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If this method is to be successful we must have not only suitable
organizations but also a diffused respect for liberty； and an absence of
submissiveness to government both in theory and practice。 Some risk of
disorder there must be in such a society； but this risk is as nothing
compared to the danger of stagnation which is inseparable from an all…
powerful central authority。
We may now sum up our discussion of the powers of Government。
The State； in spite of what Anarchists urge； seems a necessary
institution for certain purposes。 Peace and war； tariffs； regulation of
sanitary conditions and of the sale of noxious drugs； the preservation of a
just system of distribution： these； among others； are functions which could
hardly be performed in a community in which there was no central
government。 Take； for example； the liquor traffic； or the opium traffic in
China。 If alcohol could be obtained at cost price without taxation； still
more if it could be obtained for nothing； as Anarchists presumably desire；
can we believe that there would not be a great and disastrous increase of
drunkenness？ China was brought to the verge of ruin by opium； and every
patriotic Chinaman desired to see the traffic in opium restricted。 In such
matters freedom is not a panacea； and some degree of legal restriction
seems imperative for the national health。
But granting that the State； in some form； must continue； we must also
grant； I think； that its powers ought to be very strictly limited to what is
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absolutely necessary。 There is no way of limiting its powers except by
means of groups which are jealous of their privileges and determined to
preserve their autonomy； even if this should involve resistance to laws
decreed by the State； when these laws interfere in the internal affairs of a
group in ways not warranted by the public interest。 The glorification of the
State； and the doctrine that it is every citizen's duty to serve the State； are
radically against progress and against liberty。 The State； though at present
a source of much evil； is also a means to certain good things； and will be
needed so long as violent and destructive impulses remain common。 But it
is MERELY a means； and a means which needs to be very carefully and
sparingly used if it is not to do more harm than good。 It is not the State；
but the community； the worldwide community of all human beings present
and future； that we ought to serve。 And a good community does not spring
from the glory of the State； but from the unfettered development of
individuals： from happiness in daily life； from congenial work giving
opportunity for whatever constructiveness each man or woman may
possess； from free personal relations embodying love and taking away the
roots of envy in thwarted capacity from affection； and above all from the
joy of life and its expression in the spontaneous creations of art and
science。 It is these things that make an age or a nation worthy of existence；
and these things are not to be secured by bowing down before the State。 It
is the individual in whom all that is good must be realized； and the free
growth of the individual must be the supreme end of a political system
which is to re…fashion the world。
CHAPTER VI
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE main objects which should be served by international relations
may be taken to be two： First； the avoidance of wars； and； second； the
prevention of the oppression of weak nations by strong ones。 These two
objects do not by any means necessarily lead in the same direction； since
one of the easiest ways of securing the world's peace would be by a
combination of the most powerful States for the exploitation and
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oppression of the remainder。 This method； however； is not one which the
lover of liberty can favor。 We must keep account of both aims and not be
content with either alone。
One of the commonplaces of both Socialism and Anarchism is that all
modern wars are due to capitalism； and would cease if capitalism were
abolished。 This view； to my mind； is only a half…truth； the half that is true
is important； but the half that is untrue is perhaps equally important when
a fundamental reconstruction of society is being considered。
Socialist and Anarchist critics of existing society point； with perfect
truth； to certain capitalistic factors which promote war。 The first of these is
the desire of finance to find new fields of investment in undeveloped
countries。 Mr。 J。 A。 Hobson； an author who is by no means extreme in his
views； has well stated this point in his book on ‘‘The Evolution of Modern
Capitalism。''＇55＇ He says：
＇55＇ Walter Scott Publishing Company； 1906； p。 262。
The economic tap…root； the chief directing motive of all the modern
imperialistic expansion； is the pressure of capitalist industries for markets；
primarily markets for investment； secondarily markets for surplus products
of home industry。 Where the concentration of capital has gone furthest；
and where a rigorous protective system prevails； this pressure is
necessarily strongest。 Not merely do the trusts and other manufacturing
trades that restrict their output for the home market more urgently require
foreign markets； but they are also more anxious to secure protected
markets； and this can only be achieved by extending the area of political
rule。 This is the essential significance of the recent change in American
foreign policy as illustrated by the Spanish War； the Philippine annexation；
the Panama policy； and the new application of the Monroe doctrine to the
South American States。 South America is needed as a preferential market
for investment of trust ‘‘profits'' and surplus trust products： if in time these
states can be brought within a Zollverein under the suzerainty of the
United States； the financial area of operations receives a notable accession。
China as a field of railway enterprise and general industrial development