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to work； and no economic reward for work； the matter is much more
doubtful。 Anarchists always assume that if their schemes were put into
operation practically everyone would work； but although there is very
much more to be said for this view than most people would concede at
first sight； yet it is questionable whether there is enough to be said to make
it true for practical purposes。 Perhaps； in a community where industry had
become habitual through economic pressure； public opinion might be
sufficiently powerful to compel most men to work；＇44＇ but it is always
doubtful how far such a state of things would be permanent。 If public
opinion is to be really effective； it will be necessary to have some method
of dividing the community into small groups； and to allow each group to
consume only the equivalent of what it produces。 This will make the
economic motive operative upon the group； which； since we are supposing
it small； will feel that its collective share is appreciably diminished by
each idle individual。 Such a system might be feasible； but it would be
contrary to the whole spirit of Anarchism and would destroy the main lines
of its economic system。
＇44＇ ‘‘As to the so…often repeated objection that nobody would labor
if he were not compelled to do so by sheer necessity； we heard enough of
it before the emancipation of slaves in America； as well as before the
emancipation of serfs in Russia； and we have had the opportunity of
appreciating it at its just value。 So we shall not try to convince those who
can be convinced only by accomplished facts。 As to those who reason；
they ought to know that； if it really was so with some parts of humanity at
its lowest stagesand yet； what do we know about it？or if it is so with
some small communities； or separate individuals； brought to sheer despair
by ill…success in their struggle against unfavorable conditions； it is not so
with the bulk of the civilized nations。 With us； work is a habit； and
idleness an artificial growth。'' Kropotkin； ‘‘Anarchist Communism；'' p。 30。
The attitude of orthodox Socialism on this question is quite different
from that of Anarchism。＇45＇ Among the more immediate measures
advocated in the ‘‘Communist Manifesto'' is ‘‘equal liability of all to labor。
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Establishment of industrial armies； especially for agriculture。'' The
Socialist theory is that； in general； work alone gives the right to the
enjoyment of the produce of work。 To this theory there will； of course； be
exceptions： the old and the very young； the infirm and those whose work
is temporarily not required through no fault of their own。 But the
fundamental conception of Socialism； in regard to our present question； is
that all who can should be compelled to work； either by the threat of
starvation or by the operation of the criminal law。 And； of course； the only
kind of work recognized will be such as commends itself to the authorities。
Writing books against Socialism； or against any theory embodied in the
government of the day； would certainly not be recognized as work。 No
more would the painting of pictures in a different style from that of the
Royal Academy； or producing plays unpleasing to the censor。 Any new
line of thought would be banned； unless by influence or corruption the
thinker could crawl into the good graces of the pundits。 These results are
not foreseen by Socialists； because they imagine that the Socialist State
will be governed by men like those who now advocate it。 This is； of course；
a delusion。 The rulers of the State then will bear as little resemblance to
the pres… ent Socialists as the dignitaries of the Church after the time of
Constantine bore to the Apostles。 The men who advocate an unpopular
reform are exceptional in disinterestedness and zeal for the public good；
but those who hold power after the reform has been carried out are likely
to belong； in the main； to the ambitious executive type which has in all
ages possessed itself of the government of nations。 And this type has never
shown itself tolerant of opposition or friendly to freedom。
＇45＇ ‘‘While holding this synthetic view on production； the
Anarchists cannot consider； like the Collectivists； that a remuneration
which would be proportionate to the hours of labor spent by each person
in the production of riches may be an ideal； or even an approach to an
ideal； society。'' Kropotkin； ‘‘Anarchist Communism；'' p。 20。
It would seem； then； that if the Anarchist plan has its dangers； the
Socialist plan has at least equal dangers。 It is true that the evils we have
been foreseeing under Socialism exist at present； but the purpose of
Socialists is to cure the evils of the world as it is； they cannot be content
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with the argument that they would make things no worse。
Anarchism has the advantage as regards liberty； Socialism as regards
the inducements to work。 Can we not find a method of combining these
two advantages？ It seems to me that we can。
We saw that； provided most people work in moderation； and their
work is rendered as productive as science and organization can make it；
there is no good reason why the necessaries of life should not be supplied
freely to all。 Our only serious doubt was as to whether； in an Anarchist
regime； the motives for work would be sufficiently powerful to prevent a
dan… gerously large amount of idleness。 But it would be easy to decree that；
though necessaries should be free to all； whatever went beyond
necessaries should only be given to those who were willing to worknot；
as is usual at present； only to those in work at any moment； but also to all
those who； when they happened not to be working； were idle through no
fault of their own。 We find at present that a man who has a small income
from investments； just sufficient to keep him from actual