1 6 Introduction 



evolution is now operating, affecting not only the 

 relationship of man to man, but directing the State in 

 the devising of measures for the betterment of society, 

 and this in spite of man's primeval instinct of self- 

 preservation, which he has understood hitherto was 

 the only operating force, the only motive which 

 weighed in men's minds, under the teaching of the laws 

 of Darwin and Malthus. Since men's minds have 

 become permeated by the altruism of Christianity, the 

 whole history of legislation, more particularly recently, 

 in this our Western civilisation, has demonstrated the 

 gradual negation of this prime motive. 



We have then every reason to believe that this 

 altruistic spirit — this spiritual evolution — will increase 

 with overwhelming force as time goes on, and must, 

 by means of a gradual amelioration of the condition 

 of the people, more particularly the poor and needy, 

 end in the " ideal state," where the aim and the reward 

 of each will be to work for all to the best of his ability, 

 and at the same time never forgetting the interests of 

 the generations which are to follow. A most necessary 

 part of this social betterment of the race will be the 

 security for every member of the State of sufficient 

 leisure in which he may cultivate to the highest his 

 physical, intellectual, and spiritual development. 



We hold that it must be evident that this " ideal 

 state " is impossible without the negation of individual 

 wealth or property, and inherent in this is the annihila- 

 tion of the gold standard. That this is capable of 

 accomplishment is evident from the self-abnegation of 

 many men of " great possessions," in helping the cause 

 of the poor, the wretched, the overwrought, and the 

 overstrained with the " weary bitterness of life " ; 

 and from the lives of self-sacrifice of the " millions 

 who, humble and nameless, the straight hard pathway 

 trod," and have died — following the example of the 



