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

Chinese Anarchism 1355
happiness, such as politics, religion, law, capitalism, is an authoritarian power. We
should make fu rther progress and totally abolish them. The world revolution by the
common people leads to their life of "mutual aid" (form each according to his capacity,
to each according to his needs). This is the truth of evolution (no government and
no private property), and this is the final victory of truth over power! This is what our
journal stands for. (Evolution, Vol.1, No. t, January to, 1917)
Forward to Records of Freedom (1917)
The evolution of the world is so slow. After thousands of years of turmoil the republic
has just arrived. It seems that the common people enjoy a little more happiness than
before. However, when the powerful people discover that the common people are
seeking happiness fo r themselves, they use every cruel means to block the newly
emerging trend. The ideal society is still far away. Touched by inequality in contemporary
society and the helplessness of numerous people, we have become aware of
the need to transform society. It is our goal to realize anarchism as political organization
and communism as economic ideal. Now that the goal is set, we are determined
to overcome all difficulties to realize it. It is nothing fo r us to endure hardships and
sufferings. We appreciate the beauty of anarchism and the goodness of communism,
and understand that our ideal cannot be achieved overnight. Our priority is to instill
anarchist communism into the common people and raise their self-consciousness.
There are two ways to approach this. The violent approach is to use bombs and handguns
... the peaceful approach is to use education and persuasion to improve the morals
and knowledge of the majority, and to work with one heart. It seems that the two
approaches are quite different, but they are by no means contradictory to each other.
Personally, I believe the peaceful approach is more effective.
Alas, don't you see how evil the contemporary social system is Are you going to
turn a blind eye to it We have to do all we can to catch up and work with the progressive
people all over the world to transform the system. In the Classics afPoetry there is
a line: 'The rain and wind bring in darkness and gloominess, but the cock never stops
its crow." Despite the limitation of our ability we will do our part to facilitate the
work and make a wave. It is our great hope that the enlightened peopled in society
will share our concern. (Records of Freedom, July 1, 1917)
Critique of Marxism (1919)
Marx's idea of politics can be fo und in 'The Communist Manifesto," coauthored with
Engels (there was confrontation in the International Working Men's Association between
Marx and Bakunin, an anarchist. Actually, Marx's idea of communism is the