288 MY LIFE 



loss to all of us of the infinite varieties of character, ability, 

 and even genius, now forbidden any adequate development by 



the cruel struggle for existence and the shortened lives, are 

 clearly set forth. And as every one of the wasteful and cruel 

 and debasing influences of our competitive system will cease 

 to exist under a rational socialism, labour will be diminished 

 to an almost inconceivable extent, while every possible enjoy- 

 ment of nature, of art, and of congenial friendship will be 

 indefinitely increased. Until these two works of Bellamy have 

 been carefully read and thoroughly appreciated, no one can 

 properly realize what such a state of society means ; while 

 to any one who has done so, the stock objections to socialism 

 will be seen to be utterly trivial and absurd. 



One of the most striking and convincing chapters in 

 " Equality ' is that which describes the means by which, 

 after a majority were in favour of it, and a Socialist Govern- 

 ment had been elected, the great change was brought about, 

 and, without any compulsion whatever, was soon welcomed 

 and accepted by the adverse minority. This method is so 

 simple, and so little known, that it may be well to give a 

 brief outline of it here. 



It is assumed that, before this period, there had already 

 been a great extension of governmental and municipal 

 industry, all the railways and mines, telegrams and tele- 

 phones being worked by the former; all water, gas, electric 

 light and power, trams, etc, by the latter. The employees 

 in these, together with all persons connected with the courts, 

 the police, the revenue, and other Government offices, with 

 their families, would comprise a population of several million 

 persons paid by and dependent on general or local govern- 

 ments. The first important step taken is the opening of 

 Government stores to supply all these persons with food, 

 clothing, and other necessaries of life at cost price, and of 

 the best quality, absolutely free from adulteration, just as 

 Robert Owen did for his people at New Lanark. As the 

 numbers to be supplied would be exactly known, as no 

 advertisements would be needed beyond simple price-lists, 

 and as there need be no attractive shops in great thorough- 



