The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-21
DRIFT TOWARD TYRANNY.
Herbert Spencer Discusses in His
Own Way the Future of Amer
lea and Great Britain.
Tho Old Philosopher Says We Are
Steadily Tending Toward State
Socialism and Worse.
After VIII Como Military Despotism-
America Cannot Escape the Catastro-
phe-The Reform Most Needed.

Especial Correspondence OF III INDEPENDENT.
ONDON, SEPT. 12.-FANCY A Man
TX about Ave feet mine inches in height
lsA wearing gray trousers, q black frool
coat, a low ont white waistcoat, highly pol
iShed boots and cream colored o%vsrRaiters
an old-fashioned standup collar and blacl
tia, ON his head shiny silk hat, and in hi.
hands gloves and an umbrella. His face
bstokens good nature. His eyes arc gray
and soft. His mouth ia Arm. His cheeks
are pinky white. Bushy iron gray whisksrt
encircle his neck. He ia a man you would
look alta second time, even in crowded
London. and we'll you might, for it is none
other than Herbert Spencer, the philoso-
pher and author. l catch this glimpse OF
him as he precedes me up the steps of the
Athenmum club in Pail Mall. He has
made an appointment to meet me there this
afternoon for a talk on some of the great
problems of the day.
The privilege of y conversation with Mr..
Spencer is not to be lightly esteemed. It is
apparently. also. not easily 70 be gained.
Even the ordinary Englishman is not to be
called on without 3 letter Of introduction
md without ample warning, and III. spen-
ser hedges himself about with extra prsoau-
tons against intrusion. He has a litho-
graphed letter ready for inquirers, and he
sends 1t to all people who want him to be q
committeeman for some public enterprise,
charity or movement; to students who de-
sire some further ~sxpounding Of his theories
than Is given in his books; to autograph
hunters, and of course to interyiewers. 1t
is said that Mr.. Spencer went all over Am
erica without yielding once to the news
paper reporter, and / therefore feel q bit
jubilant at having secured his attention. 1t
was done, of course, by letter. Mr.. Spencer's
reply was the Autographed document re-
fsrred TO, but he kindly added a few lines
III his own hand, granting my request and
appointing a meeting. As his autographed
letter laid much stress upon his failing
stfangth, and the consequent pressure upon
hisftime, | was in some trepidation about
calling on him, fearing to ind myself con-
fronted with an ogre, cross-gralred, rickety
and impatient. 1t was, therefore, a pleaa-
ant surpriss to see this tall, straight old
gentleman, with q firm step and q smooth
voice, come forward. Although he Is
II years Of age, he does not appear to be
over 60.
Wont you walk up stairs2" he asked.
Az VAL Do OcbtcI GCOAl1lOlhtAOAB lCE
conversation there"
And up stairs We went, the aged philoso-
pher mounting the steps with the ease and
agility of a young man. The conversation
WAS charming. MIR. Spencer talked as freely
as il he had no fear whatever of newspaper
writer's. His voice is not only musical, but
his cnunciation ia remarkably clear and
correct. Each syllable is plainly sounded
with an incisiveness that might seem to be
affected il it were not so evidently the re-
suit of long devotion to the correct use of
language. The conversation took a wide
range. q ~"
"Your new book is creating much talk"
/ sai5.
"Well," said Mr.. Spencer. modestly, 81
am glad if such be the case. lam fortunate
in having many friends in Europe and
America. Ny writings ware recognized
rather earlier in America than they were
here, but of late years the returns from my
works in England have been very much
greater than from America; partly because
my rate of profit ger copy here is much