AND PRACTICE BY MORRIS HILLQUIT AUTHOR OF "HISTORY OF SOCIALISM IN THE UNITED STATES New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY All rights reserved COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Set up and electrotyped. Published February, 1909. Reprinted PREFACE THE socialist movement has grown immensely within the last decade, and its growth still continues unabated in all civilized countries of the world. What is the secret of that growth; what are the aims and methods of the movement; and what does it portend for the future of the human race? These are questions which persons of intellect can ignore no longer, and they are questions which cannot be answered without much thought and study. In this book I have endeavored to present to the public a brief summary of the socialist philosophy in its bearing on the most important social institutions and problems of our time, and a condensed account of the history, methods, and achievements of the socialist movement of the world. Socialism is a criticism of modern social conditions, a theory of social progress, an ideal of social organization, and a practical movement of the masses. To be fully understood it must be studied in all of these phases, and the fact that this book is probably the first attempt to accomplish that task, inadequate as that attempt may be, is sufficient justification for its publication. Grateful acknowledgment is hereby made for many valuable suggestions which I have received from Mr. W. J. Ghent, who has carefully read the proofs, and from Mr. Rufus W. Weeks, who has read the manuscript. MORRIS HILLQUIT. NEW YORK, January 10, 1909. |