WORLD'S POLITICS AND NINETEENTH CENTURY 305 



Another boulder badly obstructing democracy's path is socialism. 

 The socialists have, agreeably to their wish, convinced great multi- 

 tudes that their programme is simply the logical working-out of 

 democracy. At the same time, against then- wish, they have begotten 

 the conviction in others that socialism put in practice would mean 

 anarchy, communism, leveling, a crusade against the highlands of 

 men's life in the interest of the bog. It would build forth the social 

 body utterly without regard to heterogeneity, allowing no place for 

 the genius, the artist, the dreamer, the mugwump, the non-con- 

 formist, the rebel. The Church in its worst days never meditated 

 rendering life so insipid. Prisoned in the iron orderliness socialism 

 must bring, real men would cry out with Walt Whitman: 



" O, something pernicious and dread, 

 Something far away from a puny and pious life, 

 Something unproved, something in a trance, 

 Something escaped from the anchorage and driving free." 



I care not what others may say, but as for me, give me the privilege 

 of nonconformity or give me death. 



The modern liberal deems a never so mountainous district preferable 

 to a dead level. If democracy is that, and he frequently fears it is, 

 he will none of it. Rather, he shouts, my kingdom for a horse with 

 a man astride! If it is the only alternative, give me monarchy, 

 aristocracy, even plutocracy, rather than the democracy which 

 stifles and kicks the individual. 



Again, liberalism has disappointed early expectations. Its devo- 

 tees at first looked for economic and moral as well as political 

 millennium as soon as men were set free from monarchic rule. 



But it is clear that the device of simply knocking off men's political 

 shackles falls short. Bare civil liberty does not constitute or assure 

 social weal. Society sunders itself worse than ever into disparate 

 and hostile classes. Poverty and oppression have not come to an 

 end. This century of political equality, of status changed to con- 

 tract and of a ballot for all, is precisely the one wherein pessimism 

 has been born, which is no longer the smart hobby of a few, but the 

 fixed conviction of multitudes. 



Distracted over so many unfulfilled prophecies, a host of liberals 

 almost conclude that they have been following an ignis fatuus, to 

 turn from which is the beginning of wisdom. 



Lastly, the gaucherie of popular government in executive function- 

 ing, and especially in war, renders it odious with a great and increas- 

 ing number. 



The modern mind is of a practical turn. Men theorize less than 

 formerly, but administer better. We delight in facile practice, in 

 bringing things to pass. Familiarity with colossal businesses, rail- 

 way systems, trusts, where single minds with absolute authority 



