TO THE POOR. 267 



and reward for superior productive efforts, that socialism 

 for generations hence would even be adverse to the most 

 effective material production; and consequently that 

 poverty and want would be greater than now, only 

 more uniformly divided. It is all too likely, moreover, 

 that in such a society the higher wants of art, philosophy, 

 literature, would scarcely be born, or would be stamped 

 out as foolish or perverted sentimental cravings, though 

 science, in so far as it ministers by applications of steam 

 or electricity to man's productive powers, might be 

 possibly encouraged ; and it is clear that such a de- 

 generated society, even if it were materially successful, 

 which is more than doubtful, would still afford but sorry 

 accommodation for cultured or elevated human beings. 



Thus even if no mitigation of social maladies were 

 possible, it would still be better to bear the ills we have 

 than fly to others of which we know nothing save their 

 great magnitude and variety ; better for society to suffer 

 with resignation all its present griefs than resort to the 

 desperate remedy offered by the socialist, which would 

 indeed be for it little less than voluntary suicide. 



If, indeed, there were any hope that a radical and 

 permanent change for the better could be effected by 

 social revolution, without a previous radical change in 

 the natures of the social units ; if, by spending the blood 

 of one generation, all future generations could be re- 

 deemed from social misery and want, then, indeed, con- 

 sidering the very moderate amount of happiness which 

 existence promises to the many, it might not be rash 

 and desperate counsel to advise them to try the hazardous 

 adventure of revolution ; the result, for which the present 

 generation would have to pay, might be worth the price, 

 at least to future generations ; but, as shown, there is no 

 hope whatever that any such consequence would result 



