2i6 THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 

 in the people's savings banks, and can put by £27,000,000 

 of the people's savings in a single year, is good enough 

 for us to imitate. 



Socialism of the " blood and bullet " type never 

 thrives among a people's prosperity, because in in- 

 dustry, peace and contentment it finds nothing to 

 feed upon, and it languishes and fades away into 

 nothingness. 



Another reason why this spurious Socialism of the 

 " blood and bullet " type should yield to true Socialism — 

 and this reason might well be regarded as insuperable by 

 all that large section of the British people, which relies 

 largely upon the tax-payers and the well-to-do among the 

 public for its maintenance and support — should be well 

 considered. 



We have seen in a former chapter to what extent the 

 poor and needy of our land — and they are in their 

 millions — rely partly upon the poor-rates, but chiefly on 

 the stupendous private aid accorded so liberally each 

 year by practically one-half of the British people. 



Now, although most of this great army of helpers pay 

 poor-rates directly or indirectly, yet it is plainly mani- 

 fest that they are not disposed to allow the part they 

 play in the poverty of the Nation to be circumscribed by 

 the narrow limits set by the State cesses. 



The amount levied by official authority bears but a 

 small proportion to the huge sums privately contributed 

 in various forms of charities, and it is this fact which 

 claims our attention, and unless we give it that conside- 

 ration which it unquestionably deserves, we may do in- 

 calculable harm. 



First of all we should bear in mind that this stupen- 



I 



