.THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF SOCIALISM. I3y G. W. Gough. (London
: P. Allan and Co. 3s. 6d. net.)— We have drawn attention to several of the volumes already published in this excellent " Westminster Library." The best on the questions of Socialism were Dr. Shadwell's two volumes, The Socialist Movement, but we can recommend Mr. Gough's book as one more " popular " in style. He is already known as a sound writer on Tariff and other questions. We admit that he does no especial good to his case by letting the irritation which some Socialists arouse in him find vent in criticisms of their personalities as writers. But in setting out the material aims and the ideals of Socialism he impresses us as trying to be honest and fair. He does not set up men of straw to knock down. His knocks are convincing, especially when he describes the rise and success of British home and foreign trade under " capitalism," and points to the complete incapacity of " the State ' to supply the initiative and decision needed : and he uses the works of Mr. and Mrs. Webb to prove from them that the wage-earner cannot hope to gain in any way from Socialist theories if they were put into full practice. Under Capitalism, if both wage-earner and capitalist really do their duty rightly and intelligently, the road is open for unlimited advance, material and spiritual.
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