Social and Political Views 



healthy instincts of men and women will solve the popula- 

 tion problem far better than any tinkering interference 

 either by law or by any other means. 



And in the meantime the condition of things is not so 

 bad as you suppose. — Yours very truly, 



Alfred R. Wallace. 



To Mr. Sydney Cockerbll 



Broadstone, Wimborne. January 15, 1906. 



Dear Mr. Cockerell,— I have now finished reading Kropot- 

 kin's Life with very great interest, especially for the light 

 it throws on the present condition of Russia. It also brings 

 out clearly some very fine aspects of the Russian character, 

 and the horrible despotism to which they are still subject, 

 equivalent to that of the days of the Bastille and the system 

 of Lettres de cachet before the great Revolution in France. 

 It seems to me probable that under happier conditions — 

 perhaps in the not distant future — Russia may become the 

 most advanced instead of the most backward in civilisa- 

 tion — a real leader among nations, not in war and conquest 

 but in social reform. — Yours faithfully, ^^ g Wallace. 



To Mr. J. Hyder (of the Land Nationalisation Society) 



Broadstone, Wimborne. May 13, 1907. 



Dear Mr. Hyder, — Although it is not safe to hallo before 

 one is out of the wood, I think I may congratulate the Society 

 upon the prospect it now has of obtaining the first-fruits of 

 its persistent efforts, for a quarter of a century, to form an 

 enlightened public opinion in favour of our views. If the 

 Government adequately fulfils its promises, we shall have, 

 in the Bill for a fair valuation of land apart from im- 

 provements, as a basis of taxation and for purchase, and 

 that giving local authorities full powers to acquire land 

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