The Labor enquirer., 1885-01-31
low. He was jingo then, is now and

the Democratic Federation for year OF
two. Circumstances, which it is need
less to relate here, brought him into
contact with some German Socialists in
London who taught him something
about economics. He proved dull, but
assiduous student, and displayed great
anxiety to grasp many details and
points in economics anxiety which
was remarkable when compared with
his incapacity for doing so.
England for ALL" a pamphlet which
Mr.. Hyndman wrote, appeared as the re-
suit OF his studies. Two chapters on
Labor" and "Capltal" were rather re-
markable products for a politician. In
his preface to the work, Mr.. Hyndman
admitted that he was indebted for the
views they contained to "a great thinker
and original writer" whose name he did
not mention, but whose works he hoped
would soon be made accessible to the
general public. The great thinker and
EQrlgipsl writer did not; know that Mr.
Hyndman, his pupil, 1ntendeu bfngfHs
out this work, and did not know it was
out until some time after its publication.
1t was clear that the work was not is
sued for the purpose of education, or
because the writer desired to make
known some views which he held but
to raise "a party" The work bore the
title, "The New Party" on the outside of
the covers of the book. 1t had a good
circulation. and effected some good, in
spite of its somewhat clumsy method of
exposition
In the summer of 1888 the Demo-
cratic Federation made its debut as a
Socialist body. A manifesto, entitled
Socialism Made Plain" written by Mr.
Hvndman, was issued and made great
sensation, The manifesto was not So
cialistic; it denounced capitalism and
andlordsm with great vigor and
ferocity, if with little method or Criti-
cism called itself Soclalistic and spoke
of happier period. But with it came
the Democratic programme, somewhat
exCusable thing at that time, and list
of "Stepping-stOnes" to the aforesaid hap
pier period. The chief object of the
manifesto seemed to be, not to point out
the evils in society, for it never assumed
to do 50, but to denounce something and
trOt out a remedy obtainabe by acts of
parliament.
At this time Mr.. Hyndman was chair
man of the Executice Council of the
Democratic Federation. and bossed the
whole affair. One of the Executive
Council defined it as meeting for en-
dorSing what Mr.. Hyndman arranged
beforehand.
Ip going in for Socialism Mr.. Hynd-
man made a serous-to him-miscalcu
lation. Instead of getting up a great
wave of popular feeling in favor Of
eiqht-honr bills and cumulative taxa
umphantly seated on it's crest-the little
agitation attracted number of honest,
| thoughtful men, who seemed deter
mined to stick to the principles which
were lurking somewhere beneath all this
shapeless mass Of frothy denunciation
and vituperatiOn. These men after
wards proved to be at once the destroy
ers of sham organization and the
real founders Of truly Revolutionary
SOciaiistic one.
From its very beginning the Socialist
movement in this country, a few wears
ago, displayed some remarkable qualities.
The industrial question was burning at
every great center in Britain; the conflict
between the propertied and labor classes
was becoming more and more apparent
but all public mention of it was SUP
pressed. The philanthropic movements
| had passed the stage of sincerity and
honesty of purpose and had become a
mere trade for educated sharpers to at
once swindle and deceive some rich peO-
pie who wanted to help the poor, partly
because their COnsciences we're touched,
and partly because they could best spend
their spare cash in that way, a way
| II, 30, i, 10 Nd
profitable amount of newspaper fame.
| The recognized authorities on political
economy were mere babblers and
retailers of John Stuart Mill, the manu-
featured genius whopprfected the system
of unscientc economics, and done in a
wav which left splendid facilities for
piracy by his fellows. Into this COndi-
tion Of things stepped ardent politicians,
who had at least the rudiments of erO-
nOmic science. For some months there
was great deal of talk about Socialism
Then William Morris joined the Demo-
cratic Federation, and the public interest
began to take new turn. The excite
ment which the appearance of novelty
had produced was, asa matter of course,
dying away. But real enthusiasm was
.uroused in the members of the Fedora
ton by the spirit which the poet brought
with him, and with which he seemed to
infect everybody. Many Of the outside
public who declined to feel interested in
what they probably thought to be new
advanced political fad, were now com
PEELED to study a cause which had
attracted William Morris. Then it was