But, in this
second case, there cannot fail to be a violation of liberty and
property,--legal plunder.
You say, "Here are men who are wanting in morality or religion," and
you apply to the law; but law is force, and need I say how far it is a
violent and absurd enterprise to introduce force in these matters?
As the result of its systems and of its efforts, it would seem that
socialism, notwithstanding all its self-complacency, can scarcely help
perceiving the monster of legal plunder. But what does it do? It
disguises it cleverly from others, and even from itself, under the
seductive names of fraternity, solidarity, organisation, association.
And because we do not ask so much at the hands of the law, because we
only ask it for justice, it supposes that we reject fraternity,
solidarity, organisation, and association; and they brand us with the
name of _individualists_.
We can assure them that what we repudiate is, not natural organisation,
but forced organisation.
It is not free association, but the forms of association which they
would impose upon us.
It is not spontaneous fraternity, but legal fraternity.
It is not providential solidarity, but artificial solidarity, which is
only an unjust displacement of responsibility.
Socialism, like the old policy from which it emanates, confounds
Government and society.
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