16 MAY 1908, Page 25

An Apology for Liberty. By Thomas Mackay. (John Murray. 6d.)—This

"Lecture delivered before the British Constitution Association" is an able argument for the freedom of the indi- vidual as opposed. to the tyranny which Socialism proposes to exercise. One practical difficulty which Mr. Mackay suggests is this,—how is the Socialist scheme going to carry on the feeding of a big town ? A Roman Emperor proposed to hand over the government of certain cities to philosophers. Some discontented legions prevented the experiment from being tried. Could we do something of the kind here ? Could we hand over the feeding of some town to a Committee of which Mr. Snowden, Mr. Hynd- man, and Mr. H. G. Wells should be members ? What town ? it may be asked. The next, say, that shall return a Socialist Member to Parliament.