THE ACCUSATION 185 



political degradation of a degradation so general as to 

 affect the whole people, and so deep as to reach the intel- 

 lectual and moral sources of their action, and to change the 

 permanent conditions of their existence. For such is the 

 view taken by Mr. Hobhouse, supported in some respects 

 by Mr. Morley, and urged with eloquence and the manifest 

 sincerity of a noble passion. We cannot pass it over, it 

 seems to me, nor deal lightly with it. We must examine 

 it, and enquire into the grounds of his rage and sorrow. 



His charge summarily stated is as follows: "During 

 some twenty or thirty years a wave of reaction has spread 

 over the civilised world," and "the reaction has invaded 

 one department of thought after another." As regards 

 the British people "the reaction at home is interwoven 

 with reaction abroad ; and if it is to be summed up in a 

 word, we should call it a reaction against humanitarianism." 

 ; ' The bare conception of right in public matters has lost 

 its force." " Human wrongs and sufferings do not move 

 us as they did." "There has been a far-reaching change 

 in the temper of the time." 



Following these accusations against the people as a 

 whole, comes his faithful dealing with different sections 

 of it. ;< The great middle class," he says, "has become 

 contented with its lot ; and is far more moved by its fear 

 of Socialism than by any further instalment of privilege." 

 ''The true leaders of the middle class are the financiers, 

 who show them how to get more than 3 per cent, on their 

 investments." They are infected with " collective selfish- 

 ness." ' ' All they know of social and domestic reform is 

 that it means expense ; and their politics are summed up 

 in the simple and comprehensive formula : Keep down 

 the rates." 



