The New York herald., 1879-02-25
MILL ON SOCIALISM.
The Late Philosophers Unfinished Work
on the Problem of Property.
OLD PRINCIPLES TO GO ON TRIAL.
Nothing To Be Tom Down Unless Some-
thing Better Is To Be Built Up.

Miss Helen Taylor. the stepdaughter Of the late
John Stuart Mill, has been induced by Mr. John
Morley the editor of the Fornghty Rer,ew, to sur
render to him for publication the introduction and
the first four chapters Of work begun by Mill on
the subject of socialism Mill. who started in his
literary life utilitarian was desrous of supple
mentng his works on logic and on political econ
omy with treatise which should 60 exhaustvely
through the whole subject Of socialism. point by
points and he was induced to this experiment by the
conviction that no large impartial consideration of
socalistic theories, put forward during the last
quarter of o century, had been undertaken. He had
already given expression to some of his views
in his chapter the "Probable Future of the Work
ing Classes" published in his "Political Econ
omy," but from the glimpse which Mr.. Morley has
provided for u.s. through the kindness Of Miss Taylor
we believe that in the death of the philosopher
have lost the most important work of one of the
most conservative thinkers Of this century, for Mill,
although sentimentalst in many of the relations of
private life, led astray in his books by
thusiasm Only part of his draft of the chapters is
published in the last number of the Fortnghhy, and
1t must be said that he meant to rewrite them. He
starts out in his introduction with reference to the
fact that manhood suffrage prevails in tile United
States. in France and partially in Germany He
says
pale sttntion so large body Of those who 1.-Two
ss s 'fs ss
complete ascendancy, very great influence
s tho o the se "s s s M b
reality the greatest stake since their daily depends
on It's SGt they are no" % ENGAGED 1--WE IN may S call it
port Of propsr'y as least ali to the support ss IL
equaiities OF property so far their power reaches
for support upon sonsderntons Of public nature upon
welfare ad not upon motives of mere personal character
government
Believing that Englishmen do not easily perceive
the tendencies Of political changes. and that the
are not always realized. he goes on to say
WHAT THEY WILL Do
It. Is lnNwn even to The most s.d thst the
objects which them working classes, and
The ss s
ton by dsscmsons among themselves or by their
ss ses hap 1ss'i IS ss ser iS as
@ IN %.ns % that T SHF s
effectively instrumental to the promotion Of thoir col
ny s T not s $
viii The It s Of % liz an %
ia:tiaes isvsilI.E The viii ss r.
return to Parament the possible number Of
% % a Of be S
by definite political doctrines for politics scen
easses opinions in the special interest q
those organized into systems and crseds which
ply by the same right systems elaborated by previous
POLITICAL CESSATION.
Mill undoubtedly believed in renovated social
fabric. combining "the best parts OF both the old
and the new" He remarks that 1t requires genera
ton for the making Of social changes which are not
affected by physical violence. and he thought this
in 1869 that the renovation of the social fabric
must be accomplished at the end Of the generation
which was beginning then. or that physical violence
must He says this calmly that one IL i'm
mediately impressed with the weight and dignity of
his prophecy. The required discussion. he urged.
must go down to the very first principles Of ex-
listing society. Old principles must go to trial.
THE QUESTION OF PROPERTY PUT.
The present age alone has serio"sy a questioned
having been between classes.
When discussion includes classes who have
sa s.G% sS Jar M public SsSe ny viii not allow
anything 10 be taken for not the prn
which denied BY Of .hs rsasoners who look out
will certainly demand that the subject in all its parts shall
DC ,s . M e
u which have the OF being favorable & 70 the IN
discussion is decided that the sub
ss Il. is i II III. E % & ryd
manifested themselves hostile only 70 certain outlying
Maw Of from freedom s
@ The SS ps sm
agitation for its resumption by the state.
Is ENGLAND READY FOR THE QUESTION?
Mill believed that the soil Of Great Britain s pre-
pared for the reception of the wide general theories
which are, MS in France. Switzerland and Germany,
used for popular political purposes The main point
ofsuggestion made by him given in this scntence:
But it evident that whatever they dhe leaders of Eng
ana ss
theories.
other of which necessarily furnish
Of the promises in the discussion.
WHAT TO BE AscERTAINED
Mill proposed first impartially to examine the So
cialistic side Of the question. he says:-
The working classes entitled claim that the
question considered a. for the frat time
10 be convinced who owe their ease and i'm
o other Interest IN the matter than abstract Jus,es
and e general good e the so%ssnI,y should
sry wosd DO ss.abIishsd by unprsjadiesd LEGISLATOR
the rs"s"Ss '"s Which would really influence esao
make for what already exists Such rights
or later have 70 BE- gwen ap An Impartial hearing
ought bc given to ali objections against prop
These quotations show the plan and purpose Of
Mills projected work. which he lived long enough
only TO begin.
THE PROCESS or EXAMINATION.
In the only other chapter given in tho current
number OF the Forfaghay he considers some of the
and it Is noteworthy that this conservative thinker
however greatly he is impressed not only with the
rights but also with the demands of men who have
property, loses sight of the constructive as
opposed to the negative and critical side Of the
problem. He seems to say, Before you begin to
tear down tell me what other and better thing you
will make" lie has already heard the plants of
spectators who agree % wish to destroy; he mas
even heard OF remedies; but he demands details
And he Is willing. first OF ALL to consider
the critical and negative side of the So
cialistic agitation, which ho proceeds to do.
Here. however. s the loss we sustain in the
death of Mill, for IL is doubtful that the two chap
ters remaining In the desk of the editor of the
Fortnghty. and yet to appear. will have gone far
enough into the subject TO show what he Thought
will be built up. or rather what the general average
will be- At least. have few OF the "details"
which he himself demands and must rely upon the
suggestions in tho chapters the future of labor in
the political economy, wondering meanwhile
whether he had not become radical In doctrine.
Evidently he does not have great faith in the pcne
n nj ltata Ifara d tlsa