New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-30
HERBERT SPENCER.
HIS ATTITUDE, PAST AND PRESENT. ON
THE LAND QUESTION.

To the Editor OF The TrlDune
Sir: To the hard things It's London correspond
ent says Of me personally in The Tribune OF last
Sunday. I make no objection. Such things were
said Of William Lloyd Garrison and Wendel'
PbilIIps and Theodore Parker. and Mr. Smalley
voices the feelings Of British landlords as those
who denounced the opponents OF slavery as
robbers voiced the feelings OF American slave
holders But he is mistaken in thinking that /
have ever garbled any utterance OF Mt Spen-
GERS and evidently does not understand that
gentIeman's attitude toward the land question
In Progress and Poverty" referred to what
Mr. Spencer had said In Social States" but
included what he had said OF compensation. I
afterward had Chapter TX Of Social Statics,"-
"The Right to the Use OF the Earth"-put IN
tract form for distribution; but the whole chap
ter including the clause which II is charged was
left ont OF the English tract was given In full.
In "a Perplexed Philosopher" l reprinted all
that Mr. Spencer had said on the land question:
giving each chapter letter in full and sepa-
rately. so that the reader may have before him
Mr. Spencer's own language unmarried by mine
The Tribune. in reviewing that book last year
said
In respect. least Mr.. George shows himself ,i
to be honorable critic and foeman worthy OF the
ume every word which Mr.. spencer has published
on the Land TG% 1850 to M hs wos
the Suppression. OF single sentence; then follow
G Ssn's snd Ss r s:' t. under
head OF Repudia,ion" and finally the last utter
Examined not merely is the philosopher treated with
full justice but there is no attempt on the part OF
force Of what he considers recantation.
Whoever has been guilty of any omission in
Mr.. Spencer's statement OF his position. GER
tsny have not.
And though Mr.. Smaey regards me as
wicked and utterly discIedted bravo, / think
ne will be glad to learn that he is mistaken in
thinking that I have employed insnuation or
innuendo to convey my opinion OF Mr. Spencer.
II is hardly insinuation to declare that man
has first denied and then repudiated his percep-
ton of truth in order to keep the pleasant
side of dominant class. 1t Is hardly innuendo to
declare him las a philosopher ridiculous, as
man contemptible" This do in "A Perplexed
Philosopher" But do II in clear Saxon state
ment and not by insnuation or innuendo. And
what is more, I In every case first prove 1t from
Mr. Spencers own books, from his published
letters to London papers and from the adver-
tisements Of his American publishers u. Ap-
pleton & Co. and announcements Of the English
Land and Property Defence League. l nowhere
alude to anything may happen to know OF Mr.
1850
ton his personality except as 1t may be brought
In by matter printed for the public.
For instance, after quoting In full Mr. Spen-
GERS letter TO THE st. Jamess Gazette In lsS2-
the letter in which he first showed the slightest
uneas.ness with regard to the radical utterances
Of Social Statics"-I say:
so the Very crookeiness OF this letter indicates MIR
Spencer's reluctance TO fatty deny TIE truth 70
which he had borne witness. lie no more Wdiltcu
TO deny It than Simon Peter to deny his Lord Bui
State" From an unknown man, printing with
difficulty an unstable book he had become popu-
Of Intellect were open: Re had tasted The Sweets
Of London society," and in the had Ini en 6ae r9
thinker beside whom Newton and Aristotle were 70
BE Sh hi I IN the to hall HPo o s @
warm and pleasant. Society had become suddenly
Sate property pc in land So When The St Jamess
and The Edinburgh both of them chosen or,
spencer OF being one Of these II was TO him IKE
the voices Of the accusing damses to Peter t Fear co5
he. too. sought refuge In an aliDi
But even here nothing whatever is rested on
my statement. The slow and small sale OF so |
cal States" In England and its going out OF
print rest on Mr. Spencers own statement In
tho preface Of his revised" edition, previously
quoted. and the reference 20 qualifications of
scrse and intellect rests upon the quoted declara-
tions of Mr. .;pencers American friend and |
apos,le the late Professor T. L. Youmans. In a |
volume published by the Appetons and giving |
an account of the reception of Mr. Spencer In
this country just before he wrote the letter to
1.-THE ST. James,
Mr. Smalley may. II he chooses. present Mr. |
Spencer as a lifelong invalid and recluse. am |
not concerned to that. for 1t Is only with the
philosopher that I have dealt or care to deal. |
400 ~ In
ncr. should not concern myself to say. But |
to show Mr. Smalley tina; have not gone beyond
the printed record even for such an incidental
statement as that IT. 1882 qualifications Of sense
as of intellect were open to Mr.. Spencer. l may
be permitted to give the statement of Professor
Youmans. appended to my text:
His recrsations have been acknowledgements. |
operas theatres billiards salmon-nshing. yachting
been his fixed rule. when work grew burdensome
10 strike his tasks abruptly and go away for pleas
are and amuse himself TIL Work again became at
trac;ve ard enjoyable.
As Mr.. Smalley has evidently not read "A Per-
picked Philosopher" IL ma seem to him that
n thus characterizing the motives and utter
lrces OF Mr Spencer have been guilty If not OF
malignant innuendo" at least Of mere abusive
al the very least OF want OF
good taste and Of the proper couresies Of litera-
ure.
This would indeed be true were commenting
IN frank and honest statement OF changed
opinion. But Mr. Smalley Is mistaken in as
rming this to be the Gaze Mr.. Spencer has
,ever willingly and frankly indicated any
hange in his early opinions Of the land ques-
ion. lie never attempted TO modify or soften
hem until they had been brought to the atten-
ion and had begun to excite the apprehension
4 the organs of the English aristocratic classes.
md then. instead Of frankly dealing with the
natter. he has reaorted TO evasions equlvoca-
Ions end the conveyal Of falsehoods, until
naly driven into distinct utterance he has at
eng,h attempted TO Justify what once he de-
Jared little better than canniba,ism. slavery or