SUPPOSED TENDENCIES TO SOCIALISM. 585 



What is the lesson to be gathered from the prophets and 

 writers on the science of society ? Not that we should expect 

 an early and radical transformation of society; neither the su- 

 premacy of a few capitalists, nor yet their early expropriation ; 

 hardly even that we should expect the coming of the semi-divine 

 man of Carlyle and Tennyson to set things right. The chief les- 

 son is the rashness and exceeding doubtfulness of specific proph- 

 ecies which are grounded as often on hopes or fears, likes or dis- 

 likes, as on superior insight. The prophets are, however, in gen- 

 eral optimistic ; they believe in progress or evolution ; and they 

 believe that civilized society is progressing to something better 

 than the present state, though they differ considerably as to what 

 constitutes that better. I share this faith, on the whole, myself. 

 I believe that society is in movement as part of an inevitable pro- 

 cess to something better in the end, though some of the stages to 

 it may appear to be really worse for particular generations. I be- 

 lieve we are moving toward a better, to " a far-off divine event " 

 which can not be fully perceived at present ; and I believe that the 

 road to it lies through something better than the present which 

 can be perceived. To get to this better will require the co-opera- 

 tive efforts and volitions of men, especially of the working classes, 

 and of their leaders. Social thinkers will be required to furnish 

 light and guidance, and also, it may be, great statesmen filled 

 with the spirit of understanding and justice, and with regard for 

 the general good. There will be neither miracle wrought, nor 

 sudden social transformation, which would be a miracle in order 

 to last ; but with good sense, self-reliance, and persistence on the 

 part of the many, assisted by the light and help of the few, and 

 with better dispositions on the part of employers of labor, a con- 

 siderable advance for the whole people, and especially for the 

 cause of labor, might be made during the present generation; 

 while, with these same conditions as permanent facts, the move- 

 ment for social reform, if not the socialistic movement, will 

 advance as fast as is desirable, and will realize in future as much 

 good as the nature and complexity of things social and things 

 hunian will allow. 



The scheme for an exploration of the antarctic regions is gradually assuming 

 shape. A report was made at the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society of 

 Australasia in August, that Baron Nordenskiold would consent to take command 

 of an expedition on condition that the Australian colonies contribute five thou- 

 sand pounds toward the expenses, to be met by a like contribution by Norden- 

 skiold's friend Baron Oscar Dickson. The Geographical Society, which had already 

 pledged itself to support a South Polar Expedition, accepted the proposition of the 

 Swedes at once, on the faith that the necessary subscriptions would be secured, 

 and itself contributed two hundred pounds toward the amount. 

 vol. xxxvm. 40 



