The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-11-20
BERl VIOLENT FEuDALISM
Mr.. Ghent Writes an Interesting Book on
the Signs oft Times as He
Views Them

views Inc"
Not in recent years has The Inde-
pendent reviewed a book which caused
so many contradictory feelings as
Our Benevolent Feudalism," by w. J.
Ghent (The Macmillan Company, N.
Y, October, 1902. What effect it will
have is difficult to determine, because
the reader cannot decide whether the
delicate sarcasm which manifests IL
self on every page is intended to spur
him on to greater efforts, or whether
the author really feels as hopeless as
a cursory reading Of his book would
indicate. 1t is hardly fair to call Mr..
Ghent a pessimist, but he is rather to
be classed with men like H. Gaylord
Wiltshire who believe in the Inevitable
ity of certain things. Of course these
two see the future through different
spectacles. Wiltshire is sure Of the
inevitability of socialism. LET the ma
ton own the trusts" is his slogan.
Mr.. Client is equally certain, or pro-
fesses to be. of the inevitability of
feudalism. The trusts will own the
nation, no matter how much We rebel
against it.
No man ever made a clearer presen-
tation of existing conditions than has
Mr. Ghent in this book, or made 1t
with less of what might be termed
mere ranting. Mr.. Ghent does not
want the trusts to own the nation
far from it--but he sees no way OF es-
cape. And The Independent is in
clined to agree with him-unless such
books as his will, by their very de-
spondency, act as an irritant on the
apathetic victims of trust domination
and spur them on to a successful re-
sistance. If Mr.. Clients book will
have this effect, it will be to the over
throw of baronial power what Uncle
Toms Cabin" was to the overthrow OF
the slave power. God grant that it
may have this effect.
In arrangement "Our Benevolent
Feudalism" is admirable, and is so
perfectly brought down to date as to
include comr.ent on President ROose-
velts action in relation to the coal
strike. 1t consists of nine chapters,
202 pages, including comprehensive
index In the preface Mr.. Client says:
"The germ of this book was contained
in an article in the IN. W Indepen-
dent, April 3, 1902. The wide interest
which that article awakened prompted
the elaboration and arrangement of it's
briefly considered and somewhat dis
jointed parts into the present form"
Briefly Mr.. Clients idea is that we
are rapidly going back to the ancient
feudalism, except that the barons will
now be wiser than in the days of old
and by skillfully avoiding the mistakes
of their predecessors will be able to
keep the villeins in state of subjec-
ton with little show of force, but
rather by keeping them in state of
comparative contentment. The slogans,
Let we'll enough alone" and, keep
on letting we'll enough alone" are GER
tainly in harmony with such ten
dency.
Chapter l., "Utopias and Other Fore
casts" comments on the great divers
ity of social ideals and consequently
of social forecasts. whoever, blessed
with hope" says Mr.. Client, "spec-
ulates upon the future of society, tends
to imagine it in the form of his social
ideals. 1t matters little what the cur
rent probabilities may be-the strong
influence of the ideal warps the judg-
ment." Hence, Mr.. Ghent must be un-
blessed with nope, because it is evident
that his forecast is little to his liking.
He pays some attention to "Anticipa-
tions," by H. G. Wells, Benjamin
Kidd's "Principles of Western Civili-
zation." Professor John B. Clarks
Society of the Future" ga Modified
Individualism," by Henry d. Lloyd,
and other works in which some at
tempt has been made to forecast the
future in all Of which Mr.. Ghent be-
lieves the ideal warps the judgment"
to u great extent.
"The dominant tendencies will be
clearly seen," says Mr.. Ghent, "only
by those who for the time detach
themselves from their social ideals.
What. then, in this republic of the
United States, may socialist, individ-
ualist, and conservative alike see, If
only they will look with unclouded
vision? In brief an irresistible move
ment-now almost at it's elimination
toward great combinations in specific
trades; next toward coalescence of
kindred industries, and thus toward
Jo+o ;nt Of fol