CONCLUSION 417 



of employers and employed — of capital and labour — 

 on which our industrial system is now based. 



It is with the Socialist party that the nation has to 

 reckon. That party alone has a definite programme, 

 which it contends is a practical one, and one that, if 

 carried out, would realize an ideal, which, it cannot be 

 denied, is of an attractive kind. It is not the inten- 

 tion here to deal fully with the socialistic creed, but it 

 is necessary to refer to it, as it bears directly on the 

 main question treated in these pages.^ 



The doctrine of Socialism appeals, not only to the 

 working classes, but to nearly all sections of the com- 

 munity, and among these sections it is noiselessly 

 making rapid strides. Large numbers — increasing 

 numbers — of professional and other educated men, 

 taking to heart the social condition of the people, are 

 leaning towards the doctrine. They may not take the 

 name of Socialist or quite approve of the creed, but 

 they adopt it out of despair of finding an alternative 

 remedy for the evils that exist. Some among the 

 clergy and other ministers of religion for the same 

 reasons are taking the same course. 



Socialist writers and speakers, by well-reasoned 

 arguments, assure the working classes that under the 

 present system they receive in return for their labour a 

 bare sum for the necessaries of life ; that the surplus 

 value of their day's work goes into the pocket of the 

 capitalist ; that the " large-capital system of to-day 



^ For those who wish to know what the principles of Socialism really 

 are, it will be sufficient to read "Das Kapital," Karl Marx; "The 

 Quintessence of Socialism" (a short and clear account), by Dr. A. 

 Schaffle, translated by M. Bosanquet, M.A. ; " Fabian Essays on Social- 

 ism," published by the Fabian Society ; " Historical Basis of Socialism," 

 H. ]VT. Hyndman ; and the writings of Sidney and Beatrice Webb and of 

 the late William Morris. 



