Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-26
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
!. C. N.

Whatever It's ultimate Of triumph or
defeat may prove to be. Soviet Russia
is ut the moment putting Q razor edge
of general interest upon the theory Of
government which, for centuries. has
Inspired reformers in the field Of poll
tics and It's sequence Of government.
The Golden Rule, the Sermon on the
Mount. the American Declaration Of In
dependence. much Of the Platonic
philosopy, Thomas More's Utopia, basic
points in the church policy OF Calvin on
the one hand, Of Loyola on the other
these and many another case In point
advocate. according to time and circum-
stance, the equities and equalities upon
which socialism is primarily defined.
And, besides these theoretical founda-
tions, many practical experiments come
easily to mind. These project socialized
communities In both the Old World and
New, In both ancient ages and modern
times. Within these political idealists
have set up working programs Of COM
munal existence. That these, so far,
have failed appears to source in human
nature itself. Under oppression, man
endures. That oppression removed, man
becomes himself arrogant, tyrannical
harsh and even savage in retaliations
and revenges. Slow to develop, dull
to learning, the man animal
Is 1t not possible that much of the
actually Of democratic growth VIII
drive from the top downward out OF
the expanded spirit and will OF those
matured and tempered by experience.
rather than to look for It's complete
rise from the bottom? Why not the
two working together The upper ones.
fast. because Of their bigger vision of
their training in achievement? The
lower ones, not so fast. because Of the
clogging impedimenta Of their past, and
present?
However, all started to say was
that. at the moment, everybody Is de- ply
concerned in the stupendous case Of
Russia. To understand it, is the prime
drive OF the moment. As an approach
to such personal competency Of knovl-
edge there ia. at present. a distinct
revival OF interest in former political
adventures OF corresponding type, but
Of simpler patterns and. therefore, Of
reader seizure. SO, just now, we are
busy with history having to do with
adventures in liberal and idealistic
theories Of politics and government.
Beilamy. son of New England
preacher, wrote the novel. Looking
Backward" AS story. the book Is
negligible. Hardly more than a sugar.
coating of romance to lure reluctant
readers into the domain of serious
thought upon a theme of genuine and
general moment.
The device upon which the nara
tive made its way was the not unfa-
milisr one of projecting the action far
into the future. From such advantage
point, prophecy becomes history, and,
therefore convincing, provided the author
Is good at foresights and forecasts.
Looking Backward" spreads the TWEEN
t'eth century out in its entirety behind
the year 1000. Therefore, in fact, it
constructs period which, for achieve
ments OF progress. measures many CEN
turtles when compared with the actual
life span of the author himself So
C alism as against capitalism sums,
the course of this novel, Of this
study. Capitalism, in its early and
lusty years. ri3es Io;iyl-Shod along the
way. Socialism N its untr.e ed idealism
endeavors. ct many a point, to mate
rlalize It's theories into better condi-
tons for the millions Of the indus r;ally
deprived and unblessed. l think it saws
much for the authors grasp Of his own
p resent in its direction and control
that he has so astonishsngly forecast
cerGsin facts and aspects OF this half
century beyond him. The radio. not
called that. but literally described, Is
a feature here. The League of Ma
tons also takes shape and activity In
this story. The subs .ancc OF that
notable fve-year plan working out in
Russia is. besides. tndubitably cited in
It's essence. The United States of the
World lies within the conception of
this forward looking Yankee, born in
Chicopee Falls. Mass. Domestic rela-
tons have the tang of Russia upon
them. Easy divorce, equal pay for man
and wife doing the same work, and
half q dozen other pesky points re-
leased from the handicap OF Sex and
tradition. No, not down with the
capitalist That is not the program.
so futile as that. Rather adapt
the capitalist. with his money and his
brains, TO the fine adventure of organ
izing all labor sto the benefits and op-
portunities Of huge industrial con-
Germ. employer and employe united,
fairly end equitably. before the in
natural riches that the earth
Is offering to such partnership.
Looking Backward gives a reason
able outlook upon the facts OF the pres
ent time. 1t forecasts many points Of
advance that were thin but a dream:
that are now working toward that
year. 1000, with many an actual full
hllment to its account, with much
more OF promise yet to be accomplished
in the remaining SO years of the CEN
tury.
An introduction by Haywood Broun
gives current implication TO the book As
a whole. A sketch of the author by
Sylvester Baxter supplies certain per-
Sonal estimates of both Edward Bellamy
and the book itself that are Of excel
lent value One of the books that Is
calculated to lead tn our studying Of the
political theories and adventures and
actual practices that point upon the
great Russian plan and experiment.
THE INTERNATIONAL MANDATES.
BY Aaron M. Margalith. Phi. d.
Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press.
To the majority Mandate" came to
life and significance and to no small
measure OF misunderstanding with the
settlements Of the World War. Vaguely, |
1t is generally assumed to 60 back in
origin to exploited outside areas of vari-
ous European countries. Areas that in
the compositions of peace took on spe-
cial import, assumed new orders of in
conception and treatment. |
Vague. though, that term Mandate"
and the working plan Of It. At hand
Is an opportunity for the student to
make profitable and most interesting in |
OF this subject by way Of its |
and scholarly treatment |
by Or. Aaron M. Margalith.
Simplicity and directness are the |
qualities which invite the reader to this |
1t u easy to be scholarly and |
complex and cryptic. Not this writer, |
however. What is q Mandate?" This
the prompt and stimulating approach |
10 one who wants to know. And in an |
equal straight line the author tells
what mandate is, how it came into |
existence, how it developed into a sys-
lem. And this description, drawn i'm |
nediately from the World War and its !
sntecedents OF European practice toward |
regions OF the earth, is a clear
" readable and interesting summary |
hat sets the tonic silhsta ntiallu and