From the Archives

William Henry Van Ornum, “Why Government at All?” (1892)

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] Why Government at All? William Henry Van Ornum —– Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1892 issued without copyright TABLE OF CONTENTS. Preface PART I. REVIEWS. Introduction Henry George: his Economic Absurdities and Contradictions The Single Tax: Inadequate, Illogical, Cumbersome, and Unjust State Socialism: its Origin, Objects, and Methods State Socialism: its Foundation and Necessary Development The Fallacies of Karl Marx The Fallacies of Edward Bellamy The Fallacies of P. J. Proudhon and his School Social Palliatives Reform by Political Methods PART II. PRINCIPLES The Motive of Human Action The Object of […]
From the Archives

“King Killing” (1795)

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] KING KILLING. —– Shall Kings alone claim an exemption from Law, an impunity of Wickedness? Shall our idolatrous and servile spirit set up for worship a golden Image, like that of Nebuchadnezzar—a piece of metal, which neither hopes for Reward, nor fears Punishment? Shall Vice and Villainy, whom accident may have encircled with the diadem, be deified and worshipped by uncomplaining impotence and servile fear? What reader, of whatever party or principle, is shocked, when he reads in ancient history, that the Roman Senate voted Nero Their Sovereign to be a […]
From the Archives

Stephen Pearl Andrews in the Journal of the American Temperance Union (1837–1838)

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] Stephen Pearl Andrews, H. E. Morrill, and O. Eastman, “Address Of the Southwestern Temperance Convention, to the People of the Southwestern Portion of the United States,” Journal of the American Temperance Union 1 no. 7 (July, 1837): 98-99. Stephen Pearl Andrews, “Letter from S. P. Andrews, Esq. Corresponding Secretary of the Louisiana Temperance Society,” Journal of the American Temperance Union 2 no. 12 (December, 1838) 181. [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] ADDRESS Of the Southwestern Temperance Convention, to the People of the Southwestern Portion of the United States. Fellow Citizens,—Being instructed by the resolution of […]
From the Archives

Paraf-Javal, “The Sect of Non-Sectarians” (1903)

Labels are useful to distinguish men from each other when considered from a certain point of view. From the point. of view of labor, a man who does carpentry deserves to be labeled carpenter; from the general point of view, a man who is opposed to labeling deserves to be labeled non-labelist. It would be easy to show that the sect of non-sectarians and the sect of non-labelists may be considered as comprising all those who have not arrived at a clear conception of their doctrine.

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From the Archives

William Bailie in “Liberty” (1891–1906)

The series of articles from the pen of William Bailie, begun in this number under the general title of “Problems of Anarchism,” will probably continue for many months and will deal with most of the sociological questions with which the Anarchistic movement is concerned. I have seen but a small part of the manuscript as yet, but, knowing Comrade Bailie as I do and the excellent articles that he has previously written for Liberty, I feel justified in beginning its publication, regardless of any deviations from Liberty’s chosen path that future chapters may show. I do not expect that his views will differ materially from Liberty’s, but in any case Comrade Bailie’s earnestness and ability furnish a perfect guarantee that the differences which may develop will be worth considering.

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From the Archives

Charles T. Fowler, “Co-operative Homes” (1886)

[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] Subject: CO-OPERATIVE HOMES. The Home and the Family—Its Status—Marriage—Sexual Ethics — Where they Arose. Wife And Housekeeper—”Her Sphere”— Co-operative Home’s Influence on her Independence—Effect on Marriage—Motherhood The State Abjured. ⁂ Status Of Children —Place—Society—Employment— Compensation—Education—Result. ⁂ Social Breadth—Epitome of Society. Material Richness— Opposed to Workingmen’ s Homes ⁂ Less Cost—Construction—Consumption—Marketing—Retail Profits —Woman’s Wages—Combination ⁂ Division Of Labor—Its Economy and Order—Servant Girls Isolation Guaranteed Independence And Freedom Secured Social Economy Attained Solidarity Preserved—Sickness Provided for ⁂ Outward Organism—The Determining Factor Practical Suggestions—What to Avoid—Competitive Basis ⁂ Associated Homes—Social Ideal—Societary Results The […]
From the Archives

Charles T. Fowler, “Corporations” (1886)

A corporation is an association of individuals, acting as one body by force of law. Co-operation is an association of individuals acting together in their separate capacities by private contract. Corporation is a legal word, co-operation is a natural one. The members of one are legal, artificial, constructive persons, those of the other are natural ones; one acts under a charter, the other acts under an article of agreement or association.

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From the Archives

Charles T. Fowler, “The Reorganization of Business” (1885)

IN a previous issue, we ascertained that the first principles of Co-operation were Liberty and Equity, We showed what they were and their mutual relations. We found that majority rule, in government, must give way to equal sovereignty, and profit, in commerce, give place to cost;—one the rule for properly minding one’s business, the other the basis of common honesty.

Now, these invisible laws, if such, are just as operative when disobeyed as when obeyed. The only part which we are asked to perform is to adapt ourselves to them in our organization. In examining the working, of the present profit-making system we shall see wherein they are violated, and how to apply the remedy.

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From the Archives

Charles T. Fowler, “Prohibition” (1885)

Now no one disputes the evil of intemperance, suppose we call it the greatest of evils. If government can or ought to suppress the greatest, then it should try its hand at the next in importance. If two pigs are tearing up the sward in your yard is there any reason why, while driving out the one that weighs one hundred pounds, you should leave the other, which counts ninety and nine? That would be a discrimination only against one pound of rooting!

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