Land Problems and National Welfare 



of reform ; and unless moderate politicians raise 

 the standard of reform — real and effective reform 

 that will assuage that feeling of unrest — then 

 there can be but one alternative, and that is 

 reform brought in by the Socialists. 



Socialist reform involves a greater degree of 

 destruction than most moderate men feel to be 

 compatible with the best interests of the country, 

 but it is fatuous to oppose Socialism by anti- 

 socialist leagues. Many Socialists are pains- 

 taking students of social conditions, and a 

 large number of their suggested remedies con- 

 tain much that is good and deserving of careful 

 consideration on the part of all conscientious 

 politicians. 



Socialism should not be met by a blank 

 negative, but by a counter policy of constructive 

 social reform. 



There is just now much clamour against 

 Socialism on the part of people who are ignorant 

 of social problems or who have given them only 

 superficial consideration. Most of these people 

 do not really know what Socialism means. It 

 would be well for them to take to heart the 

 words of a great man and clear thinker. 



"Many people think it possible to conduct a 

 victorious campaign with the single watchword, 

 * Down with Socialism.' 



" Well, I am not fond of mere negatives ; I do 

 not like fighting an abstract noun. My objec- 



288 



