A.B.C. ·OF ANARCHISM "Do you think that would really be the best way to deal with cciunter-revolution? " By all mean;. Humane treatment and kindness are more effective than cruelty and vengeance. The new attitude in this regard would suggest also a number of other methods of similar character. Various modes of dealing with conspirators and active enemies of the revolution would develop as soon as you begin to practice the new policy. The plan might be adopted, for instance, of scattering . them, individually or in small groups, over districts removed from their counter-revolutionary influences, among communists of revolutionary spirit and consciousness. Consider also· that counterrevolutionists must eat; which means that they would find themselves in•a situation that would claim their thoughts and time fol'. other things than the hatching of conspiracies. The defeated counter-revolutionist, left at liberty instead of being imprisoned, would have to seek means of existence. He would not be denied his livelihood, of course, since the revolution would be generous en_ough to feed even its enemies. But the man in question would have to join some community, secure lodgings, and so forth, in order to enjoy the hospitality of the distributing centre. In other words, the counter-revolutionary "prisoners in freedom " would depend on the community and, the good will of its members for their means of existence. They would live in its atmosphere arid be influenced by its revolutionary environment. Surely they will be safer and more contented than in prison, and presently they would cease to be a danger to the revolution. We have repeatedly seen such examples in Russia, in. cases where counter-revolutionists had escaped the Tcheka and settled down in some village or city, where as a result of considerate and decent· treatment they became useful members-of the community, often more zealous in .behalf of the public welfare than _the_averagecitizen, while hundreds of their fellow-conspirators, who had not been lucky enough to avoid arrest, were busy m _prisonwith thoughts of revenge and new plots. · Various plans of treating such "prisoners in freedom" will no doubt be tried by the revolutionary people. But whatever the methods, they will be more satisfactory than the present system of ·revenge and punishment, the complete failure of which. has been demonstrated throughout human experience. Among the new ways might also be tried that of free col<;misation. The revolution will offer its enemies an opportunity to settle in some part of the <:9untry and there establish the form of social life that will suit them best. It is no vain speculation to fore~ee that it> would not be long before m_ostof them would prefer the broth~rhood _a1;1ldiberty l()Z 81blloteca G no Bianco
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