LAW AND AUTHORITY. By Pierre Kropotkin. "WHEN ignorance reigns in society and disorder in the minds of men, laws are multiplied, legislation is expected to do everything, and each fresh law being a fresh miscalculation, men are continually led to demand from it what can proceed only from them.selves, from their O')l'neducation and their own morality." It is no revolutionist who says this, nor even a reformer. It is the jurist, Dalloy, author of the Collection of Frenoh law known as "Repertoire de la Legislation." An,d yet, though these lines were written by ,a man who was himself a maker and admirer of law, they perfectly represent the abnormal condition of our society. In existing States a fresh law is looked upon as a remedy for evil. Instead of themselves altering what is bad, people begin by demanding a law to alter it. If the road between two villages is impassable, the peasant says:-" There should be a law about parish roads." If a park-keeper takes advantage of the want of spirit in those who follow him with servile observance and insults one of them, the insulted man says "There should be a law to enjoin more politeness upon park-keepers." If there is stagnation in agriculture or commerce, the husba.ndman, cattle-bree<ler, or corn speculator argues, "It is protective legislation that we require." Down to the old clothesman there is not one who does not demand a law to protect his own little trade. If the employer lowers wages or increases the B,blioteca Gino Bianco Fondazione Alfr~d LeWin Biblioteca Gino· Bianco · Fondo C~h_r!q_Biai.ico
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