EVOLUTION ANDREVOLUTION THESE two words, Evolution and Revolution, closeiy resemble one another, and yet they are constamly (lsed in their social and political sense as though their meaning we.re absolutely antagonistic. The word Evolution, . synonymous with gradual and continuous development in morals and ideas, is brought forward in certain circles as though it were the antithesis of that fearful word, Revolution, which implies changes more or less sudden in their action, and entailing some sort of catastrophe. And yet is it possible that a transformation can take place in idea• without bringing about some abrupt displacements in the equilibrium of life? Must not revolution necessaril) follow evolution, as action follows the desire to act? , They are fundamentally one and the same thing, differing only accordi'lg to the time of their appearance. If, on the one hand, we believe in the normal progress of ideas, and, on the bthei:.._expect opposition, then, of necessit}', we believe in externaC.Wti;ekswhich change the forn, of society. It is this which·fim.ab~,! to try tri ex\>lain,not availing myself of abstract terms, but~lp~g to tbe observation and experience of every one, and employing only sucb arguments as are in common use. No doubt I am one of the persons known as "dreadful revolutionists;" for long years I have belonged to the legally infamous society which <:allsitself" The International Working /l[ens' Association," whose very name entails upon all wbo assume membership the .treatment of malefactors ; finally, I am amongst those who served that " execrable " Commune, " the detestation of all respectable men." But however ferocious I may be, I shall know how to place myself outside, or rather above my party, and to study the present evolution and approaching revolution of the human race without passion or lllpersonal bias. As we are amongst those whom the wor!,i B11:'1 ,teca G no B .anco
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTExMDY2NQ==