Socialism by defining it as the advocacy of
communal ownership of land and capital。 Communal ownership may
mean ownership by a democratic State； but cannot be held to include
ownership by any State which is not democratic。 Communal ownership
may also be understood； as Anarchist Communism understands it； in the
sense of ownership by the free association of the men and women in a
community without those compulsory powers which are necessary