



EVEN a cursory consideration of the general subject of 

 which this volume treats must prove an inspiration to 

 many persons at the present time. 



Individualism the right and power of the individual to 

 regulate his own life, think his own thoughts, express his own 

 convictions, carry out his own theories, and strive without let 

 or hindrance for the attainment of his own ideals, in so far 

 as all this may be done without trespassing upon the rights 

 of others this undoubtedly constitutes the basis of many a. 

 man's aspiration who sees only a diminishing prospect of 

 attaining his heart's desire in his present environment. 



He feels that the incorporation of industries into one gigantic 

 whole, or, at best, into a limited number of colossal units, 

 renders him insignificant beyond what is right, deprives him 

 of the dignity of manhood, and stifles his life. He feels that 

 the embezzler, the speculator, and the thief in exalted places 

 are given opportunities for public exploitation and self-enrich- 

 ment, and that the common, ubiquitous and ever-hateful grafter 

 is an inevitable product of the system. 



In vain is he told by his teachers that there is nothing better 

 for him. In vain is it pointed out to him that individualism is 

 impossible : that as long as he lives in a community of his 

 fellows he must surrender his individualism to the common 

 good : that the only way to realize his ideal is to become a 

 hermit or an anchorite. It is not the surrender of what is 

 necessary and reasonable that galls him. It is the crushing out 

 of him of that which he feels he has a right to retain, that 

 makes him rebellious. But where can he go and what can he 



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