Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-08-16

they respectively represent, George is
bourgeois, a typical representative of
the bourgeoisie; not of the bouggeoisie
triumphant, but Of the bourgeosie in its
decline, That period when, in the evo-
luton Of society, class is rising and
thrustlng overheard the one above it,
whose mission is at an end, is progressive
as 1t partakes of the revolutionary char.
acter and it ennobles with its high aims
those who uphold its banner. Thus it
happens that the Madisons and Jetfer-
sons in this country, the Pyms, Elliots
and Hampdens in England, the Mira
beaus and Dantons in France, the Vargas
and Egalas of South America, bour-
geois though they all were, were men Of
inspiring personality, whose majestic
figures threw into the shade the puny
beings who strove to prolong the life of
the then existing but dying civilization.
At this end of the line, however, the
standard bearers of the bourgeoisie no
longer fill the roles of feudal paladins
as did the above mentioned illus
trious men. That is the position of
George to-day. His cause being no
longer noble, but ignoble, no longer
aggressive, but defensive, no longer
progressive, but reaCtionary, the heart
is dead within George, his reason
ing is fallacy, his morality is false pre-
tense, and, as the inevitable result, his
conduct is that of a false and unscrupu.
lous man. Possibly, when the prin-
clples which NatiOnalism represents
shall have prevailed, some new move
ment may come up in the line of further
progress, and hundred years hence,
the then Nationalists may in their turn
occupy the places of the feudalists of
hundred years ago, or of the bourgeois
of to-day. To-day, however, they lead
among the American people, as the
Socialists of America, the vanguard Of
American civilization; and the full no.
bility of such a position is reflected by
Bellamy, Feminine in his delicacv,
spiritual in his aspirations, courteous
in his department, unequivocal in his
words, strong in his cause, he typiies
higher plane of civilization.
Furthermore. what that civilization
imparts is also denoted by Belamy's
career. Warriors in the feudal and semi
feudal ages, jurists in the bourgeois
revolution, were the incarnations of
those movements respectively. The on
coming revolution is essentially moral
and spiritual. Accordingly, not dis
tinguished in feats of arms or in foren-
sic exploits, but noted for high attain
ments in idylic literature, Bellamy has
by his precious works, all of which
are deeply colored with spiritual tint,
taken his place in this domain of ethics
and thereby marked out the path in
which the movement is to proceed,
From what has been here said the
conclusion might be drawn that Bel
lamy has assumed the leadership of
Natonalism. That the time is fast APP
preaching when active leadership is
probable and natural. For the present,
however, what leadership Bellamy has
exercised has been mainly of the silent,
suasive sort that tells best at this early
stage Living retired in his country
home, a New England manufacturing
village twenty miles off from the main
lines of railroad, he has generally kept
aloof from the strife that his work has
brought in, or stimulated; and while
keeping well informed by his numerous
adherents, he continues the COntempla-
tions of the social conditions of to-day
which the large mills in his immediate
neighborhood bring close to his own
doors. There, with such retirement as
American life allows, sur punded by a
small family, occasionally visited by
friend from the outer world, Bellamy
wisely enjoys what few hours of tran
quilllty the Nationalist az! 5ation may yet
grant him.