THE STATE VERSUS THE MAN. 165 



in itself, as it lies beyond his vision, it is hard, round, inelastic, double- 

 faced. The spiritualist errs when he pronounces upon the nature of 

 spirit, as it lies beyond his ken, naming it, in essence, immortal, divine. 

 Unity there somehow is in this universe. There are no breaks if 

 we could read aright. Perhaps this reading should see the beginning 

 in the end, not the end in the beginning. The charcoal sketch of 

 Angelo would indeed be promise and potency of greater things, and 

 this because in it was more than charcoal. So it may be well, even 

 rational, to interpret all things and all beings. 



THE STATE VERSUS THE MAN": 



A CRITICISM OF MR. HERBERT SPENCER. 



By EMILE DE LAVELEYE. 



" La nature est l'injustice meme." Renan. 



FOUR articles of Mr. Herbert Spencer's, which appeared in the 

 Contemporary Review, have recently been reprinted together, 

 and form now a work which Mr. Spencer has entitled "The Man 

 versus The State." This little volume merits the most attentive study, 

 because in it the great sociological question of our day is treated in 

 the most masterly manner. The individualist theory was, I think, 

 never expounded better or with stronger arguments based on first 

 principles, or supported by so great a number of clearly analyzed and 

 admirably grouped facts. These pages are also full of important 

 truths and of lessons, from whence both nations and governments 

 may derive great benefit. Mr. Spencer's deductions are so concise 

 and forcible that one feels oneself drawn, against one's will, to accept 

 his conclusions ; and yet, the more I have thought on the subject, 

 the more convinced have I become that these conclusions are not in 

 the true interest of humanity. Mr. Herbert Spencer's object is to 

 prove the error and danger of State socialism, or, in other words, the 

 error and danger of that system which consists in appropriating State, 

 or communal, revenues to the purpose of establishing greater equality 



among men. 



The eminent philosopher's statement, that in most civilized coun- 

 tries governments are more and more adopting this course, is indis- 

 putable. In England Parliament is taking the lead ; in Germany 

 Prince Bismarck, in spite of Parliament ; and elsewhere either Parlia- 

 ment or town councils are doing the same thing. Mr. Spencer con- 

 siders that this effort for the improvement of the condition of the 

 working-classes, which is being everywhere made, with greater or less 

 energy, is a violation of natural laws, which will not fail to bring its 

 own punishment on nations, thus misguided by a blind philanthropy. 



