CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIALISM. 



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clear what the relation of each consumer or nation to the others 

 would be, in a socialist system ; how" far each would lead an 

 independent economic lite ; or how far there would be trade 

 relations between different communities. In both cases there 

 is a disparagen)ent of patriotism, and the advocacy of something 

 which is regarded as desirable for all men everywhere ; but the 

 relations in socialist systems of the smaller centres of organisa- 

 tion, to one another, and to the whole are not easy to 

 apprehend. 



3. Free Traders have been confident that if certain material 

 conditions are introduced, they will react so as to bring about a 

 change of sentiment. It w^as argued that the mutual interdepen- 

 dence of nations for purposes of trade w^ould tend to create friendly 

 feelings, which w^ould render international quarrels impossible. 

 In a similar fashion the socialist holds that if an equality of 

 condition is imposed, a sense of brotherhood will be developed 

 among all citizens, and that under these circumstances public 

 spirit, instead of individual success, will become an effective 

 motive to induce men to engage in strenuous work. It may 

 perhaps be doubted, especially when we remember the threatened 

 coalition against us at the outbreak of the Boer War, whether 

 fifty years of Free Trade have disarmed all jealousy of this 

 country in the minds of foreigners, or created a sympatlietic 

 enthusiasm all over the world for the prosperity of the British 

 Empire ; but even assuming that this has been the case, it can 

 hardly be regarded as certain that a similar love of one's 

 neighbours w^ould be engendered within any community when 

 the transition to socialism is complete. It would hardly be 

 likely to arise till the old order was completely forgotten ; in 

 some minds a sense of injustice would rankle ; in others there 

 might be disillusionment and disappointment ; it does not seem 

 clear that a stronger sense of brotherhood, and desire to engage 

 in self-sacrifice for the common cause would be called forth 

 universally, by the mere force of changed circumstances. 

 There is much to be said for the view that " life develops from 

 within"; and that an enthusiasm in the heart, however kindled, 

 will act on the will, and find expression in action. But there 

 is little reason to believe that the connection also w^orks in tlie 

 other direction, and that we can su]3ply material conditions 

 which will inevitably call forth a change of aspiration. At all 

 events, this speculation takes us into the domain of psychology, 

 in which economic science is a learner, not an authority. The 

 principles which are common to Free Traders and to Socialists 

 are not so scientifically established that the vaunted success of 



