THE FARMER AND SOCIALISM. 423 



If societ}' is to be reconstructed — which I neither affirm nor 

 deny — the reconstruction must begin with the foundation, 

 which is in rural Hfe. It is true that without forethought 

 alterations in the superstructure may happen to so conform to 

 the foundation that the edifice may remain stable, but such is 

 not likely to be the case, nor would any good architect take 

 it for granted. It does not seem to me to be the case with 

 respect to the alterations in society which have been planned 

 by urban residents and artisans. The farmer has not been 

 called into consultation, and yet he will not only have some- 

 thing to say, but will have the controlling voice. Without 

 his aid there can be no reconstruction of society except by the 

 slow processes of natural growth. It may be worth while to 

 hear something from the class that will decide. 



I am myself a farmer, with rural education, tastes, interests 

 and prejudices, but I am also not unacquainted with urban 

 conditions and social movements there, indeed, having of such 

 knowledge, as I think, a better store than they have of rural 

 conditions who are best known as proponents of social recon- 

 struction. My animus is that I heartily desire most, if not 

 all, the ultimate ends proposed by abstract Socialism, which I 

 understand to be a perfectly just distribution of comfort. If, 

 therefore, I am a critic of Socialism I am a friendly critic, my 

 objections to its program being mainly a conviction that it 

 would not remove but intensify the evils which it is intended 

 to mitigate. 



Abstract Socialism rests on three distinct propositions: 

 First, no special reward is due from society to the possessors of 

 great foresight, or organizing ability, or executive vigor; 

 (Second, the man who saves is entitled to use his savings, 

 (but to no payment for their use by others; tliird, no man is 

 entitled to ownership of land or any other part of nature, 

 and especially to increment thereon unearned by himself. 

 As it is only from these sources that capital, in the modern 

 jsense, can be derived, there follows the corollary that "capital 

 'is robbery." 



The demands of Socialism are more commonly stated as 

 follows : — 



