The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-30


Freeland. By DIR. Theodor Hertzka. This
Is one lof the Utopian visions 50 willingly
formed by social theorists; but unlike most
OF these dreams, 1t is becoming materialzed.
DIR. Hertzka is Viennese economist, who
was editor Of the Neue Freie Presse, one of
the founders of the Society of Austrian
National Economists, ami in addition to his
past and present newspaper work, has writ
ten authoritative books upon currency cues.
tons. When IRELAND (of which the present
volume Is careful translation by Mr.. Ar
thur Ransom) was published In 1890, an i'm
mediate wish arose in Austria and Germany
to test In practice the theories of the author.
Persons OF all classes Of society in various
towns formed associations, which are now
developed into an International Freeland
Society. Alta meeting last March. In VI
emma, 1t was announced that tract of land
in British East Africa was at the disposal of
the society and that it was hoped that the
Freeland colony would soon be planted there.
Lack OF space f0rbids detailed account of
the story OF the imagined colony, which in
cludes not only the progress of its institu-
lions but also many interesting details of the
domestic life Of the settlers, their relations
with the Africans, and the resources of thu
country. 1t may. suffice to report the two
main discoveries upon which DIR. Herizka
bases his social theories: I'VE do not pro-
duce" he says, speaking of the civilized ma
tions, that wealth which our present capa-
city makes 1t possible for us to produce. but
only SO much as we have use for; and this
use depends. not upon our capacity of pro-
ducing, but upon our capacity of consum-
Ing" And again: Capitalism stops the
growth OF wealth. not-as Marx has it-by
STIMULATING production for the market but
by preventing the consumption of the surplus
produce; and that interest, though not un-
Just, will nevertheless in condition of econ
omic justice become superfuous and object
less" DR.. Hertzka believes that the time is
ripe for the experiment of hi. theories, as
developed In the present volume. New
YORK: ID. Appleton 81 Co.. Portland: Lor-
ing, Short & Harmon. Price; S1.0O.
what Is Reality? By Francis Howe john
son. This Is deeply studied and hopeful
volume OF philosophical considerations of the
verities of matter and spirit, and will not
fail to interest students of modern scientific
theories and affirmations Particularly val.
liable is the authors testimony to the truth
and naturalness Of the religion of love, as
taught by Christianity, when he proves that
war and struggle are one rule, but not the
predominant law Of existence. He cites au-
thorities TO attest that with all the strife and
determination among various classes Of ami
mails there Is at the same time as much or
perhaps even more OF mutual support, mu-
tual aid and mutual defense amidst animals
belonging to the same species or at least to
the same society,"" And from the writings
of the dean of ST. Petersburg University he
brings forward the theory that in the evolu-
tton of the organic world, mutual support
among individuals plays a much more Inn
portant part than their mutual struggle. It
Is, indeed, the perception of the discord of
evil with what we instinctiyely know of the
harmony of creation. that so greatly shocks
us and makes us exaggerate the proportion
of strife to peace. The object of Mr.. John
sons work is to prove that the premises Of
religion are as real as those of science and
while parts of his volume imply much ac-
Quaintance on the part of the reader with.
modern philosophic methods, there are many
passages Of slmpler and not less elevated
thought. Boston: Houghton. Miffiin & Co..
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
$2.0O)