Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

20 ! ANARCHISM
derstanding of the subject upon whom it is exercised, and then of him who employs
it. Dressed in the supine prerogatives of a master, he is excused from cultivating the
faculties of a man. What would not man have been, long before this, if the proudest
of us had no hopes but in argument, if he knew of no resort beyond, if he were
obliged to sharpen his faculties, and collect his powers, as the only means of effecting
his purposes
Let us reflect a little upon the species of influence that coercion employs. It
avers to its victim that he must necessarily be in the wrong, because I am more vigorous
or more cunning than he. Will vigour and cunning be always on the side oftruth
It appeals to fo rce, and represents superior strength as the standard of justice. Every
such exertion implies in its nature a species of contest. The contest is often decided
before it is brought to open trial, by the despair of one of the parties. The ardour and
paroxysm of passion being over, the offender surrenders himselfinto the hands of his
superiors. and calmly awaits the declaration of their pleasure. But it is not always so.
The depredator that by main force surmounts the strength of his pursuers, or by
stratagem and ingenuity escapes their toils. so fa r as this argument is valid, proves
the justice of his cause. Who can refrain from indignation when he sees justice thus
miserably prostituted Who does not feel, the moment the contest begins, the full
extent ofthe absurdity that the appeal includes The magistracy, the representative
of the social system, that declares war against one of its members, in behalf of justice,
or in behalf of oppression, appears almost equally, in both cases, entitled to our
censure. In the first case, we see truth throwing aside her native arms and her intrinsic
advantage. and putting herse!fupon a level with fa lsehood. In the second, we see
fa lsehood confident in the casual advantage she possesses, artfully extinguishing the
new born light that would shame her in the midst of her usurped authority. The exhibition
in both is that of an infant crushed in the merciless grasp of a giant ...
The argument against political coercion is equally strong against the infliction
of private penalties, between master and slave, and between parent and child ... The
right ofthe parent over his offspring lies either in his superior strength, or his superior
reason. If in his strength, we have only to apply this right universally in order to
drive all morality out ofthe world. lfin his reason, in that reason let him confide. It is
a poor argument of my superior reason that I am unable to make justice be apprehended
and felt, in the most necessary cases, without the intervention of blows.
Let us consider the effect that coercion produces upon the mind of him against
whom it is employed. It cannot begin with convincing; it is no argument. It begins
with producing the sensation of pain, and the sentiment of distaste. It begins with vi-