The Socialistic Method. 281 



the Community. They were practically co-operative asso- 

 ciations of an extreme type. Of such, with certain qual- 

 ifications, is the Familistere at Guise. The Socialism or 

 Collectivism or Nationalism of to-day is absolutely antipo- 

 dal to the voluntary co-operative society. The latter is 

 what its name implies, a free partnership for the common 

 good. On the other hand, State Socialism, which is the 

 Socialism of Lassalle and Marx, and of their disciples in 

 England and America as well as in Germany and. France, is 

 in its essence the apotheosis of force. I am aware that 

 these disciples will not be disposed to admit that this state- 

 ment is true, but philosophically it is absolutely incontro- 

 vertible, as I shall try to show. 



Among Socialists you will find the most tender souls, 

 hearts throbbing with good-will to all mankind. There is 

 nothing exceptional or astonishing in this ; it has been so 

 in all the ages, and in the private recesses of the home it 

 is often the finger of devoted love which touches the key 

 to the most dreadful doom. The Inquisition was the work 

 of those whose intentions were of the best, who wished to 

 save mankind from eternal torment : the bloodiest wars 

 in all history have been wars prosecuted by enthusiasts in 

 the name of religion. Mr. Bellamy, it is said, Mr. Gron- 

 lund, Mr. George, and others, are animated by a pure desire 

 for the good of mankind. Shall we say because of this 

 reason, we must agree with their thought and indorse their 

 plans ? The world has been full of enthusiasts all the ages 

 down. The world has suffered for them, it has bled for 

 them, it has died for them. Does it make no difference 

 whether the enthusiasm is a wise enthusiasm? whether 

 it is in line with the drift of the divine power, or wh ther 

 it is athwart or against the current ? Shall we say that it 

 is enough that the leader claims to be inspired by the Holy 

 Ghost ? and must we follow him whither he leads, though 

 it may be into miasmatic labyrinths, into morasses from 

 which the race, if it emerge at all, must painfully again 

 fight its way outward to the light as in ages now long 

 buried in the past ? Ah ! how large a part of the ])athos 

 of human life all the ages through do we find in the un- 

 numbered multitudes of tender souls, crushed by the wheels 

 of the car of human progress in the vain effort to retard 

 their revohition or turn them into a different path ! 



That system of administration which centralizes the con- 



