The times., 1897-08-30
A DEFENSE OF BELLAMY.
DR.. Kent Replies to Mr.. Giiman's
Criticisms Of "Equ unIity."

s1sitittSHie VA
Rev. DR.. Alexander Kent discoursed yes
terday oa the attack which has been made
upon Bcliainy's book, Equality by n p
Gilman, late Unitarian divine. DIR. Kent
said:
THE Christian Register, a Unitarian Bos-
ton paper, OF July %. contains an article
from the pen of MI. Gilman. M one IA
niiliar With Mr.. Gilman's attitude on social
questions would expect anything COM
mcBda tory OF Mr.. Bellamy's book. We
have a right, however, 10 expect from
an author of such repute and distinction
in this field some very plausible, IL not
weighty and solid objections to the funda-
mental teachings OF the work he attempts
to criticsc. The fact that We do not find
them is one of no small encouragement tD
believers In the essential soundness Of Mir.
Beiiamy's chief contention.
lie. us run over the points of the
criticism. This eX-fninister declares that
Beilamy's book is da,l. From literary
standpoint this may be legitimate critr
cism. Put the lack of plot and incident.
indeed the whole style OF this book goes
to show That literary ambition Was net
the motive that ruled the writer. He had
high moral purpose, or what to him
seemed such. He wished to present In a
clear and forceful manner the thought
that economic equality Is the logical
| and necessary outcome of political equal
ity. The principles that warrant the lat
ter demand the former. And he adopted
| style which, in his Judgment, was best
| fitted for a popular presentation of the
arguments in detail which support his
| contention. The charge OF dullneSs is
trivial. Eeonunlits, even when dealt with
! by the fhlest men OF Mr.. Gimans school.
| has beee characterized as the dismal
| SCIENCE" and ethics is so commonly looked
| upon as dull that not one man in Il thou
sand thinks of acquainting himself with
| the science. Mr.. Bellamy would be obliged
| to ,io a good deal better than che men
| OF Mr. Gilman 5 school 30 write even IN
teIgentlS, not to say interestingly, upon
| such subject. Mr.. Gilman's education
has confess edlf. no root in ethics, there
| fore "A work on ethical economics is out
| of his province. Everything is dull to
one who does not understand ii or who
! hag understands it and who has no moral
| sympathy with the little that he does
! understand.
There are some, however 10 whom Mr.,
| Bellamy's hook is anything tut dull ii
stirs them to the very dapths of their be-
ing and gives them new and increasing
interest in lie. AS To the charge that Il
is not good economies or sound ethics this
is the very gist Of the matter which Mr.
Gilman should have set himself TO worR
to prove But this he expects US 10 re
ceiye wholly on his ipSe dixit. Not a
word did ne offer ia proof of this pUsit:un
II lie passes at once TO moraliZe upon Mr.
| llellamy's failure to learn the experience
| of the past nine years; 10 moderate hi.
prnphesies and have something more ot
sanity and candor in his pictures OF actua
society Mr.. Gilman says that few con
ceptions have in themselves such dwarrin.
and stultifying power as the bare ides
of social equality
DR.. Kent replied to the charge made b.
Gilman, that socialism meant that all hu
man beings should dress alike have the
same income, etc.. as follows:
1T is difficult TO understand how an,
nan who wants to be honest and fair
minded, and whose opportunities for know
ing are as great rs Mr.. Gilman S, car
SO grossly misrepresent. Bellamy neye
has announced such an idea as 'soeia
equality. Tbls is the same sort of appea
to prejudice that the men who Tough
slavery had to meet, and that those wht
stand for political equality-equality befor
the eldw--haye still to meet. Mr.. BclIamy'
contention is for economic equality; tha
everyone ma y be able to exercise his right
Of political equality, and so play sucl
parts, perform such function and en- 10,
such Ireferment or distinction as his III
diyidual ability and gifts might serve I.
secure"