Htemocracs anb IRellgfon.

79

everything and the individual nothing, andLiberalism where the individual was paramountand the community was broken up.

But Socialism is more than that, its field beingeconomics. It is a criticism of the capitalistic orderwhich it condemns, after having explained itsorigination and its evolution. It condemns it asopposed to the democratic ideal. According tothe socialist critics, capitalism means disguisedslavery instead of liberty, distinction of classesinstead of equality, and individual profiteeringinstead of solidarity.

But as the world, according to a famous sayingof Marx, is not only to be explained but to beimproved, socialism at the same time meanspolitics : it advocates a system of measures toovercome the capitalistic order either by reformor by revolution. Its fundamental idea is to buildup a central power which on a rational basis leadsand regulates the economic life the present stateof which is called anarchic.

It is not within the range of these pages todiscuss these assertions. One thing is certain :a single slogan will not do. Even the famousword of Karl Marx , " Nationalisation of the meansof production," has very little concrete sense whenyou come to practical business. Here everymeasure recommended or tried has to be proved onits own merits. You can nationalise the forests,but not the gardens, the electricity works but notthe tools of the craftsmen, the railways but notthe motor-cars. If you wish to widen the field ofState interference, honesty of the officials is the