LTO THI EDITOR OP TUN •, seserATon.“) Six, — Your article in last
week's Spectator on "Socialism and Sex Relations " suggests that the opinions you quote are peculiar to the Socialist school. The following words in Mr. Lecky's " European Morals " would seem to have much the same meaning, although Mr. Lecky was certainly not a Socialist. Speaking of the " unfortunate woman," he says :- "On that one degraded and ignoble form are concentrated the passions that might have filled the world with shame. She remains, while creeds and civilisations rise and fall, the eternal priestess of humanity, blasted for the sins of the people."
Is it fair to speak of Socialism as if it were a cast-iron creed, the different articles of which contained remedies for all human evils ? Socialism really stands for a great number of things, among others for the following :—(1) It is a criticism of modern civilisation ; (2) it is an aspiration after the ideal social life; (3) it professes to show how by certain mechanical rearrangements the ideal social life may be realised. All serious people are critics of social life and social conditions, and desire something a great deal better. Socialists gain increasing influence because they appeal to feelings common to many of us. But it does not follow that the numerous persona whom Socialist writers and speakers influence believe that it is either possible or desirable to abolish all private property, or that Socialists know how to solve the sex problem to the satisfaction of the human conscience. At the same time, is there not some reason for holding that a better distribution of wealth, which is what all Socialists desire, would contribute not a little to the well-being of the com- munity, even to the improvement of sex relations P We should treat the Socialist writers as we treat the " Fathers " of the Church, or some modern theological writings, as you yourself, Sir, would treat Plato's "Republic "; we should be grateful for stimulating thoughts and ideas, while declining to believe in the infallibility of any writer or any school.—I am,
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