XVI. THE ATTITUDE OF THE SOCIALISTS TOWARDS THE TWO PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES 225 XVII. SOCIALISM AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 240 XVIII. SOCIALISM AND AGRICULTURE 261 XIX. SOCIALIST VIEWS ON BRITISH RAILWAYS AND SHIPPING 269 XX. SOME SOCIALIST VIEWS ON MONEY, BANKS, AND BANKING 278 XXI. SOME SOCIALIST VIEWS ON FREE TRADE AND PROTECTION 285 XXII. SOCIALISM AND EDUCATION 302 XXIII. THE ATTITUDE OF SOCIALISTS TOWARDS PROVIDENCE, THRIFT, AND TEMPERANCE 311 XXIV. SOCIALIST VIEWS ON LAW AND JUSTICE 325 XXV. SOCIALISM AND WOMAN, THE FAMILY AND THE HOME 330 XXVI. THE SOCIALIST ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGION 354 XXVII. THE RELIGION OF SOCIALISM 364 XXVIII. CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM 375 XXIX. SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM 381 XXX. SOCIALISM AND ANARCHISM 394 XXXI. SOCIALISM AND REVOLUTION 404 XXXII. STATE SOCIALISM 411 XXXIII. THE SOCIALIST ORGANISATIONS: THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS AND THEIR POLICY 415 XXXIV. THE GROWTH AND DANGER OF BRITISH SOCIALISM 431 XXXV. HOW THE PROGRESS OF SOCIALISM MAY BE CHECKED 440 XXXVI. IS SOCIALISM POSSIBLE?--A GLANCE INTO THE SOCIALIST STATE OF THE FUTURE 444 XXXVII. CONCLUSION 470 APPENDIX--OFFICIAL PROGRAMMES OF THE SOCIALISTIC ORGANISATIONS 481 BIBLIOGRAPHY 493 ANALYTICAL INDEX 509 BRITISH SOCIALISM CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION--WHAT IS SOCIALISM? What is Socialism? It is exceedingly difficult to answer that question in a few words, for Socialism is exceedingly elusive and bewildering in its doctrines, its aims, and its proposals. Its opponents have described it as "a doctrine of sordid materialism and of atheism," they have denounced it as "the gospel of everlasting bellyful,"[1] and as "the coming slavery."[2] They have stated that Socialism means to abolish religion, that it "would try to put laziness, thriftlessness, and inefficiency on a par with industry, thrift, and efficiency, that it would strive to break up not merely private property, but, what is far more important, the home, the chief prop upon which our whole civilisation stands."[3]