He does not believe, as so many people believe in his circles, that those doctrines consist solely in blowing up houses. The doctrines of anarchism, so maligned by some, so misunderstood by others, greatly concern him and his honesty is great enough, if not to embrace them all, at least to understand them. Often, he comes to see me and we have long talks.
#QUEST FOR INFAMY DEFACE GRAVE FREE#
He would like to free himself completely from traditional ideas, from the ancient routines where his mind is bogged down, despite himself, but he cannot. But his education, fouled with the prejudices and lies inherent in all the education called “higher,” almost always stops him in his dash towards spiritual deliverance. Naturally, he aspires to that which is simple, great and beautiful. I have a friend who shows a strong desire, a truly touching desire, to understand things. He is sure of his remedy-Communism I, of his criticism, Anarchy. With this, however, Jean Grave,-sturdy, patient, indomitable Jean Grave, sitting today in his fifth-floor Parisian garret, untouched by his imprisonment, convinced as ever, steadily writing, writing to the workers of the world, casting forth images of the “Future Society,”-would not agree. As to the “What next?” it is far less certain. Grave is unnecessarily diffuse.Īs to the principal object of the work, that of furnishing an inclusive criticism of the institutions of our moribund society and the necessity of its speedy dissolution, I think any fair-minded reader will be convinced that it has been pretty thoroughly done. I have adhered as strictly as possible to the text, being unwilling to make either additions or subtractions, though it has sometimes seemed to me that Mr. Though inelegant in appearance it contains an additional chapter and it is from this Pouget edition that the present translation has been made. Pouget, the daring publisher of Père Peinard, brought out another, ostensibly published in London. Look in the glass and see how you like the reflection, soldiers! And the translator devoutly prays that as in France the great sin was its distribution among the soldiery, the like offense may be repeated here, where the army is still in a nascent condition and the man not yet buried under the uniform. But now that we have entered upon the “manifest destiny” of “civilized nations ” now that our government has resorted to the same tactics of colonization, protection, subjugation, and conquest now that our standing army has been increased four-fold, and military place-hunting is the ambition of the hour now that our workingmen are seizing the opportunity to barter their “free citizenship in the greatest country on earth” for the abject service of man-killing on foreign soils at the rate of $15.60 per month and keep, this proscribed Chapter XIII comes with its own note-a most discordant one indeed-into the war-chorus at present holding the public ear. Previous to that I was exceedingly dubious as to the effect of the famous prosecuted chapter, which was likely to fall flat on the unmilitary American public. Among these the only one which really concerns the public is the gigantic stride toward militarism which this country has taken during the past year. Although originally prompted by the English comrades and their promise of a publisher, later developments have made it more expedient to get out an American edition. In 1897 the writer met Jean Grave at the residence of an exiled French comrade in London, and there engaged to undertake the work, the author concurring. Several times announcements that we were about to have an English version appeared still it was not forthcoming. The work was circulated, translated in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Jewish only in English it remained untranslated. Men were anxious to know what it was that had so frightened the “free government” of France as to call forth such severe punishment of a poor shoemaker. The book was suppressed, and the French army, presumably, breathed more freely.Ī mistake! When persecution begins the gospel spreads. The conscience (?) of the French army, which the Dreyfus affair has since revealed in all its delicate scrupulosity, was immediately incensed by the chapter entitled “Militarism,” and the author was speedily arrested, tried, and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Stock, printer of numerous works pertaining to Anarchy. “Moribund Society and Anarchy” first appeared in France about a decade since, published by P.
0 kommentar(er)
