It is also disquieting to think that, on the 

 one hand, the intellectual life of our country 

 is becoming more and more attached in its 

 interests and sympathies to reaction, and that, 

 on the other, so many who lift up their voices 

 against backward tendencies ei ther look behind 

 with regretful regard upon policies which are 

 exhausted and can no longer guide us, or 

 frankly confess that they are disconsolate 

 without hope. 



To the promoters of this LIBRARY, Socialism 

 appears to be not only the ideal which has to be 

 grasped before the benumbing pessimism which 

 lies upon the minds of would-be reformers can 

 be removed, but also the one idea which is 

 guiding such progressive legislation and ad- 

 ministration to-day as are likely to be of 

 permanent value. But those experimenting 

 with it are only groping ; are working with 

 an instrument they do not understand ; are 

 applying an idea they have not grasped ; and 

 it is therefore believed that as a practical con- 

 tribution to political principles and methods, 

 the LIBRARY may be of some value. 



The LIBRARY, however, with more assurance 

 of definite success, will aim atproviding studies 

 in Socialism, or from Socialistic standpoints, 

 which will be stimulating to the Socialist 

 movement, and which may do something to 

 knit together the different sections of Socialist 

 opinion and activity in this country. It will 

 contain translations of the best works of foreign 

 Socialists, as well as contributions from our 

 own writers. 



