The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-16
ARE THERE SIGNS or RETOLUTIONdRR
S9CIIBISM ~ ENGb3NDS

To th1.s who scan only tho surface OF
things Grem Britain may seem untroubled by
those revolutionary and socialiat ideas when
have mg.io considerable progress In conunenthl
Europe Certainty tho English trades unions
do not put forth the doctrines Of Karl Marx or
even IN sor Affiliations with tho workmens ciuDs
Of Frn'rc and Germany. Iet in recent mum
BIER OF the Contemporary Rerjeo some curious
concessions to the so-callcd regulative and cor
pore1s principles are pointed out, and an ut
ter,,A is made to prove that II those doctrines
ha,p not actually takOa root in the British
islo ods the soil at all events is not wholly un-
psf pared for them.
n the existence Of ainrge and impoverished
paOletariat were the solo condition requisite Tor
tho growth OF socialist idcns. then the so-calied
/ new economy ought.Jo find prompt acceptance |
\ among the immen5e mnsscs OF wnge-earnlng |
\ men in England That such IL not tho case |
\ compels us to explain by some other cause than |
! poverty the hostility OF German rorknen to mo
| prcaent structure OF society. We cannot but
| recognize that continental socialism has been
| engendered nosso much by the unhappy eondi'
ton OF the lab0ring classes aDby their invetcrale
| faith in tho omnipotence 81 governmonA NC
| wonder the. German artisan Ia eager to over
turn tho oSisting order. when he has peer
taught to believe that his suiTerings are dui
| not to tho inability OF legislation to cure al
|
dlnercn1e on the part Of his law makers and
rulers He has never governed himself; he
knows nothing OF the local Independence
fnmil ar to Enelishmen: he can hardly frame
| the conception OF solf-government. and his irst
uso u the suffrage IL to promote movement
Which would confessedly strip him OF his indi-
,;.lunl rights and leave him at the mercy of
| central authority whose powers would DO un-
I limited and whose bcnenconce might depend
IL. LII. it, IN fhn
othor hand. custom and tradition have hereto
fore disposed the English people to minimize
the scope of delegated authority, to ques-
, | ton the intentions and restrict the powers
! | Of government and to seek improvement and
4 | redress by the agencies Of self-help ana local
= cooperation. Such. at oil events. were tue
habits and convictions of twenty-five years ago.
. | but IT is vain to deny that n striking change
i. | has taken place. Since Mill and others iormu-
lated the principles Of individualsm and con-
II demned the regulatiye theory OF administra-
n ton. the contralzing spirit and the super
l. yising system have made remarkable progress
y in Great Britain. md seem to DO gaining mo-
= mentum with every year 1t Is these cncroach'
= ments which are tending to impress the Br .usl
a workman with the omniDotence OF government
G. and to make the doctrines Of State socialism In
)f tegibe and grateful
p We need not point out IA dotall Tho marks O
ID centraizing theories 40 ra,ent British lerisla
,r ton. The aoso.n' on Of telegraph lines by til
20 state ana " establishment Of postal saving
re onnh' are not more striking indications tina
10 .ae gradual concession Of initiative and contrC
in in educational and sanitary matters to centri
no boards. Indeed. II may he said that the Justice
OF the Peace and the Coroners represent tn
es sole important vcstiges Of the old nu;onomie
N, and some measure of interference has boon n
| In Npr q
a only Parliament which endeavors to supply III
~. wants Of particular British communities. bI
nd local bodies are undertaking work OF the sau
lc- kind on behalf of tho individual citizen.
al large number OF boroughs have followC
mt the lead OF Birmingham in supplyin
ity not only water but gas by publ
agencies. while many cities provide liter
not ture ut the general cost. and one town has pr
or posed 10 become lis own licensed victualler. Q
er. all sides the traditional belief that the adyan
a and wcll-bclng OF civilized community mi
ard safely be left to the action OF tho competiti
or principle seems to find itself rejected orignor
n.y. in practice. Nor is it surprising that Britt
up workmen who ind the hours and sanitary co
the ditions OF labor regulated by the Factory N
of demand that It's price also should be fixed
ort. law It's only natural that men who find &c
re, eminent intervening in all their concerns, n
! is gradually assuming 10 &C.; 40 whole SOC
No. machinery. should conceive that even econO
3 in cal problems can be solved by act OF Parlinmc
ny" Another significant feature in the prose-
put condition Of Great Britain and which not Il
OF probably may cause the socialist theory Of cal
Gu tai and labor to DO regarded with less disiay
A. is the apparent reduction in tho scope for y
ub- yate enterprise. The process Of wecdins
ave small competitors which in England has be-
ally carried to such lengths in agriculture a
and traffic. ia applied on constantly augment
s Of scale TO manufactures. ono after another Of
r TO great iron and woolcn houses being tra
ited formed into public companies Nor can IL be
pro- MED that legislative restrictions. although Il
may be justified on philan,hyopic grounds,
que In tho case OF the Pimson bin. tend to emb
and rass and discourage the niiyi 'ual mercha
aw- Thus in all departments Of production and
GER tribution. effective business management is
tho coming less and less a matter OF indiYid
,oh- pushing for private gain, and a continually
lon pressing advantage is recognized in deycopI
rlly orgn,. iNtion.
olor We wouiu not undorrato the weight OF In
aud considerations. regarded as symptoms Of
y Of change in English public opinion touching
man true functions OF government Viewed in e
I'M nection with the displacement OF political ini
aw- ence which can hardly fail TO follow the gene
are adoption OF our party machinery, We cannot
site think such indications augur i'll for the last
maintenance of the existing social structu
are But they are only omens after all. and. inst
am Of affirming with the Contemporary Rerieln I
his so asm has gained Il foohold on English :
mall W" Hhu.t i,os'iS ,i,o ny ]
ilbl- cable than WAS the casc ten years ago.
abin "
1851; An American Lawyer Succeeding In Lond
r Of Pom me- hd'rae'' San.
y no Tho Hon. Judah T. benjamin. according
are ehlnisrs sni has IRA ticc when Yields hin in
have ahGhplor which reason he Would decline Judges