420 LAND REFORM 



secured a majority in Parliament, there would be no 

 limits to its power so far as financial matters are con- 

 cerned. " Redress of grievances " must precede supply, 

 and unless grievances, real or alleged, are redressed, 

 supply might be stopped and the whole national 

 economy be thus deranged. 



These statements may be regarded by a certain 

 class as too pessimistic, as mere Cassandra utterances ; 

 but it cannot be denied that they only scantily describe 

 the facts connected with the social and political con- 

 dition of England at the present time. They describe 

 the problems which will have to be solved, and unless 

 they are solved, and that speedily, it is the wealthy 

 classes upon whom the consequences will fall. They 

 recall the old fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the way- 

 side propounding her riddle to the passers-by, and if 

 they could not answer she destroyed them. " Answer 

 her riddle, it is well with thee. Answer it not, pass on 

 regarding it not, it will answer itself ; the solution of it 

 is a thing of teeth and claws." (Carlyle, "Past and 

 Present.") 



Fortunately the riddle contained in the sad contrasts 

 in our social life, contrasts that shock and puzzle 

 thoughtful men and lead them to favour any nostrum 

 or palliative that promises a remedy, is capable of 

 being solved in a surer and a more speedy way than that 

 proffered in the socialistic creed. We have not space 

 to answer the leaders and ministers of Socialism, 

 whose arguments in favour of their doctrines are of a 

 highly intellectual order, and such as cannot be met by 

 airy, flippant, and casual replies. But the case of the 

 mass of the people which is being leavened with these 

 doctrines is quite different. To adopt the figurative 

 language of an able labour leader, Socialism with them 



