THE NEW ERA 115 



On this point it is difficult to avoid confusion, as 

 there are really two questions. One is whether within 

 the limits of our own civilization there has been social 

 progress — whether we in England are " better than 

 our fathers." I have given a patient analysis of this 

 elsewhere, and will only say here that we are far 

 better morally, intellectually, socially, and politically 

 than any previous generation in this country. The 

 moment one turns from rhetoric to facts, one sees 

 that the advance is very great. It is, in fact, only 

 writers who deplore our " loss of faith," and would 

 like to prove that it means a loss of character, who 

 ever raise the question. But the second question, 

 whether we Englishmen, Americans, French, etc., of 

 the twentieth century are superior to the men of older 

 civilizations, cannot be so easily answered. Here again 

 the religious controversialist or propagandist, who 

 nearly always uses rhetoric instead of facts, causes 

 confusion. To him, of course, it is obvious — so obvious 

 that he need not inquire into the facts — that we are 

 not only superior to the " pagans " to-day, but even 

 our fathers always were. As to our fathers, the claim 

 is ludicrous ; but as to this generation (about which, 

 strange to say, the rhetorician is not so sure !), I should 

 say that we have socially and morally passed the older 

 nations. The rich and nobles are no longer the 

 favourites of an autocratic prince. The mass of the 

 workers are at least much better educated than they 

 ever were before (even in Rome), and have higher 

 standards. 



It would be very useful to draw out this comparison 

 in detail and study the causes of the recent advance. 

 Obviously, it cannot be done here, and I must be 

 content to say a brief word on one side of the question 



