An excerpt from the Economic Review , Volume 1: "THIS is a complete exposition of English Socialism in its latest maturest phase," says Mr. Sidney Webb ("Socialism in England," p. 38). If one of the cleverest contributors had not thus set his own estimate on the aim and value of the volume of essays, a critic who should demand from it a complete and coherent manifesto of the "New Socialism" might fairly be held a little exacting. I do not intend to press Mr. Webb's ambitious description; it would be a graceless and a ...
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An excerpt from the Economic Review , Volume 1: "THIS is a complete exposition of English Socialism in its latest maturest phase," says Mr. Sidney Webb ("Socialism in England," p. 38). If one of the cleverest contributors had not thus set his own estimate on the aim and value of the volume of essays, a critic who should demand from it a complete and coherent manifesto of the "New Socialism" might fairly be held a little exacting. I do not intend to press Mr. Webb's ambitious description; it would be a graceless and a barren task to employ a microscopic eye in the discovery of inconsistencies in the essays and between the essays of the individual writers; I prefer to view the book as the outcome of a common wave of thought. "Quot homines, tot sententae;" who would not shrink before the task of editing the contributions of seven keen and original minds? One feels that something of compromise has entered into the collaboration; that some of the writers, at any rate, would have said a good deal more if they had spoken out; that the judicious editor has primed a little paradox and softened -a little vehemence-has endeavoured to make the work not only both popular and scientific, but palatable to bourgeois prejudice withal. Only very rarely (once or twice in Mr. Shaw's essays) the "lyrical note" of the older revolutionary Socialism breaks out. But for the most part there is nothing of savagery, except the frontispiece of the popular edition, and that is doubtless a typographical survival. We must take the "New Socialism" at its own professions. The older creed-the pathetic and impatient belief in the immediate perfectibility of human nature, and in the saving virtue of the purifying fires of revolutionary catastrophes-has been tamed by experience. Socialists-Fabian Socialists, at any rate-are adopting "historical" methods. This change of front is as striking as it is welcome, showing, as it does, that the issues are no longer to be committed to the stronger arm, but to the better argument. Mr. Webb has armed himself with a new weapon; he has turned to the interpretation of the history of the last hundred years for comfort and encouragement. "We are all Socialists, now!" said Sir William Harcourt in his haste: Mr. Webb insists on taking Sir William seriously. Yet history may not turn out such a facile disciple as M. Jourdain, and "Individualism," or whatever may be the antithesis of Socialism, is not quite driven from the field. Mr. Webb deals furiously with facts and figures, but a sceptic might surely come through them unconvinced. No array of facts, however imposing, is of much value, unless it proves the conclusion at issue. To take one of Mr. Webb's strongest instances: the State manages the Post Office because it is not desirable that postal services, and consequently postal rates, should be left to private competition, because it is desirable that postal rates should be equitable rather than proportionate to the expense of transmission in each case, because it is an undertaking which by its nature can be efficiently managed by a Government department. In plain terms, the State is motived by the interests of the nation and by its own, but not, so far as I know, by the desire to confer a benefit on its employees. Does a municipality which takes over the town tramways act otherwise? In other words, is its action dictated by regard to consumers or to labourers? Apply the same test to every other case Mr. Webb quotes to support his thesis. What history in his hands proves is: (1) that private competition is often disastrous; (2) that, a , State regulation, or, State annexation of a particular branch of industry, may, under some circumstances, be preferable; (3) that in all these cases the State or subordinate governing body has held itself bound to consult the interest of the consumer....
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Add this copy of Fabian Essays in Socialism to cart. $25.87, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2006 by Cosimo Classics.
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Add this copy of The Fabian Essays in Socialism to cart. $27.00, very good condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1908 by Ball.
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Very Good. Rep. 20. Very good Light browning. Cover rubbed. Please Note: This book has been transferred to Between the Covers from another database and might not be described to our usual standards. Please inquire for more detailed condition information.
Add this copy of The Fabian Essays in Socialism to cart. $27.00, fair condition, Sold by The Book Bin rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Salem, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1908 by The Ball Publishing Co.
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Fair. Previous owners name on first page. The boards are clean and straight, aside from some age toning and light bumping to the corners and the top and bottom of spine. The spine is solid and firm. Interior text block shows some age toning, but otherwise is straight and firmly attached to the spine, and free of markings. Size: 8vo-over 7 3/4 in-9 3/4 in tall. Year: 1908.
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Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE boxes Good copy with clean pages. Corner of front free end paper cut off. Previous ownership stamp to inside front cover. 16mo. Published in New York. 280 pages.
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Very Good. No Jacket. An important collection of prominent socialist thinkers of the late 19th century, edited by the great Irish dramatist. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition Thus, "With a new Preface for this edition by Mr. Shaw." Light olive cloth binding, lettered in blind in black. Clean text; 218 pages, indexed. Previous-owner name on FFEP (dated 1922). Minor rubbing, faint drink stains on the front cover. No dustjacket. Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall.
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