13 MARCH 1920, Page 23

The Principles of Citizenship. By Sir Henry Jones. (Mac- millan.

35. 6d. net.)—This very wise little book, which but for an oversight should have been mentioned sooner, ought to be widely read. Sir Henry Jones has a firm grasp of moral principles, sadly neglected or defied by many people nowadays, and his exposition of his argument is singularly clear. "The function of the State is to promote the highest, that is the moral, good of every one of its citizens, and that always and in all circum- stances." " The right to gain and hold property is as fundamental as the right to life and liberty. It is, in truth, a condition without which the latter can have no real value. And, so far as I can see, the right to property carries with it the right to work." " The road to ruin for an ignorant and selfish democracy is far shorter than for any other kind of misgovernment ; the fall is greater and the ruin is more complete." The workman " must beware of confining his interests to his class and of interpreting these interests merely or even primarily in terms of the material conditions of well-being." Sir Henry Jones sees that materialism is the enemy.