THE END OF LAISSEZ-FAIRE

This is a fine picture of the great Captainof Industry, the Master-Individualist, whoserves us in serving himself, just as any otherartist does. Yet this one, in his turn, isbecoming a tarnished idol. We grow moredoubtful whether it is he who will lead us intoParadise by the hand.

These many elements have contributed tothe current intellectual bias, the mentalmake-up, the orthodoxy of the day. Thecompelling force of many of the originalreasons has disappeared, but, as usual, thevitality of the conclusions outlasts them. Tosuggest social action for the public good tothe City of London is like discussing theOrigin of Species with a Bishop sixty years ago.The first reaction is not intellectual, butmoral. An orthodoxy is in question, and themore persuasive the arguments the graver theoffence. Nevertheless, venturing into the denof the lethargic monster, at any rate I havetraced his claims and pedigree so as to showthat he has ruled over us rather by hereditaryright than by personal merit.

38