Excerpt from The New Social Democracy: A Study for the Times
The twentieth century, after a first decade, has left us its heritage of unsettlement. A Divorce Commission is examining the very foundations of social life. The bitter memories of economic conflict have poisoned the air of the Welsh valleys. Religion is face to face with a "New Theology." The motives of judges and juries are curiously and closely examined. Political revolutions change the fortunes of kingships. Philosophers gravely doubt whether the inference that two and two make four holds for this and every other possible world.
It is a time above all for men and women of good will to make their voices heard. It is the easiest thing in the world to exacerbate the conflict. The most accomplished fool can be hoist on his own petard. There is certainly enough and to spare of inflammable material. In sight of us all - excited and determined - are the armies of the contending hosts. A few hasty words, some ill-considered deductions, almost the scratch of a pin-point, and Armageddon is upon us. And there is a certain mock-heroic aureole surrounding the heads of the apostles of brute force. The organs of public opinion record their achievements. Men whose tendencies are simply destructive find ready audiences, and their literary advocates smile with satisfaction at the assurance of temporary triumph.
It is not the purpose of this book to help in this work of destruction. Its author sincerely hopes that not one single page - not even a sentence - will add an additional motive to the spirits of those who are all for dissipating that hard won heritage which has been left us from the past. His purpose is reconstruction - not destruction.
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