RICH IDLERS AND PAUPER IDLERS.
rTo THIS EDITOR Or TER "SPECTATOR:'
Srn,—History repeats itself. In 1848 Lamartine—then leader of the National Assembly—warned the Socialist Government of France that its policy of attacking capital was "like drying up a spring in order to increase the flow of water," and he added : "The 'rich idler' we all know; but you have created a class a hundred times more dangerous to themselves and to others—a class of pauper idlers." The sequel showed that Lamartine was right., for the pauper idlers created in Paris by the action of the Government rapidly increased from 8,000 te 100,000, and broke eut into insurrection, which was only quelled after heavy street fighting, in which Paris was wrecked, 3,4)00 were killed, and 3,500 were arrested and deported to Algeria. At the present time we have Mr. Lloyd George " Limehousing " against the "idle rich," ignoring the fact that by his in- cendiary speeches and by his Socialistic measures against capital he has dried up the springs of labour and has created a large class of "pauper idlers" one hundred times more dangerous to themselves and to others than the "rich idlers." We have also the windbag agitator of Tower Hill, who, whilst holding up to execration the "rich idler," has been the means of creating a huge class of pauper idlers in East London, thereby exposing thousands of the poor to destitution and starvation. Is he to be allowed to complete the historical parallel by bringing upon the country a sanguinary cata- strophe similar to that of July 1848 ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
GUILFORD L. MOLESWORTH.
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